SPORTS

Berg returns to add spice to Panathinaikos’s Cup win

The second round of games for the group stage of the Greek Cup produced plenty of interesting games and results in midweek, but it still lags the upset potential that the knock-out stages of the competition have.

Playing away from home, Panionios and PAS Giannina forced Olympiakos and PAOK respectively to 1-1 draws on Wednesday, with last year’s finalist PAOK now facing the specter of elimination from the first round of this season’s competition.

On the other hand, holder Panathinaikos has mathematically qualified after beating Panetolikos 3-1 on Thursday at home, but the most important event of the day was the return by the Greens’ Sweden striker, Marcus Berg. He came back after two years of absence due to a shoulder injury, and did so in style as he powered home the third goal for Panathinaikos on the night.

In other matches the results were as follows: Fostiras 0 Panachaiki 2, Kerkyra 3 Apollon Kalamarias 0, OFI 1 Xanthi 0, Levadiakos 2 Platanias 0, Ethnikos Gazorou 1 Iraklis Thessalonikis 2, Atromitos 1 Panthrakikos 1, AEK 3 Iraklis Psahnon 0, Ergotelis 0 Veria 2, Ermionida 0 Apollon Smyrnis 1, Asteras Tripolis 2 Kalloni Lesvou 1, Tyrnavos 2 Aiginiakos 1, and Chania 0 Olympiakos Volou 0.

Thursday’s game between Niki Volou and Zakynthos was cancelled as the hosts, a Super League club, failed to collect the 3,000 euros required for the payment of match officials, so the referees did not come out of their locker room and the match will be awarded to second-division Zakynthos.

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