A Football Report

By Lawrence Prince-Wright

Once again another exciting week for Greek football has drawn to a close with Panathiniakos celebrating their 8^th away win over home team Panionios by two goals to nil. Djibril Cisse continued to demonstrate his worth to fans by carrying on in top form after scoring the only and most important two goals in the games; consequently placing the Green Giants top of the league just two points ahead of former league champions Olympiakos. Although a good win for the ‘Thrylos’ the game was open to much controversy after referee Kalopoulos awarded a 21^st minute penalty kick against the home side after Ninis was allegedly fouled inside the home team’s box.

Personally, however, after viewing the replay a number of times, I cannot help but to question the validity of Kalopoulos’s decision; from the angle I saw Ninis fall at it seemed that he was hardly touched by Kontoes. In other games former league titans Olympiakos managed to defeat Atromitos 2-0, with Englishman Matt Derbyshire opening the score line in the 18^th minute. Further defending blunders by the away side in the 94^th minute gave enough space for Kostas Mitroglou to hit a wonder shot from well outside the 18 yard box, after goalkeeper Mihalidis came too far outfield. A.E.K. still battling for one of the top three spots in the Super League aided their endeavours through an impressive scissor kick by Tsibour allowing the ‘doubled headed eagle’ a 1 goal win against Erogtelis.

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Written by Lawrence Prince-Wright

This last Thursday (25-02-10), despite pessimism, proved to be a spectacular day for Europa League showdowns. Upsets, joys, anger, anxiety and all sorts of emotions where mixed into Thursday‘s cauldron of football mayhem! Personally the performance of the teams which battled it out on Thursday evening conveyed the high level of prestige and competition that the Europa League has to offer; keep in mind that it is the Champions League little brother making it the second biggest European league worldwide. The number of goals scored that evening averaged out to be at around 3 per game, most definitely illustrating the level of excitement that kept fans anxiously on the edge of their seats. Liverpool while showing a rather lousy performance domestically, managed to secure a 4-1 aggregate score against Romanian rivals Unirea Urziceni. Similarly underdogs Fulham managed to proceed onto the next round by defeating former European champion giants Shakhtar Donetsk 3-2 on aggregate. Despite the splendid news it is to hear that two English sides are advancing on to the next stages of the league, I am also thrilled to mention that Panathiniakos have knocked out the Italian stallions A.S. Roma after a fascinating 3-2 victory at Stadio Olimpico.

Although it was not a day for the ‘sensational substitutes’, it was however a day where Cisse proved to spectators that he’s still got that Liverpool form, and 19 year-old Sotiris Ninis left his mark on awe-struck spectators by scoring his first (and definitely not last) international goal of his career.  The two teams met in Athens last week, and their meeting this Thursday was very similar, if not identical. The scores were the same, and the order in which they were scored was similar, the only difference was the stage that the games were played out at.

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By Lawrence Prince-Wright

My apologies for such a late commentary on what may seem like a game played quite a bit ago. But superb victories, in the hearts of fans, last for an eternity. The celebration and boasting will go on until, well, the fans have been proven otherwise! Last Thursday’s game (18-02-10), for Panathiniakos at least, proved to be such a day. The outstanding 3-2 home victory against AS Roma, proved vital in Panathinaikos’s shaky Europa League campaign. The home victory encouraged fans to flock into the streets of central Athens chanting songs such as ‘Pantha mou glykia’ and ‘thryle ole ole’.

With all the commotion present one may have thought something bigger was at stake; and how very right they would have been! After all it is the beginning of the most nail biting part of the Europa League, the group stages are done and now we find ourselves anticipating the results of the last-32 standoff. Last Thursday’s result proved the importance of this phase in the competition, the relief of the home victory gave Pantha, in essence, a sort of firm ground to regain their bearings after having a somewhat wobbly start to the competition. Failure to qualify for the Champions League this season was understandably upsetting for the team and fans alike, however the progress in the Europa League has compensated for earlier disappointments. Maybe this year Pantha will end their 32-year drought of international cups?

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