Athens rivals play out thriller

AEK Athens FC drew 2-2 at Panathinaikos FC in the first leg of their Greek Cup semi-final, the visitors losing the lead in added time when reduced to nine men.

First-half goals
Konstantinos Katsouranis gave 13-time cup winners AEK the lead with a powerful 21st-minute headed goal, but seven minutes later Evangelos Moras brought down Dimitrios Papadopoulos in the visitors' box and Angelos Basinas converted the penalty. Just before the break AEK's Milen Petkov was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Late drama
Panathinaikos, bidding for their 16th cup triumph, were continually frustrated after half-time as they tried to take advantage of their extra man, and AEK took the lead thee minutes from the end as Nikos Lyberopoulos and Yiannis Okkas inspired a counterattack finished by Vassilios Lakis. But in the second minute of added time AEK's Richard Krejk followed Petkov in receiving a second caution, and substitute Emmanuel Olisadebe levelled soon afterwards with a long-range effort.

Second leg
The second leg will be played on 7 April, the day that the other semi-final begins when third division Kastoria FC welcome Olympiacos CFP. The return of that match is a fortnight later.