Olympiakos beats AEK, takes lead
Predrag Djordjevic scored a 90th minute goal yesterday to give defending champion Olympiakos Piraeus a 3-2 away victory over AEK and overtake the Athens club as league leader. After 12 rounds, Olympiakos has 28 points – one ahead of AEK – in Greece’s first division soccer league. In an action-packed game, PAOK drew 3-3 with Panachaiki in Patras, to retain third place in the 14-team standings with 22 points. PAOK squandered a 3-0 lead. Panathinaikos defeated Xanthi 2-1 away, to move into fourth place. In other action yesterday it was: Akratitos 1, Ionikos 2; Ethnikos Asteras 0, Panionios 2; Aris 1, Iraklis 1, and Aegaleo 0, OFI 0. AEK surprised Olympiakos and took the lead in the 7th minute with star striker Demis Nikolaidis off a perfect pass from Vassilis Tsartas. In the 22nd, a cross from Stelios Yiannacopoulos found Alexis Alexandris alone in front of AEK’s goalmouth to head in the equalizer. AEK again pulled ahead in the 44th. A free kick from Tsartas deflected off the defensive wall to beat Eleftheropoulos. Brazilian striker Giovanni shot from outside the box to level 2-2 in the 77th minute. (AP)