Dinamo top Group E with Panathinaikos win
Thursday, November 27, 2014
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FC Dinamo Moskva 2-1 Panathinaikos FC
Aleksei Ionov's finish in Moscow confirmed Stanislav Cherchesov's men as Group E winners, the Greens unable to hold onto a first-half lead.
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• Dinamo confirm top spot in the section with a fifth Group E win
• Marcus Berg heads Panathinaikos into a 14th-minute lead
• A Kostas Triantafyllopoulos deflection evens things up after the break
• Aleksei Ionov charges through to hit what proves to be the winner
• Next games: PSV v Dinamo Moskva, Panathinaikos v Estoril (11 December)
FC Dinamo Moskva secured a fifth successive UEFA Europa League win and top spot in Group E after coming from a goal down to beat Panathinaikos FC in the chilly Russian capital.
Kevin Kuranyi curled against Stefanos Kotsolis's left-hand post as Dinamo broke early on, but the home side were fated to go behind on 14 minutes, Marcus Berg eluding Christopher Samba to head in after Nano set him up with a cross from out on the left touchline.
Kuranyi chested down for William Vainqueur to draw a fine save from Kotsolis on the half-volley as the half drew on, but Panathinaikos might have gone in 2-0 up at the break, Emir Bajrami missing after Berg's perceptive pass left him with only Vladimir Gabulov to beat.
Mladen Petrić whizzed a low strike wide from outside the box for the Greens, but Dinamo reeled them back in on 55 minutes, Vainqueur weaving his way into the area and hitting a shot which took a major detour off Kostas Triantafyllopoulos to outwit Kotsolis.
Alexander Büttner fired just wide and Samba headed over as Dinamo scented victory, Aleksei Ionov completing the turnaround as he charged through to beat Kotsolis after a dawdling defender was dispossessed in a dangerous position. Mathieu Valbuena then rattled the crossbar for Dinamo and Kuranyi missed the target in a one-on-one as Panathinaikos were spared a heavier defeat.