Table-topping win for Ten Cate’s Panathinaikos

By: Peter Katsiris | December 9th, 2008

In cooperation with greeksoccer.com, a special to the Greek Super League blog by: Georgios Kioussis.

Panathinaikos secured passage to the Knockout Stage of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in seven years, a 1-0 victory over Anorthosis at the OAKA Spiros Louis earning them the honors. A second-half Giorgos Karagounis strike was enough to lift the hosts, who also secured the top spot in Group B following Inter’s 2-1 defeat to Bremen.

It was just the birthday gift manager Henk Ten Cate could have hoped for, his side successfully turning around a European campaign that started in anything but ideal fashion. Yet after two consecutive defeats the Athenians won 10 out of a possible 12 points, which will surely put a smile on the 54-year-old Dutchman’s face.

There was some doubt as to whether Tuesday’s encounter would even occur, riots across Greece and in the nation’s capital causing concern for safety. But UEFA ruled for the match to go as planned, and the home side left their boisterous supporters with something to cheer for.

Panathinaikos looked assured from the start, knowing a draw would be enough to secure at least second place in the group. But Ten Cate’s men appeared more keen on winning, and it took them only two minutes to fashion their first chance, Alexandros Tziolis narrowly heading over the crossbar from Loukas Vyntra’s cross. Karagounis nearly gave his side the advantage shortly after, his well-taken free-kick from distance heading for the top corner of the goal if not for Arian Beqaj’s fingertips.

It was a positive start for the Greeks, who looked happy to keep possession so long as their opponents remained behind the ball. Yet a few stray passes created all sorts of problems for the hosts, and the Cypriots were unfortunate to have not gone ahead on 15 minutes. Vincent Laban sent an inviting ball low across goal and all that was needed was a telling touch, yet Hawar Taher skewed his close-range effort high and wide. Cedric Bardon tried his luck four minutes later, though the midfielder also failed to hit the target.

Panathinaikos regained their composure, Cleyton and Vangelis Mantzios starting to link up well in the final third. The latter led the line admirably, his height and technique causing headaches for Anorthosis’ back four. On 29 minutes, the Greek international embarked on a slalom run, but his tight-angled shot was dealt with easily by Beqaj. Mantzios would test the Albanian goalkeeper again nine minutes later, pulling away from his marker and getting a shot away, only to be denied for a second time.

The teams entered the dressing rooms level, the group standings still very much hanging in the balance. Injuries forced Anorthosis boss Temuri Ketsbaia into two halftime substitutions, Beqaj giving his spot to Zoltan Nagy and defender Traianos Dellas, who led his back four heroically, making way for striker Nikos Frousos.

Nagy was called upon just six minutes into the second half, good combination play between Cleyton and Mantzios putting the Brazilian tete-a-tete with the goalkeeper. Yet the Hungarian was equal to the task, cutting off the angle and making an important save. The substitute made another important stop on 62 minutes, this time from Mantzios after a clever Tziolis through ball put the striker in on goal.

But the 34-year-old goalkeeper could not keep out Karagounis seven minutes later. The Greek international collected Bardon’s errant back pass and cut the ball onto his right foot before sending an innocuous shot straight at goal. Nagy fumbled the effort, and the ball trickled over the line as the OAKA Spiros Louis burst into elation.

The Trifili saw off the last 20 minutes quite comfortably, Anorthosis seemingly hindered by the absences of Savio and Lukasz Sosin. The home supporters urged their players forward for a second goal, and although it never came, they will surely be more than happy seeing their side top the group and secure advancement in Europe’s premier club football competition.

Man of the match: The honour of the Fans’ Man of the Match presented by Vodafone was awarded to Panathinaikos midfielder Giorgos Karagounis. The Greece international scored the match’s only goal, helping Panathinaikos seal qualification and finish stop the Group B standings. With his vision and attacking prowess, Karagounis not only excelled as an individual, but was influential in encouraging his teammates.

Panathinaikos 1-0 Anorthosis Famagusta
Karagounis 69′

Yellow Cards:
Panathinaikos — Spyropoulos 74′, Simao 90+’.
Anorthosis Famagusta — Skopelitis 33′, Frousos 53′, Dobrasinovic 71′

Panathinaikos (Henk Ten Cate): Galinovic, Vyntra, Goumas, Sarriegi, Spyropoulos, Tziolis, Simao, Gilberto, Cleyton (Salpingidis 65′), Karagounis (Ivanschitz 90+’), Mantzios (Rukavina 82′)

Anorthosis Famagusta (Temuri Ketsbaia): Beqaj (Nagy 46′), Constantinou, Katsavakis, Dellas (Frousos 46′), Leiwakabessy, Skopelitis, Dobrasinovic, Bardon, Nikolaou, Laban, Taher (Paulo Costa 70′)

Referee – Bertrand Layec (FRA)
Assistant Referees – David Benech (FRA), Michael Annonier (FRA)
Fourth Official – Jean-Charles Cailleux (FRA)

Venue – OAKA Spiros Louis, Athens, Greece