Panthrakikos, PAOK survive OXI Day scares

By: Peter Katsiris | October 28th, 2008

Panthrakikos and PAOK both overcame stiff competition on Tuesday, as the two Super League sides booked their place in the fifth round of the Greek Cup on the opening day of the fourth round. With the whole of Greece celebrating the sixty-eighth anniversary of the Greek rejection of Italy’s WWII ultimatum, both Northern Greece clubs ensured their supporters had plenty to celebrate on this day.

In the first of the two Tuesday fixtures, Panthrakikos needed extra time to edge out Zakynthos with a 2-0 win away to the Third Division club. The Thracian club could have taken the lead after just thirty minutes, but Maxi Bevacqua failed to score from the penalty spot.

The Argentine made up for his first half blunder only a handful of minutes into the extra frame, as Bevacqua struck on ninety-six minutes to break the long lasting deadlock. The result was put beyond any doubts just before the break in extra-time, as Sergio Ponce scored from the spot to give Panthrakikos a 2-0 lead.

The later match shortly followed the national parade in Thessaloniki, as one of Greece’s rejuvenated clubs, PAOK, took to the field at Neapolis against Makedonikos. An early goal from Ibrahima Bakayoko gave PAOK early control of the game, as PAOK looked to impose a stranglehold on the tilt with their municipal rivals.

The lead, however, didn’t stand for too long as Makedonikos lawed its way back to level terms as Michalis Klokidis – the most successful scorer in the top four flights of Greek football – grabbed a goal for the third division side four minutes after PAOK’s breakthrough.

Both sides stayed on level terms until just before halftime, with Bakayoko breaking the tie once again as he fired for his second goal of the match; securing PAOK’S spot in the next round with a 2-1 win.

The Fourth Round fixtures resume on Wednesday as three more matches take place, with Super League sides favoured to emerge victorious. The day begins with Panionios visiting Ethnikos at the Elliniko Stadium in Piraeus. Larissa, meanwhile, faces Panetolikos in Agrinio. The day’s final fixture pits defending champions Olympiacos against Diagoras in Rhodes.

One further game is scheduled for Thursday with Asteras Tripolis facing Apollon Kalamarias in Thessaloniki. The remaining eleven fixtures – including fixtures for Panathinaikos, AEK, and Aris – are set for November debuts.