Panathinaikos punctured by Gittas

By Vassiliki Papantonopoulou

AEK Athens FC moved three points clear at the top of the Alpha Ethniki with a convincing win but the result was overshadowed as rivals Panathinaikos FC stumbled to their first defeat in over a year, 2-0 against lowly Kerkyra FC.

Gittas goal
The division's newcomers registered their first ever win in the top flight in a remarkable game in Corfu. Kerkyra took the lead through a powerful long-range shot by Xenofontas Gittas – ironically at the club on loan from Panathinaikos – on 19 minutes before Seini N’Diaye capitalised on a series of defensive errors to make it two on the half hour.

AEK lead
The champions were without the injured Angelos Basinas and Ezequiel González, and their absence was evident as Panathinaikos failed to stage a comeback and succumbed to their first league defeat in 27 matches. The win allowed AEK Athens to stretch their lead at the top of the table to three points after they marked their first game at the Olympic Stadium with a convincing 4-1 victory against Kallithea, with Nikos Lyberopoulos and Alessandro Soares both scoring twice.

Rivaldo free-kick
Another team expected to challenge for the title this season, Olympiacos CFP, also lost ground on the leaders after a 1-1 draw at hard-working Halkidona FC. The home side took the lead on 71 minutes with a close-range header from Markos Dimos, before a Vangelis Dagas own-goal gifted Olympiacos an equaliser. The visitors almost took all three points with seven minutes remaining when Rivaldo hit the bar from a free-kick, but Halkidona held on and moved to second alongside their opponents, Panathinaikos and Xanthi FC.

Luciano double
Xanthi continued their great start to the season with a 3-0 win against Ergotelis FC thanks to a first-half double from Luciano de Souza. The Brazilian then teed up Dimitris Zografakis with four minutes remaining to complete the scoring. The result leaves Ergotelis alone at the foot of the table after Aris Thessaloniki FC earned a 2-2 draw in their derby match against PAOK FC.

Mantzios penalty
Egaleo FC and Apollon Kalamarias FC also shared the points after a goalless draw, while another team in UEFA Cup action last week, Panionios FC, returned to winning ways when Vangelis Mantzios’ penalty a minute before half-time gave them a 1-0 victory against Ionikos FC. Meanwhile, Iraklis FC failed to win at OFI Crete for the 15th season in a row after Nikolaos Machlas’ 69th-minute strike gave the home side a 2-1 win.