From Peristeri to the top with… Ioannidis executioner, Panathinaikos!

THE Panathinaikos he prevailed with his comfort Fearless with 2-0in Peristeri, as part of the 26th and last match of the regular season of the Stoiximan Super League.

The game turned out to be… one man showby Ioannidis to open the scoring with… golara to 49′ and won a penalty which he himself converted into a new goal, at 63′!

The “greens” were in no danger -essentially- at any point of the match, even having missed opportunities for an even bigger score, against the team from the western suburbs which seemed exhausted, especially on a mental level.

Thus, Panathinaikos returned to first class of the championship, with 61 points, being +2 from the second AEK and enters the playoffs with… a lead, going for the title.

While Atromitos remained in seventh place of the scoreboard with 29 points, while the match was marred by half hour break due to the incidents of friends of the home team with the Police.

In the minds of the coaches:

Chris Coleman “take down” Dauntless in formation 4-2-3-1. Gianniotis sat in goal, having Keshrinda, Hatziisaia, Mavrommati and De Bock four at the back. Gonzales and Kuen were the two “cutters”, with Clonaridis and Robaye moving to the sides and Aggibou behind Javidas who fought in the attack.

Ivan Jovanovic on the other hand he lined up Panathinaikos also with a system 4-2-3-1 and one last minute contingency, with Sporar. Putting Brignoli under the goalposts and Kotsira, Sarlia, Magnusson and Juancar in line in defense. Kourbelis and Ruben formed the two midfielders on the axis, with Mancini, Palacios and Kleinheisler composing the attacking triple and Ioannidis being the center forward.

The match:

Panathinaikos came in strong and took possession of the ball at the start, but it was Atromitos who had the first big phase for a goal…

As only in the 3rd minute and from Kotsira’s slip outside the wide area, the Roubaix he got the ball, stepped into the area and shot, but Sarlia managed to counter by sending it to a corner!

The “greens” entered the area for the first time in the 9th minute, with Mancini’s header going wide, while the stoppage of almost half an hour, due to incidents made by fans of the home team with the Police.

The restart found both teams “numb”, however Panathinaikos keep pushing up and recorded his next final in the 18th minute. When the Kleinheisler he made a sudden shot from 20 meters, forcing Gianniotis to drive for a corner…

The Peristerians managed to they close the spaces well, looking for a “good” counterattack, mainly from the right side. Seeing the unguarded De Bock to send his header to the first post away from home, in the 21st minute.

The scene remained the same thereafter, with the visitors in control, moving the ball around and finding the phases to take the lead.

But they didn’t succeed with him Mancini to lose double chance for 0-1when in a counterattack in the 31st minute, Palasios took him out four-four with Gianniotis, who initially defeated him, while in the rebound the Argentinian winger placed high and mistimed in front of an empty net!

At the same time, in the 43′, Panathinaikos had another great opportunity, with Ioannidis to bring the ball down nicely in the area and shoot, for Gianniotis to drive impressively into the left corner…

The second half started with the “clover” capitalizing on its superiority with… good morning and Ioannidis to solves the “gordian knot”in the 49′. Avoiding Kuen at first, then Hatziisaia and with one “lightning” to send the ball into the window of Gianniotis’ goal!

Ivan Jovanovic saw Palacios miss another chance to make it 0-2, in the 52nd minute, but also saw Sarlia go off injured shortly before half-time.

Not only did his team not flinch, however, but instead, it was they who scored the second goal as well. As the Ioannidis entered the area overturned by Mavrommatis, the offense was given even in… second year, using VAR and the Panathinaikos striker scored the 0-2 at 63rd minute!

From that point on, with the “three points” clearly in favor of the guests, there was management by Jovanovic, four more changes but also two good moments for another goal…

With Kleinheisler’s diagonal shot in the 66th minute forcing Gianniotis to shoot with overdrive in the corner, and Kourbelis’s shot from the top of the area in the 84th minute narrowly going wide.

MVP: The title goes… automatically to Fotis Ioannidis, as he was Panathinaikos’ top player both in the “sterile” first half, where he also had a great missed opportunity. While in the replay he put his stamp… with the “goal-poem” for 0-1, but also the personal energy that transformed into a penalty and, finally, in the final 0-2! “Full” appearance, with many runs, in general, even though he “entered through the window” in the 11.

The… whistle: Referee Evangelou did not see in real time the reversal of Ioannidis by Mavrommatis and had to go to VAR to award the penalty. He won the match without using his card, since it wasn’t a hard game, and he didn’t have another “difficult” phase. It was generally close in most phases, though.

The compositions of the two teams:

Fearless (Chris Coleman): Gianniotis, Keshrinda, Hatziisaias, Mavrommatis, De Bock, Gonzales, Kuen (79′ Fridjonsson), Klonaridis (71′ Rotary), Aggibou, Robai (71′ Tzovaras), Tsavidas (46′ Kiartansson).

They stayed on the bench: Branescu, Kotsopoulos, Athanasiou, Erlingmark, Oikonomidis.

Panathinaikos (Ivan Jovanovic): Brignoli, Kotsiras, Sarlia (59′ Poungouras), Magnuson, Huancar (76′ Pouhats), Kourbelis, Ruben (76′ Tsokai), Mancini, Palasios, Kleinheisler (68′ Tserin), Ioannidis (76′ Berbic).

They stayed on the bench: Lodgin, Vagiannidis, Sanchez, Campetsis.

Referee: Evangelou (Athens).

Assistants: Petropoulos (Arkadia), Konstantinou (Preveza/Lefkada).

Fourth referee: Tsimenteridis (Kozanis).

VAR: Papadopoulos (of Macedonia).

AVAR: Kostaras (Aitoloakarnania).

See here the description of the match from the Match Centre