Panathinaikos in 2-1 comeback win over Olympiakos

Posted Sunday, October 31, 2010 by YAHOO Sport

ATHENS, Greece (AP)—Defending champion Panathinaikos beat Greek league leader Olympiakos 2-1 to close within a point of its archrival on Saturday.

Kevin Mirallas put Olympiakos ahead in the first half but Djibril Cisse scored twice within five minutes in the second.

Olympiakos has 18 points from eight games, with Panathinaikos on 17. AEK, which plays at Panionios on Sunday, is third with 13 points.

Also on Saturday, Aris beat Atromitos 2-0 and Larissa defeated Xanthi 3-0.

Host Panathinaikos came close to taking the lead when a powerful low shot by Cisse forced Urko Pardo to make a diving save in the 11th minute.

Panathinaikos goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas saved a shot by David Fuster in the 20th. Five minutes later, a low drive by Nikos Spyropoulos sent the ball just wide of the right post.

In the 37th, Mirallas gained the ball close to the touchline on the left, swerved inside and dribbled past three defenders before unleashing a powerful shot outside the area that put Olympiakos ahead.

Panathinaikos became more dangerous after halftime, when Luis Garcia replaced the ineffective Sidney Govou.

In the 57th, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos crossed from the right and an unmarked Cisse easily leveled the score.

Five minutes later, Cisse exchanged passes with Garcia and was brought down in Olympiakos’ area by defender Avraam Papadopoulos. Papadopoulos was sent off and Cisse converted the penalty for his seventh goal of the season.

Olympiakos’ efforts to equalize did not produce any major chances and Panathinaikos controlled the match until the end.

On Sunday, it’s: Iraklis vs. Volos, Kerkyra vs. Asteras, Panserraikos vs. Kavala and Ergotelis vs. PAOK.