Olympiacos tripped by Egaleo

By Vassiliki Papantonopoulou

Olympiacos CFP's lead at the top of the Alpha Ethniki was cut to just one point after they were held to a 2-2 draw at Egaleo FC, while rivals Panathinaikos FC won 2-0 against Halkidona FC.

Rivaldo double
Egaleo had not won in six games, and came into the fixture against Olympiacos on the back of a heavy 4-0 midweek defeat by Villarreal CF in the UEFA Cup. They looked on course for a similar result when Rivaldo gave the visitors a two-goal lead by the hour. However, on 66 minutes Tassos Agritis won a penalty that was converted by midfield player Georgios Barkoglou and the 23-year-old striker went on to claim a share of the spoils with just seven minutes remaining.

Propitious Panathinaikos
Champions Panathinaikos capitalised on the slip but rode their luck against mid-table Halkidona. By the time Michalis Konstantinou had broken the deadlock on 22 minutes following a superb solo run from Loukas Vydra, Markos Dimos had already been denied by the post at the other end. Giannis Katemis also hot the woodwork before Markus Münch doubled the visitors' lead from the penalty spot on 52 minutes.

AEK held
AEK Athens FC remain third, but will be disappointed after they were held to a third consecutive 1-1 draw by OFI Crete FC. It could have been worse for the home side, who went behind to a 36th-minute strike from Joseph Nuafor and could not break down a stubborn OFI defence until 16 minutes from the final whistle when Konstantinos Katsouranis rounded off a fine individual run.

Markarian departs
AEK are still seven points clear of fourth-placed Xanthi FC after the season's surprise packages were held at Iraklis FC. The match proved to be Sergio Markarian's last as Iraklis coach after the Uruguayan confirmed his resignation following the game. His side went ahead through a Kennedy Bakircioglü free-kick on 28 minutes but the lead lasted just 12 minutes before Deniz Baikara levelled.

Ergotelis victory
The match between Panionios NFC and Kallithea FC also ended 1-1, while Kerkira FC and Aris Thessaloniki FC trudged to a goalless draw in a game that was suspended for 15 minutes because of torrential rain. Bottom club Ergotelis recorded their first home win of the season as Patrick Ogunsoto - the Nigerian striker responsible for eight of their ten goals this season - scored a hat-trick in a 4-1 victory against Apollon Kalamarias FC. PAOK FC also won by three goals as Armand Feutchine scored two in a 3-0 win at home against Ionikos FC.