It was a dramatic Matchday 29 in the Super League on Wednesday night as the play-off picture was completed, while the relegation battle took a dramatic turn with ups and downs all evening. A stunning amount of goals too mean that the final matchday, which takes place on Sunday, is now more interesting than ever.
All eyes were on the relegation battle as Kerkyra looked to bank on their recent 1-0 defeat of Olympiacos. A defeat of OFI went a long way for the northern Greece side, while the loss suffered by Ergotelis in Crete allowed the Faiakes to escape the drop zone. Panaitolikos also ensured they still have some hope with a shattering defeat of Aris — who had earlier in the day been docked points and fined for crowd violence from 8 April.
In the play-off race, Asteras Tripolis’ loss to Panathinaikos means that the Arcadian club missed out on the play-offs despite an impressive second half to the season. AEK clinched their play-off spot despite drawing Atromitos in Athens, while PAOK capitalized on Atromitos’ slip-up to move into a tie for third place. Here’s a review of all the action from Matchday 29…
AEK 0-0 Atromitos
In a rematch of last year’s Greek Cup Final, Atromitos looked to prep for their double-date with Olympiacos in style against AEK — the team they lost to in last year’s Greek Cup Final. A tight affair in Athens, even the likes of top-scorer Kostas Mitroglou couldn’t find a way past AEK ‘keeper Dimitris Konstantopoulos. AEK’s chances were relatively few compared to the visitors, although Charles Itandje was relatively lucky on a few occasions.
Asteras Tripolis 0-2 Panathinaikos
Cleyton (58′), Christodoulopoulos (90′+3′)
Asteras’ play-off hopes were dashed just before the hour mark in Tripoli as Cleyton scored his fifth of the season before Lazaros Christodoulopoulos scored an insurance marker in stoppage time. Having been granted full points earlier in the day for the abandoned match with Aris in Thessaloniki, Asteras could have rose six points in the table(!) in one day, but a rare loss at home for Sakis Tsiolis’ men means Asteras will finish sixth this season.
Ergotelis 0-1 Levadiakos
Chumbinho (56′)
A sleek goal from Chumbinho gave Levadiakos a 1-0 win in Crete on Wednesday, much to the dismay of the home supporters who must now fear the worst as Ergotelis have slipped into the relegation zone. The Pankritio crowd were teased by Ergotelis’ efforts on the nights as the home side came close on many occasions to equalize. A less-than-100% Sergio Leal came on to inspire Ergotelis, but manager Nikos Karageorgiou was left to rue defeat on the night as the Cretan club were unable to find a way past Dimitris Kyriakidis.
Kerkyra 4-1 OFI
Ioannou (20′), Wenzel (22′, 90′), Grammozis (25′) — Mantzios (13′)
Kerkyra posted three goal in the span of five minutes to overcome OFI’s early lead which the visitors achieved through Evangelos Mantzios. Ilias Ioannou started the goal rush with his second goal in as many games, before Wenzel scored his first of the season and Grammozis added an insurance marker. Wenzel would then score his second of the season with a thrilling effort from way out that caught ‘keeper Philippos Sachsanidis off-guard. The win, combined with Ergotelis’ loss, puts Kerkyra in the safety heading into the weekend’s final round of fixtures.
PAOK 2-0 Doxa Drama
Panagiotoudis (13′), Nimani (59′)
It was a night of firsts for PAOK as the Dikefale tou Vorra were propelled to victory by two players socring their first goals for the club. The first came early from debutant Kostas Panagiotoudis with a nice effort making its way into the far corner of the goal, while Nimani waited for just before the hour mark to score his first goal for PAOK with a curling effort past Kostas Davkos. The win, combined with Atromitos draw in Athens, means that PAOK are now third in the Super League — level with Atromitos on points but ahead of the Peristeri side based on a superior head-to-head record.
Panaitolikos 5-1 Aris
Pasas (11′), Camara (45′), Charisteas (47′), Sankare (o.g.) (53′), Fernandes (76′) — Gianniotas (74′)
Panaitolikos put on a goal-fest in Agrinio in front of their home supporters as Aris succumbed to a 5-1 defeat on a terrible day for the visitors. Giannis Pasas opened the scoring for the hosts before Henri Camara doubled the advantage just moments before half-time. Angelos Charisteas made it three for Panaitolikos, and the Greek striker played an integral part in what led to Aris’ Khalifa Sankare turning in an own-goal past Michalis Vellidis. Ricardo Fernandes put the finishing touches on the match with a goal of his own just two minutes after Giannis Gianniotas pulled one back for Aris. The win, certainly impressive from Panaitolikos, wasn’t enough to take the Agrinio side out of the relegation zone, though. Only a win against Panathinaikos, plus a loss for Kerkyra and anything but a win for Ergotelis, can take Panaitolikos out of the drop zone.
Panionios 1-1 Xanthi
Vasilakakis (25′), Omo (72′)
There was nothing between them heading into their meeting in Nea Smyrni and there was nothing to separate them at full-time on Wednesday as Panionios and Xanthi drew 1-1. The visitors took the lead after just 25 minutes as Theodoros Vasilakakis put Xanthi in front, only for Sulemain Omolade’s equalizer on 72 minutes derailed Xanthi’s hopes of a win. Despite not winning, both sides guaranteed themselves a spot in next season’s Super League with the point.
PAS Giannina 0-4 Olympiacos
Mirallas (53′), Djebbour (64′, 71′), Fetfatzidis (75′)
Olympiacos put together an impressive 22 minutes in the second half to tear open PAS Giannina’s defense in the run-up to a 4-0 win at the Zosimades Stadium. Kevin Mirallas kick-started the goal-rush with his 20th of the season, before Rafik Djebbour added a brace. Giannis Fetfazidis made the win all the more impressive with a curling effort just 15 minutes from time as Olympiacos closed in on their highest-ever goal tally in the Super League.
About the Author: Peter Katsiris
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