In Brief
Key game for Panionios in the Intertoto Cup Panionios will field a different lineup in tomorrow’s match against OFK Belgrade at the Nea Smyrni soccer ground. The Greek team hopes to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg of the Intertoto Cup second round tie with the Serbs. Giorgos Barkoglou and Marios Nikolaou are expected to start, instead of Dimitris Sialmas and Fanouris Goundoulakis. The game kicks off at 9 p.m. The winner of the tie will meet Italy’s Napoli for a place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Cup. Greece baseballers score 3 out of 3 in Portugal The national baseball team scored three wins in as many games this week and reached the final of the European championship qualifying tournament being held in Abrantes, Portugal. Greece finished top of the group with some impressive performances, defeating Russia 5-3 on Wednesday, hosts Portugal 11-3 on Thursday and Ireland 5-1 yesterday. In the final today the Greeks will face either Portugal or Russia, for a place in the finals in Germany next year. Next to bottom The men’s national water polo team beat Slovakia 12-5 yesterday in Malaga and avoided finishing last in the European Championships. Greece ended up 11th after beating Slovakia twice, drawing with Croatia and losing four other matches. The women ended sixth of eight teams. Piyi ambition Triple-jump champion Piyi Devetzi stated yesterday that she believes a medal at the Olympic Games is within her ability. «It gives me a great boost when people expect me to land a medal,» she said in an interview. Devetzi achieved a world-leading jump of 15.22 meters on Wednesday at the Thessaloniki 2008 meeting. Striker to PAOK Greece striker Nikos Lyberopoulos, who earlier this week ended his contract with AEK soccer club, told PAOK yesterday he will consider its offer for a two-year contract and respond within 48 hours. He is reportedly still hoping for a proposal from abroad, but the prospect of joining the major Thessaloniki club is also attractive to him.
