PAOK downs AEK with a late, late goal

PAOK needed a Leo Matos goal deep into injury time to score its first big win for the season downing AEK 1-0 for the Super League in Sunday, while Olympiakos and Panathinaikos retained the top two spots with victories ahead of their clash next weekend.

One minute from the end of the time added-on, PAOK broke the deadlock in the game with AEK at Toumba and had Leo Matos to thank for his close-range shot that sent the ball home after a corner kick from the right that AEK strongly disputed. PAOK has now joined AEK in third, seven points off the pace.

Olympiakos remained four points clear at the top of the table with its 1-0 away win at Atromitos on Saturday, but before Brown Ideye’s goal Atromitos felt it should have had a penalty for a handball in the area and a goal that was wrongly disallowed as offside.

Atromitos owner Giorgos Spanos said afterward that “the result was clearly distorted” and added he hoped the new, transitional leadership at the federation (EPO) that FIFA has installed, will bring equal laws for everyone in the game. The temporary administration of EPO will have six members, led by Yiannis Drossos.

Second-placed Panathinaikos scored after 227 minutes in all competitions to beat visiting Iraklis 2-0 on Sunday, courtesy of second-half goals by Sebastian Leto and Paul-Jose M’poku.

In other games Larissa downed Panionios 2-0 and Asteras Tripolis saw off Levadiakos 1-0, while the games between Veria and Platanias, and between Xanthi and Kerkyra finished goalless, as there were only seven goals in seven weekend games.

On Monday Panetolikos greets PAS Giannina, and next Sunday sees the Derby of Eternal Rivals as Olympiakos hosts Panathinaikos in Piraeus.