Duo march into final four

By Vassiliki Papantonopoulou

AEK Athens FC advanced to the semi-finals of the Greek Cup with a 2-0 victory against Panionios NFC in the Olympic Stadium to advance by the same scoreline on aggregate.

Confident start
AEK showed more confidence than their opponents at the start and established a handsome advantage by the 23rd minute. With only ten minutes on the clock Fernando Santos' side went in front with an swift counterattack that culminated in Julio César's decisive shot.

Second goal
The home team's second goal came as Nikos Lyberopoulos stretched to turn in Paulo Assuncao's cross. In the semi-finals AEK will face the winner of the tie between Olympiacos CFP and FC Kastoria, who meet on 24 March with Kastoria leading 2-1 after the first leg.

Aris through
Aris Thessaloniki FC became the second side into the last four, knocking out Apollon Kalamarias FC on away goals afrer a 1-1 draw tonight. With the first leg ending goalless, the deadlock in the Thessaloniki derby was finally broken in the 40th minute, Avraam Papadopoulos heading in the rebound after Kostas Nebegleras had shot against the crossbar to give Aris the lead.

Quick leveller
It took the home team only three minutes to equalise, Giuseppe Vela Junior crashing in a long-range shot. Kalamarias thereater charged forward in pursuit of a winner, but were unable to find a way past Aris goalkeeper Vangelis Pourliotopoulos. In the semi-finals Aris will play either Xanthi FC or Larissa FC, who meet on 23 March with Larissa holding a 1-0 advantage from the first game.