He broke the blockade of Tripoli with… a “never give up” mentality

* Another close match, another buzzer beater of the year. As in Agrinio, so also yesterday in Tripoli Panathinaikos redeemed himself in the 94th minute with Geremeev’s goal and celebrated once very important victory. A “double” stressful, but also liberating for the “greens” and their people who never stopped singing in the stands of “Theodoros Kolokotronis”.

* The game was played in extremely difficult conditions. The very heavy rain made the work of the footballers unimaginably difficult, with the terrain becoming increasingly heavy and slippery as time passed. Against a strong and well-prepared team, the “clover” overall was better. He was in control of the match for most of the time, he played rationally from the middle and forwardhe did at least six chances and if we can find a negative – apart from the many missed phases again – it was the fact that Asteras also became threatening with three very big moments.

* In these moments the extraordinary Dragovski he said “no” and kept his team standing. Of course, based on the overall picture, Panathinaikos could have simplified things if their players were more accurate. Big chances were missed by Ioannidis, Bakaseta, Mladenovic, Ingason, Cherin, Geremegev and by top of the match, Djuricic. One look at the numbers and one will understand the superiority in the match: 23 finals for “clover”, 13 for Asteras. 11 shots inside a large area by Rui Vitoria’s team, 4 by the home team. 64% possession for the “greens”, 35% for the Arcades.

* Redemption in the finale by Geremegevthe “golden” change of Rui Vitoria (Pellistri also helped a lot with his entry into the game), gave a very big three points for the “greens” who had a… never give up mentality and in the end they were vindicated. They fought until the end, they missed very important chances for a bigger score and a more comfortable victory, they saw the valiant Asteras trying to block him, but they left Tripoli with the “double”.

* Undoubtedly, the big failure it’s something that should be troubling again. If the team doesn’t find a solution to this problem, it will have stumbling blocks in the future. Yes, Panathinaikos has improved, Rui Vitoria has tamed him and instilled in him a winning mentality (with the Portuguese, Panathinaikos has 6 wins, one loss, one draw), but the “clover” remains the most misguided team in the league. When you want to claim a championship, you have to change that, either through work or through transfer…

* So, the “blockade” in Tripoli was broken, with Panathinaikos once again having justifiable complaints from arbitration. One wonders why the VAR Evangelou didn’t call him referee Polychroni for a penalty – Bartolo’s march on Maksimović in the 39th minute. It clearly seems that the player of Asteras Tripoli pulls the Serbian midfielder inside the area, but not the slightest thing is given! It is also unthinkable in such a game that only 3 minutes of stoppage time are given (!) or that Alho is not eliminated in the final. We are mentioning the above in a match that Panathinaikos won and not after a “stumble”…

* It is not the first time in recent matches that Panathinaikos has been treated like this by the referee. Remember what happened in the Cup game against Atromitos (no penalty awarded to Unai, no expulsion of Brosson), but also in the championship game when Peristeriotes did not stay with ten players, while they could after the unanswered markings of Ouedraogo! The statement of Savvas Pantelidis in the finale is completely wrong. If anyone deserved the victory it was Panathinaikos and if a team has the right to have complaints from the referee it is Rui Vitoria’s. So that we don’t forget what we know at the end…