Olympiakos score seven to edge closer to title
Reuters - Sunday 25 March 2012, 20:51
Olympiakos Pireaus edged closer
to their 39th Greek league title on Sunday after overwhelming
Asteras Tripolis 7-2 with Kevin Mirallas scoring four times in a
powerful second-half display after trailing 2-0.
Ernesto Valverde's team found themselves two down after 16
minutes as early strikes from Spanish defender Ximo Navarro and
Brazilian forward Rogerio stunned the hosts.
Olympiakos' Belgian striker Mirallas inspired a spectacular
comeback, scoring four times to take his tally for the season to
18 goals as Tripolis were taken apart.
Rafik Djebbour and Pablo Orbaiz were also on target for the
Reds in a win that maintained Olympiakos' four-point advantage
at the top of the table ahead of Panathinaikos who were 1-0
winners at OFI Crete on Saturday courtesy of a solitary goal
from Brazilian forward Cleyton.
The gap could widen to seven this week if Panathinaikos lose
their appeal against a three-point deduction for this season and
a two-point penalty for next season following violence against
Olympiakos earlier this month.
They were handed the points penalty, a 252,500-euro fine and told to play four games behind closed doors
after the violence which resulted in a 45-minute delay as fans
pelted police with Molotov cocktails, flares and missiles.
Panathinaikos appealed against the punishments, meaning the
points deduction has not yet taken effect.
PAOK Salonica returned to winning form after two games
without a victory with a 4-0 hammering of lowly Kerkyra, a
result which kept them in fourth spot, one point ahead of AEK
Athens who ran out 1-0 winners against Panaitolkos thanks to a
goal from Nikos Liberopoulos.
This season's surprise package Atromitos continued their bid
for a European place with a 1-0 win over Skoda Xanthi on
Saturday thanks to striker Kostas Mitroglou's 15th goal of the
season which saw them hold on to third spot.