SL2 23/24: Ilioupoli 0-4 Athens Kallithea

As the promotion playoffs finally kicked off on Monday afternoon, AKFC rose to the occasion with arguably their best performance of the season, defeating hosts Ilioupoli by four goals to nil, and extending their lead atop the standings to five points.

Giannis Loukinas stepped up with a captain’s goal to break the ice in the 10th minute, heading in a right-wing cross from Andreas Vasilogiannis, and AKFC were off and running. Six minutes later, Demethryus won a loose ball on the press and comfortably slotted in the second goal. And just before half-time, Georgios Manthatis finished off a beautiful passing sequence with a vicious strike from distance.

AKFC had come into the match unbeaten when scoring the first goal this season (12 wins, two draws, seven goals conceded), and three first-half goals were going to be more than enough to get the job done.

In the second half, substitute Gonzalo Torres swept in a fourth goal after Orestis Tsintonis and Demethryus led a quick counter, as AKFC secured all three points.

The result marked the club’s biggest away win at the second division level since February 2012.

AKFC will host Ionikos at Grigoris Lamprakis Stadium on Sunday 31 March.

Athens Kallithea (4-2-3-1): Kotsaris, Manthatis, Marotta, Tsivelekidis, Kainourgios, Matilla (64’ Bouloulis), Silva, Vasilogiannis (71’ Kynigopoulos), Moutinho (56’ Tsintonis), Demethryus (71’ Pereira), Loukinas (56’ Torres)