Panathinaikos take charge

By Vassiliki Papantonopoulou

Panathinakos FC's win over Kallithea FC saw them become the outright leaders of the Alpha Ethniki after Olympiacos CFP drew at OFI Crete FC.

Bassinas stunner
Theofanis Gekas' penalty against his former club gave Panathinaikos the lead at Kallitheas after he was brought down by goalkeeper Panagiotis Bartzokas. The reigning champions sealed their win through Angelos Basinas' audacious long-range lob to send Panathinaikos top for the first time since 20 November.

Dejanov equaliser
This was as a result of Olympiacos’s third consecutive 1-1 draw in the league. Dusan Bajevic's side broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a close-range effort from Giovanni, yet despite their dominance Olympiacos failed to hold on to their lead and ten minutes later Metodi Dejanov headed OFI level against the run of play.

Lyberopoulos double
Olympiacos have now dropped to third after AEK Athens FC also leapfrogged them following their victory against lowly Ergotelis FC. AEK went ahead through Milen Petkov's 37th-minute strike from outside the box before doubling their lead 12 minutes later courtesy of Nikolaos Lyberopoulos's individual effort. Lyberopoulos completed the win with his second of the game on 54 minutes.

Late spot-kick
Ergotelis's defeat saw bottom side Kerkira FC close to within three points of their rivals after a 1-1 draw at fourth-placed Xanthi FC, who dropped points at home for the first time this year. The visitors led on 55 minutes through Sheini N'Diaye only for Xanthi to level in the last minute courtesy of a Stavros Labriakos penalty.

Last-ditch winner
Consequently PAOK FC moved to within two points of Xanthi following a 2-1 triumph over Halkidona FC to maintain their challenge for a UEFA Cup place. Guy Armand Feutchine's 15th-minute header put PAOK in front but six minutes later Halkidona equalised through Christos Iliopoulos' header from a Dimitrios Geladaris corner. PAOK's winning goal came a minute from time thanks to Giasemakis Giasemi's cross-shot.

Relegation issue
Elsewhere, Apollon Kalamarias FC produced the result of the day as they held out for a 3-2 win at Iraklis FC thanks to two goals from Karim Mouzaoui and one from Harilaos Pappas despite Altin Hadji's 73rd-minute dismissal. As a result Kalamarias move into 13th postion, above Aris Thessaloniki FC who lost the crucial relegation contest at twelfth-placed Ionikos FC 2-1 following Alexis Gavrilopoulos's stoppage-time winner. Panionios NFC's match with Egaleo FC ended goalless.