Panathinaikos grabs advantage in Prague

Panathinaikos took a big step towards qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage with a gritty 2-1 win over Sparta Prague in the Czech capital. An exchange of goals including an own goal scored by Sparta Prague gave Panathinaikos two away goals to take back to Athens.

A shaky opening to the first half by Panathinaikos was quickly overwritten when Štěpán Kučera turned the ball into his own net. The home side proved that they weren’t fazed by the own goal, and Sparta Prague equalized six minutes later thanks to a classy finish from Marek Kulič. The goal was just one of several chances the home side had in the first half.

In the second half, Panathinaikos turned the tide on Prague. Rather than the home team storming towards goal, Panathinaikos began to take the initiative in attack. Greek international Loukas Vyntra had an effort on goal, but Prague keeper Matúš Kozáčík pushed the effort out for a corner. On the ensuing corner, the cross from Greek starlet Sotiris Ninis was met by Mozambique international Simão who easily slotted the ball into the Prague net. Prague tried to claw their way back into the game but an effort from Jan Holenda went wide of Mario Galinovic’s goal.

Panathinaikos managed to hold on to their lead but the same task back home in Athens could be a much tougher one. Obviously the two away goals will go a long way in deciding this tie, but the Panathinaikos could expect a long night of work in two weeks time.

Sparta Prague 1-2 Panathinaikos
Kulič 30′ — Kučera (o.g.) 24′, Simão 60′

Yellow Cards:
Sparta Prague — Voríšek 47′, Kladrubský 65′, Zeman 90 + 1′, Kučera 90 + 2′
Panathinaikos — Gilberto Silva 39′, Sarriegui 75′, Ninis 83′, Nilsson 90 + 2′

Panathinaikos (Henk Ten Cate): Galinović, Gabriel, Sarriegui, Vyntra, Spiropoulos, Salpingidis (Nilsson 69′), Gilberto Silva, Tziolis (Ninis 57′), Simão, Karagounis (Ivanschitz 90′), Rodrigo Souza.

Sparta Prague (Vítezslav Lavicka): Kozáčík, Voríšek, Řepka, Kučera, Kadlec (Kolář 67′), Kušnir, Kladrubský (Zeman 84′), Hušek, Berger, Kulič (Holenda 72′), Slepička.