Karagounis gives Panathinaikos tender advantage ahead of Athens replay

By: Peter Katsiris | February 25th, 2009

A scintillating strike by Giorgos Karagounis has allowed Panathinaikos to take an away goal back to the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium on March 10th, as the Greek giants played to 1-1 draw with Villarreal at the El Madrigal on Wednesday evening.

Looking to the Champions League to salvage a season plagued with domestic disappointment, a steeled performance by Panathinaikos allows Henk Ten Cate’s men to take a tender advantage back to Athens. However, Giuseppe Rossi’s tally from the penalty spot allows Villarreal to still dream about a spot in the quarterfinals.

By: George Kioussis

In cooperation with www.greeksoccer.com

Panathinaikos secured a critical away goal in their 1-1 draw with Villarreal Wednesday evening at the El Madrigal. A stunning strike from Giorgos Karagounis on the stroke of an hour gave Pana the advantage before Giuseppe Rossi restored parity from the penalty spot.

The Greeks must be pleased with having netted away from home in a match that was dominated for large portions by Villarreal. The Spanish outfit missed a string of first-half opportunities that could prove a burden when the sides meet again in Athens.

It was clear that Panathinaikos entered Wednesday’s Champions League First Knockout Round encounter with a defend-first mentality. Henk ten Cate employed what was essentially a glorified 5-4-1 formation that saw the Athenians invite the home side’s pressure over the course of the match. Loukas Vyntra’s return to the squad provided a boost, the Greek international passing a late fitness test and slotting into central defense alongside captain Giannis Goumas and Josu Sarriegi.

The Spaniards had their own concerns as Joan Capdevila and Guille Franco missed out through suspension, while centre-half Gonzalo Rodriguez was sidelined from injury.

Still, Villarreal boss Manuel Pellegrini could have taken solace in Pana’s record on Spanish soil, the Athenians entering the affair having lost on each of their nine visits in UEFA club competition.

And, much in line with past travels to the Iberian country, Pana’s fate looked dim as the hosts started brightly and produced a fine attacking display that saw them breach the Greek defense regularly.

Though the visitors packed men behind the ball, they seemed to lack any element of compactness as Villarreal passed around them with relative ease. Striker Giuseppe Rossi was particularly active, the Italian creating havoc with a select display of movement and one-touch football.

But for all their first-half dominance, Villarreal failed to make it count, the Spaniards lacking the necessary prowess in front of goal.

Such was true on six minutes as an incisive pass sprung Joseba Llorente behind Pana’s defense. The forward lacked the craft to beat a well-placed Mario Galinovic, who turned away the effort.

Galinovic was called into action again shortly after, the Croatian holding comfortably from Rossi’s tame free kick.

Things were less relaxing for Galinovic on 23 minutes, however, the keeper coming off his line for a cross he was unable to reach. Sebastian Eguren was in prime position to head home, but instead turned his effort over the bar as Villarreal let another chance go to waste.

Attacking intent was meager from the visitors, though on 26 minutes a casual clearance by the Spanish defense gifted the ball to Giorgos Karagounis in the box. The midfielder did well to skip away from his marker, but saw his initial shot charged down and his follow-up held by Diego Lopez.

From there, Villarreal were quick to increase their pressure. And, on 31 minutes, another piece of slick interplay saw the Yellow Submarine carve apart Panathinaikos’ defense, Ariel Ibagaza ultimately flashing his effort from the edge of the area a whisker wide of the post.

While Villarreal will have felt undone by the score line, Panathinaikos took issue with referee Konrad Plautz on 32 minutes. Karagounis floated an innocuous free kick toward goal that an out-of-position Diego Lopez appeared to catch after the ball had already crossed the goal line. Gilberto Silva was quick to make his appeals heard, but the referee was content to play on.

One might point to the decision as reason for the Greeks’ newfound inspiration after the restart. Panathinaikos emerged from the dressing rooms a revitalized side, keen on playing forward and keeping possession – a notion galvanized by Henk ten Cate’s decision to replace Goumas with the more attack-minded Gabriel at the break.

And, on 59 minutes, Pana’s efforts came to fruition as Karagounis shocked the El Madrigal with a stunning strike from distance that opened the scoring. The midfielder – who rarely hesitates to shoot – reacted to Evangelos Mantzios’ touch-on and unleashed a dipping drive that Diego Lopez pushed onto the underside of his crossbar and in.

The goal staggered home supporters and players alike, and with Villarreal still reeling, Mantzios came close to doubling his side’s advantage just four minutes later. The striker cleverly dragged the ball away from two markers but had his placed effort saved by Diego Lopez.

That set up further drama, as Villarreal were awarded a penalty on 66 minutes. Jakub Wawrzyniak was adjudged to have tripped Robert Pires in the area, though Panathinaikos will have felt a foul in their favor should have preceded the penalty decision, Wawrzyniak having been pushed over at the start of the move.

The details were minor to Rossi, who stepped up to convert the ensuing spot kick, confidently beating Galinovic to the bottom corner and bringing the home supporters back to life.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men would look to build on their momentum, Nihat Kahveci flashing his header just wide of the post 74 minutes.

Moments later Bruno saw his thumping drive parried by Galinovic before Rossi curled his effort from 20 yards just wide of the upright.

Yet Panathinaikos managed to withstand the late pressure and earn a draw ahead of the return leg in Athens in just under a fortnight.

Man of the Match: The honour of the Fans’ Man of the Match presented by Vodafone was awarded to Villarreal CF striker Giuseppe Rossi. The American-born Italy international played a large part in Villarreal’s offensive edndeavours. His dashes into the box confused Panathinaikos defenders at times, but his penalty goal to level the match soon after Panathinaikos went ahead was a massive boost for his club.

Villarreal CF 1-1 Panathinaikos FC
Rossi (pen.) 67′ — Karagounis 59′

Yellow Cards:
Villarreal CF — Senna 89′, Angel Lopez 89′.
Panathinaikos FC — Goumas 38′, Gilberto 69′.

Villarreal CF (Manuel Pellegrini): Diego Lopez, Angel Lopez, Fuentes, Godin, Bruno, Senna, Eguren (62′ Pires), Cazorla, Ibagaza (70′ Cani), Rossi, Llorente (62′ Nihat).

Panathinaikos FC (Henk Ten Cate):Galinovic, Goumas (46′ Gabriel), Vyntra, Sarriegi, Nilsson, Wawrzyniak, Simao, Gilberto, Karagounis (85′ Salpingidis), Spyropoulos, Mantzios (90+’ Rukavina).

Referee: Konrad Plautz (Austria)

Venue: El Madrigal, Villarreal, Spain.