Vikingur – Panathinaikos 2-1: Ioannidis Saves the Day

Panathinaikos delivered one of their worst performances this season, falling victim to a major upset in Helsinki. The team coached by Rui Vitória lost 2-1 against the relatively unknown Vikingur and now faces the challenge of turning it around in the return leg at OAKA to qualify for the ’16’ stage, where they will face either Fiorentina or Rapid Vienna. Panathinaikos lined up with several changes to their starting lineup and appeared inferior under the circumstances. Atlason and Williamson put them behind with their goals, but Ioannidis saved the day with a successful penalty kick in the final moments, keeping Panathinaikos alive in the qualification battle. In stoppage time, Lontjigen ‘saved’ Panathinaikos from a third goal by deflecting Ingimundarson’s header. Despite being the favorite for qualification, such performances do not bode well for any significant European campaign. Additionally, injuries to Bakasetas and Palmer-Brown, who were forced substitutions, make it unlikely they’ll be ready for next week’s return match. The game started poorly for Panathinaikos, with missed opportunities early on, conceding an ‘easy’ goal in the 13th minute and continuing to struggle with defensive lapses that cost them dearly. Ioannidis’s late penalty provided a lifeline, reducing the deficit to 2-1. Both teams’ lineups are detailed in the article.