SL2 23/24: Athens Kallithea 1-0 Kalamata

AKFC claimed a key victory on Sunday afternoon, defeating promotion rivals Kalamata at Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium, 1-0, on a late goal from Argentine defender Nicolás Marotta. The result brings AKFC to the top of the table at the close of the first round of the 2023/24 Super League 2 season.

Starting on the front foot, AKFC went achingly close to an opener in the fifth minute, when Demethryus burst into the final third, exchanged a give-and-go with Giannis Loukinas, and beat the ‘keeper from a tight angle but saw the shot roll just wide of the far post.

Demethryus would be a constant source of inspiration on the day, and he initiated another major chance in the 33rd minute, stealing the ball in a high press and again combining with Loukinas, who set up Georgios Moustakopoulos for a good look at goal but his shot also flashed wide of the post.

In the 41st minute, Demethryus once again led a charge up the field, and again fed the ball into the feet of Loukinas, this time laying it off for Javier Matilla, who put too much power on his shot and sent it over the bar, with the first half soon ending scoreless.

AKFC would continue building momentum through the second half and created their best chance of the match in the 64th minute. In a breathtaking move, Demethryus ripped through the defense on the left side and megged the last defender before squaring the ball for Orestis Tsintonis who had a look at clear look at goal with ‘keeper Makis Giannikoglou partially stranded, but Giannikoglou would recover and make a diving stop on Tsintonis’ shot.

As time ticked on, Kalamata sank deeper in defense to protect a point, but AKFC kept pushing and would finally find the breakthrough just four minutes from time. In the 86th minute, Matilla swung a free-kick to the back post, Loukinas headed back across goal, and Nico Marotta was in position to stuff the ball into the net, with the El Paso erupting.

After closing out the result, AKFC stood at the top of the table on 23 points, one point ahead of Chania and four points ahead of Kalamata.

Athens Kallithea (4-3-3): Kotsaris, Bouloulis, Marotta, Mejías, Manthatis (86’ Pozatzidis), Matilla, Silva (63’ Tsintonis), Moustakopoulos (75’ Vasilogiannis), Kynigopoulos (86’ Romao), Loukinas, Demethryus