Kalloni threatens PAOK with elimination from Cup
PAOK suffered a shock loss at Kalloni Lesvou for the Greek Cup on Wednesday that has put the position of coach Igor Tudor into doubt, while the other favorites proceeded with away wins in the first-leg games of the Round of 16.
PAOK supporters had a hostile welcome for the club’s squad back in Thessaloniki after its 2-1 defeat at Kalloni that has curtailed the hopes of the club for advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament, although the return leg a week later in Thessaloniki will be an entirely different proposition.
In fact Robert Mak saved PAOK’s face to an extent with his last-minute goal that reduced the deficit, after Anestis Anastasiadis and Fotis Georgiou had given Kalloni a 2-0 lead.
Holder Olympiakos also fell behind, at second-division Hania on Thursday, but eventually won 4-1, goals coming from Hernani, Dimitris Kolovos, Seba and Yiannis Maniatis, who scored on his return with the red-and-white jersey and on his name day. Yiannis Gesios had given Hania an eighth-minute lead.
Panathinaikos also came from behind to defeat 10-man PAS Giannina 2-1 away on Thursday, thanks to goals from Mehdi Abejd and Mladen Petric. PAS had led courtesy of Noe Acosta.
AEK avenged its recent league loss at home to Levadiakos with a 1-0 away win on Wednesday at Livadia. Venezuelan international Roland Vargas scored the game’s only goal.
In other games Panionios won 1-0 at Ergotelis, in-form Asteras Tripolis triumphed 3-0 at Larissa, Iraklis escaped with a 1-0 victory from Veria, and Platanias Hanion shared a goalless draw with Atromitos.
The return legs will take place from January 12 to 14.
