Panionios loses first leg against OFK Belgrade
Panionios lost 1-0 in Belgrade to local club OFK for the Intertoto soccer cup yesterday but maintains some hope of advancing from the competition’s second round. In the Greek team’s first competitive match this season, Panionios had a fairly good first half with some goal-scoring opportunities through Dimitris Sialmas and Lambros Choutos, but could not grab the crucial away goal. In the second half OFK were the better team and took the lead after 69 minutes thanks to a volley by Andrija Kaludjerovic following a Zoran Milovac cross from the right. The Panionios players looked increasingly out of shape as the match progressed and despite some late substitutions they could not turn the tide of the game. The second leg is set for Sunday, July 13, at the Nea Smyrni ground, with Panionios needing to win by two clear goals. A 1-0 win will take the tie to extra time and penalties. On the domestic front, Panathinaikos has bought Croatian international striker Ante Rukavina from Hajduk Split. The 22-year-old arrived in Greece on Saturday and signed a four-year contract.
