Panathinaikos complete Greek double

Sebastian Leto scored the winner midway through the second half as Panathinaikos FC defeated Aris Thessaloniki FC 1-0 in the Greek Cup final to complete a league and cup double.

Nikos Nioplias won the double as player with Panathinaikos in 1995 and has now repeated the feat as coach, though a tight tactical battle produced few chances in the first half in front of 55,000 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens. Aris goalkeeper Michalis Sifakis did well to keep out successive shots from Sotiris Ninis and Dimitris Salpingidis on 22 minutes before Cristian Javier Nasuti's close-range effort was blocked by Panathinaikos' goalkeeper Alexis Tzorvas soon after.

The tie was decided 18 minutes into the second half when Leto struck from distance as he followed up last season's double win with Olympiacos FC by repeating the feat with Panathinaikos. Goalkeeper Antonis Nikopolidis is the only other player to have won the Greek double with different clubs in consecutive seasons having achieved that feat with Panathinaikos in 2004 and Olympiacos in 2005.

"It was a tough road that led to the domestic double, but now the hardships are over and we are enjoying every moment of it," said Nioplias. "It's a huge joy and we share it with our fans, our players and our administration. It is difficult to remain at the top, but we have the team and the ability to achieve that next season."

It is the 17th time Panathinaikos have won the Greek Cup and the eighth time they celebrated a domestic double as Aris fell to their fourth Greek Cup final defeat in the past eight seasons.