Xanthi surge into fifth after easy Apollon win
GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 23
| Xanthi | 2 - 0 | Apollon Smyrnis |
|---|---|---|
| Lisgaras 55' Albanis (OG) 78' |
Xanthi bounced back from last weeknd’s crushing 4-0 defeat to AEK Athens by beating struggling Apollon Smynis 2-0 to move up to fifth in the table, while Larissa defeated Platanias 1-0 and Panitolikos earned a narrow 1-0 home win over Kerkyra.
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Milan Rastavav’s Xanthi team, who have struggled with inconsistent form this season, failed to impress in a dull first half, but second half goals from Christos Lisgaras (55) and the unfortunate Christos Alpanis - who scored an own goal - in the 78th minute sealed three vital points.
It was a win which enabled Xanthi to knock Panionios, who drew 0-0 with Asteras Tripolis 24 hours earlier, down to sixth, the Akrites moving ahead on goal difference with both teams locked on 32 points.
Things are looking bleak for Apollon, who occupy the second relegation spot in 15th and are two points adrift of safety.
| Panetolikos | 1 - 0 | Kerkyra |
|---|---|---|
| Willyan 45'+1' |
For Kerkyra, the islanders are now looking anxiously over their shoulders after slumping to a 1-0 defeat to Panaitolikos in Agrinio.
Giannis Matzourakis’ side huffed and puffed but offered little threat to the home goal and the Kanarinia took all three points thanks to a goal from 24-year-old Brazilian forward Willyan da Silva Barbosa a minute into added time just before the half-time break.
The win allowed 10th-placed Panaitolikos to move level on 29 points with the two sides above them, PAS Giannina and Asteras Tripolis, while Kerkyra are hovering just two points above the relegation zone with 18 points from 23 matches.
| Larissa | 1 - 0 | Platanias |
|---|---|---|
| Deletic 69' |
Elsewhere, there was little to write home about from the match between Larissa and basement club Platanias, who did their best to frustrate the home side with some determined defending. And the Cretan club achieved their goal for 68 minutes, before Deletic found the goal that separated the sides at the final whistle. The results moves Larissa up to 12th with 25 points while Platanias remain bottom of the table eight points adrift of safety.
