Greece round-up: Panathinaikos keep Champions League hopes alive

Panathinaikos FC beat Ionikos 5-3 in an empty Apostolos Nikolaidis stadium this afternoon.

Punishment begins
It was the first of four games that Panathinaikos have been ordered to play behind closed doors as punishment for a series of incidents after their recent game against Olympiakos Piraeus FC.
 
Four goals in 24 minutes
Despite the lack of atmosphere the hosts were inspired early on, racing into a 4-0 lead within the first 24 minutes. Krystof Warzycha opened the scoring after ten minutes with a close-range effort. Four minutes later Warzycha turned provider, feeding the ball to Goran Vlaovic who shot past Fotis Strakosia. Miltiadis Sabanis's powerful shot made it 3-0 on 19 minutes before Vlaovic and Jonas Kolkka combined to set Daniel Saric up for the fourth five minutes later.

Ionikos get on scoresheet
A Konstantinos Frantzeskos free-kick a minute before half-time got Ionikos on the scoresheet and the visitors began the second half confidently. The arrears were reduced further in the 53rd minute when Oliver Makor blasted the ball past substitute goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis, who had replaced Antonios Nikopolidis at the interval.

Counterattack proves decisive
Just when Ionikos were threatening to get right back into the game a Panathinaikos counterattack killed off their challenge, Angelos Basinas scoring after great work by Vlaovic. The final goal of the match came four minutes later, Ionikos's Dario Delgado narrowing the defict to 5-3 with a penalty.

Remote Champions League hopes
The result means that Panathinaikos remain third in the Ethniki Kategoria on 52 points, three less than joint leaders Olympiakos and AEK Athens FC. Panathinaikos' remote hopes of reaching next season's UEFA Champions League now rest on what happens on the final day of the season on 8 May.

Numerous permutations
If Panathinaikos win their final game and one of the sides above them lose, then a play-off will be used to determine which club finishes second and reaches the Champions League. If all three teams finish level on points then results in the ngames played this season between the three clubs will mean Olympiakos are crowned champions with Panathinaikos second and AEK third.