Ivanschitz inspires Panathinaikos win
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Article summary
Panathinaikos FC 3-0 Aberdeen FC Andreas Ivanschitz was at the heart of all three goals as Panathinaikos earned a deserved Group B victory.
Article body
Goumas opener
Goumas rose at the near post to glance Andreas Ivanschitz's free-kick beyond Jamie Langfield on eleven minutes, and it was to prove an inspired performance by the Austrian international, who also helped tee up Papadopoulos and Salpingidis for second half-strikes to seal a win.
Clark chance
Aberdeen spurned an early chance when Derek Young raced down the left before cutting the ball back from the byline. The hosts failed to clear but Chris Clark sent his shot over the bar from 15 metres. Goumas then opened the scoring and although there was little Langfield could do, the visiting goalkeeper rescued his side in the 18th minute when Ivanschitz sprang the offside trap and squared to Dame Ndoye. The forward's shot would have crept in at the near post but for the reflexes of the 27-year-old, who somehow turned the ball wide.
Ndoye threat
Ndoye had to be replaced on the hour but not before twice going close to doubling the home advantage. He almost scored at the outset of the second half, muscling his way into the penalty area before screwing his shot wide from a tight angle, and, ten minutes later, squandered a glorious chance from close range after Salpingidis had outpaced Andrew Considine.
Inspired Ivanschitz
Prompted by the excellent Ivanschitz, Panathinaikos grew in confidence and should have gone further ahead midway through the second half when Alexandros Tziolis headed Ivanschitz's corner wide of goal. The second goal was not long in coming, though, as Ivanschitz played Papadopoulos through to drill a shot past the advancing Langfield on 73 minutes. Four minutes later and the Austria captain was again the provider as Langfield palmed his free-kick into the path of Salpingidis who fired in.