Greece round-up: AEK and Olympiakos in two horse race

Panathinaikos FC could only manage a 2-2 draw at FC PAOK Thessaloniki today, meaning that they are now six points behind leaders AEK Athens in the Ethniki Katigoria after AEK beat Panionio GS 2-1.

AEK top
AEK struggled in their home game with Panionios, but got the three points, while Olympiakos Piraeus FC easily won 3-0 at home to OFI Crete keeping them just a point behind AEK with only four games remaining.

Poor start
PAOK started their match with Panathinaikos brightly, while their opponents appeared strangely subdued. The visitors' goalkeeper Antonios Nikopolidis was the busiest player on the pitch during the first period, trying to remedy the errors in Panathinaikos' defence.

Great comeback
PAOK got the opener through Sladjan Spasic in the 23rd minute, but Sergio Markarian made three substitutions in the 46th minute and Panathinaikos began to press, although PAOK, on the counter, managed to double their lead through Nikos Frousos in the 51st minute. Panathinaikos responded though when first Giorgios Karagounis scored and then Michael Konstantinou equalised following a splendid move.

Own goal misery
AEK struggled at home, but managed to get a vital three points after a 2-1 win over Panionios who took the lead through Arian Belaj just before the break. But AEK won the game thanks to two own goals courtesy of Panagiotis Efthimiadis in the 58th minute and Petr Vlcek in the 83rd minute.

Comfortable win
Olympiakos proved too strong for OFI in a 3-0 victory that could have seen more goals. Predrag Djordjevic scored the opener following good work by Pär Zetterberg and after 42 minutes Peter Ofori-Quaye took advantage of a mistake in the OFI defence to power a shot past Panagiotis Logaras. In the second period Olympiakos increased their lead to 3-0 after a close range Djordjevic shot.

Moving clear
Akratitos took a huge step towards remaining in the Hellenic National League next season after a 3-0 win over Iraklis FC. The home side scored twice in the first half through Petar Cvetanov, a header in the ninth minute and a penalty-kick in the 38th minute. Six minutes earlier, Lefteris Velentzas had made it 2-0.

Late show
Panahaiki GC beat FC Aris Thessaloniki 1-0 thanks to a 67th minute Panayotis Gitsis strike in Patras, whilst Ethnikos Asteras lost to Ionikos in Nikea, veteran midfield player Kostas Frantzeskos grabbing a dramatic 85th minute winner.