Greece round-up: No worries for contenders
Sunday, April 6, 2003
Article summary
Panathinaikos FC stayed a point clear of Olympiakos Piraeus FC as both gained comfortable away wins.
Article body
Panathinaikos FC stayed a point clear of Olympiakos Piraeus FC in the Hellenic National League as both gained comfortable away wins.
Konstantinou double
Iraklis FC were beaten 3-0 by Panathinaikos, Michalis Konstantinou proving the key man with two goals and one assist - after a six-month spell without scoring. That ended on 61 minutes with an opportunist strike, and nine minutes later set up Nikos Liberopoulos to make it 2-0. Konstantinou claimed his second 14 minutes from the end.
Comeback for Olympiakos
Olympiakos won 4-1 at Panahaiki FC to ensure their title rivals did not extend their lead. Nikos Skarmoutsos had put Panahaiki, with just eight points all season, ahead on the half-hour, but that lead disappeared on 60 minutes after Peter Ofori-Quaye equalised from close range. Free-kicks from Predrag Djordjevic and Pär Zetterberg put the visitors ahead, and Giovanni, on his return from injury, completed the scoring in added time.
Seven in a row for AEK
AEK Athens FC are still within five points of the lead after their seventh consecutive league victory. Proodeftiki FC were beaten 4-1, even through AEK were a goal down and down to ten men on eight minutes when Michalis Kasapis was dismissed for a deliberate handball in the area and Kostas Maggos converted the resultant penalty. AEK only equalised on 49 minutes through Vangelis Moras, but with 23 minutes to go Vassilis Borbokis rounded the goalkeeper to put the home side ahead, and they went on to confirm the win with goals from Vassilis Tsartas and Ilija Ivic.
OFI hold Panionios
Panionios FC lost ground on the top three as they were held 1-1 by OFI Crete FC. Erol Bulut gave Panionios a 26th-minute lead but OFI equalised eight minutes later through Elias Kotsios, and hit the post near the end with Metodi Dejanov's shot.
Vital win for Ionikos
Ionikos FC leapt out of the relegation zone with a comprehensive 4-0 win against FC PAOK Thessaloniki, to take them ahead of Akratitos FC, beaten 4-1 by Aris Thessaloniki FC, and PAS Giannina FC, who came from 2-0 and 3-2 behind to hold Xanthi FC 3-3. Kallithea GS also picked up three valuable points, beating Egaleo FC 2-1.
