PAOK moves to the top
PAOK moved to joint top of the soccer Super League table on Sunday along with Olympiakos after beating local rival Aris and the Reds dropped two points in Crete. The eagerly anticipated OFI vs Olympiakos game in Crete produced no goals but more arguing about referees, as the champion protested the decisions of referee Ilias Mazarakos. Both he and Lazaros Polatian, who officiated the PAOK vs Aris match, were suspended yesterday for the next three games. There was little to complain about for PAOK as the Thessaloniki giant has moved to the top of the Greek league for the first time in six years. The team of Portuguese coach Fernando Santos defeated Aris 1-0 thanks to a Zlatan Muslimovic free kick in the second half that was deflected off the chest of PAOK defender Pablo Contreras and went straight into the Aris net. The somewhat lucky goal was less than what the Black-and-Whites deserved, as they completely dominated their visitors who had little to show in attack. Aris could easily have been reduced to 10 men due to the clumsy tackle from behind by Spanish midfielder Vitolo Bermudez on Portuguese player Vieirinha. The Portugal international is facing at least a month on the sidelines due to his injury. In the weekend’s other big game, AEK scored an injury-time equalizer to salvage one point in its 2-2 draw with Panionios at Nea Smyrni. The hosts led twice through a Sotiris Kyrgiakos own goal and a Michael Delura strike, but AEK got on level terms, first through Argentine Nacho Scocco and in the end courtesy of Pantelis Kafes. Xanthi has now moved up to third with its home win over Thrasyvoulos, thanks to a beautiful injury-time goal by Poland’s Rafal Grzelak. Larissa won at Panserraikos 3-1, Levadiakos remained unbeaten for a third straight game, beating Asteras Tripolis 1-0 at home, and Iraklis simply could not get past Panthrakikos keeper Jose Manuel Roca (0-0). The Spaniard even saved a penalty. Panathinaikos’s home game against Ergotelis on Saturday was postponed until October 29 due to the Madonna concert at the Olympic Stadium.
