Panathinaikos extended its lead at the top of the Greek league to
five points on Sunday after defender Loucas Vyntra scored the
winner in a 1-0 victory at Asteras.
The Athens club has 61 points from 26 games, while
second-place has PAOK has 56 after losing 2-0 to crosstown rival
Aris on Sunday. Defending champion Olympiakos is third with 54
points and also stumbled at the weekend, being held to a 2-2 home
draw by relegation-threatened Giannena on Saturday.
Panathinaikos came close to scoring in the fifth minute when
a powerful shot by Giorgos Karagounis from outside the area forced
Matias Degra into a diving save.
Two minutes later, it was Asteras' turn when Sebastian
Carrera seized possession inside the Panathinaikos area but his low
drive went just wide.
Panathinaikos nearly broke the deadlock on the hour mark when
Brazilian midfielder Gilberto Silva just failed to reach a perfect
cross by Sebastian Leto with Degra out of position.
But Vyntra made no mistake in the 72nd minute, collecting a
pass from Leto before finding the net with a shot from outside the
area. Things then became even easier for Panathinaikos three
minutes later when Sokratis Fitanidis was sent off for a second
yellow card.
Also Sunday, it was: Levadiakos 2, Xanthi 1; Larissa 1
Ergotelis 0; and Panthrakikos 0, Panionios 1.
