Iraklis upsets league leader

Olympiakos goes down in Thessaloniki but remains two wins away from the crown

Skoda Xanthi’s Stavros Labriakos (left) and Vance Sikov celebrate the equalizing goal by Francisco Zwela (right) against Panathinaikos.

Iraklis Thessaloniki took a clear four-point lead over its rivals for the fourth spot by beating soccer league leader Olympiakos 2-0 at home last night. Olympiakos still needs six points out of a possible 12 to clinch the title.

Playing on a water-logged pitch, Iraklis took the lead after just four minutes with a flick by Argentinean striker Esteban Herrera, who later in the first half was substituted. Then Cameroon international Joel Epalle scored his 13th of the season at the 52nd by outrunning Yaya Toure and slotting the ball past Greece keeper Antonis Nikopolidis.

On Sunday AEK emerged as the favorite in the race for the privileged second spot in the Greek soccer league, which offers a place in next year’s Champions League qualifying round, after rival Panathinaikos dropped two crucial points at Skoda Xanthi, drawing 1-1.

By beating Levadiakos 2-0 at home, AEK has now opened a two-point lead with four games left; it is also favored by the head-to-head record should the two clubs finish level on points. Vladan Ivic and Nikos Lymberopoulos secured maximum points for AEK in the Olympic Stadium.

Panathinaikos dominated the first half but could not break the Xanthi defense. It did so after 65 minutes with Fanis Gekas, but the hosts outclassed the Athenians in the last 20 minutes, equalizing at the 81st through a tap-in by Angola international Francisco Zwela.

Xanthi was joined in the fifth spot by PAOK, who downed all-but-relegated Akratitos at Ano Liosia by 3-0. The Thessaloniki club had Cypriot striker Yiassemakis Yiassoumi score a brace after Dimitris Salpingidis had opened the tally.

In the mid-table clashes of the week, Atromitos moved to seventh with a 3-2 home win over Ionikos, leaving Larissa behind it who lost 1-0 at Aegaleo.

The relegation battle between Kallithea and OFI saw the team from Crete win 1-0 and stay clear of the drop zone, just one point ahead of Panionios. The Nea Smyrni club recorded a much-needed victory over Apollon Kalamaria (2-1). These results have brought Levadiakos just two points from Panionios and one from OFI. Two out of these three will stay up, while the third will follow Kallithea and Akratitos to the second division.

Finally this weekend, Kerkyra secured its return to the top flight, after just one year in the second division.