Olisadebe rescues Panathinaikos
Sunday, April 25, 2004
Article summary
A last-gasp goal from Emmanuel Olisadebe kept Panathinaikos FC top of the table in Greece.
Article body
Dramatic finale
Following their late leveller against Olympiacos last week, the league leaders once again came good at the death, substitute Emmanuel Olisadebe thrilling the visiting fans with a sweet left-foot finish. Ebenizer Haggan had given the home side a sixth-minute lead but Dimitris Papadopoulos equalised in the 48th minute to set up Polish international Olisadebe's heroics.
Olympiacos stroll
The last-gasp goal meant Olympiacos's 2-0 home victory against Panionios NFC did little but assure the Rizoupoli club of at least the runners-up spot, taking them ten points clear of PAOK with three games remaining. Predrag Djordjevic's free-kick and a close-range finish from Marcin Kuzba, who was later sent off, did the damage for Nikos Alefandos's side.
Narrow wins
AEK Athens FC and Egaleo FC continue to vie for fourth position after their respective 1-0 home wins against Paniliakos FC and OFI Crete FC. Vassilis Lakis scored for the capital club while Egaleo were indebted to Nikos Nikolopoulos's 50th-minute strike. Egaleo are three points above AEK, but must travel to Olympiacos on the last day of the season.
Kallithea climb
FC Aris Thessaloniki were the weekend's biggest winners, their 3-0 home victory against Halkidona FC lifting them out of the bottom three. Akratitos FC remain in the relegation play-off place despite a 1-0 home success against Iraklis FC. Paniliakos and Proodeftiki FC, who lost 2-1 at Ionikos FC, remain in the automatic drop slots. Elsewhere, Kallithea FC took a giant step towards salvation with a 3-1 home win against Xanthi FC, their fourth match without defeat.