Souza seals group stage berth for Panathinaikos

Summer signing Rodrigo Souza was the lone scorer in Panathinaikos’ 1-0 win over Sparta Prague tonight in Athens. Leaving it late, Panathinaikos won the game as they did a fortnight ago to end Sparta Prague’s Champions League run prematurely. A must-win game for the visitors was level until Souza tallied late in stoppage time.

Looking to confirm progression early on, Panathinaikos dictated the opening minutes of the match. Sparta came close to levelling the aggregate score; however, a stubborn Mario Galinović kept his goal pure. Not to be outdone, Panathinaikos nearly took the lead themselves but Georgios Karagounis’ effort slammed off the post. Continuing their pressure, Sparta turned the tables on Panathinaikos but finishing eluded Miroslav Slepička.

With only forty-five minutes to turn the tie, Sparta added a second attacker to their already aggressive line-up. Despite adding to their offensive equation, Sparta was unable to solve the Panathinaikos. Henk Ten Cate added fresh legs of his own; opting to introduce Sotiris Ninis for the last half-hour. The twice-capped Greece international had an almost immediate effect when a perfect ball found Salpingidis; sadly, his national team counterpart was unable to finish.

Looking for some late heroics, Sparta created a flurry of chances in the dying minutes. Two chances in just two minutes left Panathinaikos supporters on the edge of their seats. They looked destined to score, but the finishing from Libor Došek and then Miroslav Slepička trickled wide of the goal.

Taking their own chances late in added time, Rodrigo Souza made sure the opportunity went to good use, as a header from the former-Flamengo striker bounced around Sparta keeper Matúš Kozáčík. Surely ending Sparta’s Champions League dreams for this year, Panathinaikos’ progression to the group stage was confirmed by the final whistle moments later.

Both teams will continue their European campaigns; but for the defeated Czech club, their route isn’t the desired one. Their fate will be put into focus later this week, as the side who sits atop the Gamrbinus Liga, enters the draw for the UEFA Cup first round.

As for Panathinaikos, the Greek side returns to the group stage of the most prestigious European club competition for the first time in three years. Settling for the UEFA Cup thanks to third-place finishes in previous Greek Super League seasons, the centenary club finally returns to the UEFA Champions League. Like Sparta, Panathinaikos’ European journey will come into clarity later this week; the Greek club will learn its group stage opponents after Thursday’s Champions League draw.

Panathinaikos 1-0 Sparta Prague
Souza 90 + 4′

Yellow Cards:
Panathinaikos - Salpingidis 50′, Spiropoulos 76′, Vyntra 83′
Sparta Prague - Kladrubský 16′, Kušnir 45 + 1′, Řepka 59′, Slepička 69′, Kučera 90 + 2′

Panathinaikos (Henk Ten Cate): Galinović, Sarriegui, Simão, Vyntra, Nilsson, Spiropoulos, Cleyton (66′ Ninis), Gilberto Silva (Mattos 90′), Karagounis, Souza, Salpingidis (81′ Gabriel).

Sparta Prague (Vítezslav Lavicka): Kozáčík, Kladrubský, Kadlec, Řepka, Kučera, Berger, Kušnir (61′ Zeman), Voríšek, Vacek (46′ Došek), Kulič (77′ Holenda), Slepička.