SL2 23/24: Giouchtas 1-2 Athens Kallithea

AKFC extended their lead at the top of the table in dramatic fashion on Monday afternoon, going down a goal in the second half before pulling off a thrilling comeback, capped by Gonzalo Torres’ 93rd minute winner, to defeat Giouchtas at the Pancretan Stadium, 1-2.

Giouchtas had not lost a home match this season, taking points from all of the promotion hopefuls on their travels to Heraklion, and they proved a difficult side to break down through the first half, with Panagiotis Kynigopoulos and Demethryus failing to convert on AKFC’s two best chances, while the hosts were a threat on the counterattack.

In the second half, Giouchtas continued with a direct approach, and it would result in a penalty when ‘keeper Konstantinos Kotsaris mistimed his effort to cut out a long ball and committed a foul, which Vangelis Alexopoulos put away in the 55th minute.

AKFC were in danger, but still had time, and a trio of new players would help turn the tide. Torres had entered at half-time, eventually followed by Lucas Necul and Marko Jevremović, who, along with Andreas Vasilogiannis, helped create a fresh threat on the wings and more sustained pressure in the final third, until there was finally a breakthrough.

In the 78th minute, Jevremović crossed from the left wing, Torres flicked the ball on, and Damián Silva was chopped down in the box, earning a penalty. Javier Matilla, wearing the captain’s armband in the absence of the suspended Giannis Loukinas, stepped up to the spot, and, as cool as can be under pressure, drove the ball into the top corner.

AKFC were in no mood to settle for a point, pinning the hosts back for the final minutes of the match, and they would snatch a winner at the death.

In the 93rd minute, Silva won a header from a goal kick, Kynigopoulos won the second ball out of the air, and Vasilogiannis played a low cross into the box, which was initially blocked but Torres would pounce on the loose ball and emphatically thump it past the ‘keeper.

The inspiring win extends AKFC’s lead at the top of the table to three points.

Athens Kallithea (4-3-3): Kotsaris, Bouloulis (65’ Jevremović), Marotta, Mejías, Manthatis, Matilla (93’ Tsivelekidis), Silva, Tsintonis (46’ Torres), Vasilogiannis (93’ Romao), Kynigopoulos, Demethryus (56’ Necul)