OFI chalked up their first win of the fledgling Super League season on Saturday night thanks to a stunning 3-1 away win over a lackluster Panathinaikos, who put in a desperately below-par performance.

Giorgos Donis’ team fell behind just after the half-hour mark to a goal from Dimitris Manos. The 24-year-old on-loan striker from Olympiacos then added a second four minutes after half-time, before Kosmas Tsilianidis added a third.

The Greens pulled a goal back from the penalty spot five minutes from time with Italian striker Federico Macheda on target, but it was way too little too little from a below-par home side, who also had captain Dimitris Kourbelis sent-off in added time as frustration set in.

The result is a poor one and unexpected for Donis’ young charges, who may be in for a long slog this season on this evidence against a side who only narrowly escaped relegation last season.

THE MATCH

Having started the season last week with a 1-1 draw in Lamia, it was imperative for the home side to get the first win of the new campaign under the belts to ease the pressure.

But the Greens got off to a slow start and it was OFI who registered the first goal threat after seven minutes, but thankfully for the home side OFI forward Adil Nabi’s effort was touched onto the post by Sokratis Dioudis in the Panathinaikos goal.

Apart from a couple of half-chances which Macheda could not connect with, there was much in the way of clear scoring chances for the Greens in the first half.

And it did not come as much of a surprise when they fell behind to Manos’ strike after 33 minutes. There was a suspicion of offside but after consulting VAR, replays clearly showed that Manos was onside when he received Tsilianidis’ pass and went on to beat Dioudis with a clinical finish.

Panathinaikos did not manage to respond well before half-time, and were actually lucky not to go 2-0 down two minutes before half-time when Kostas Giannoulis put the ball in the net and celebrated, only for the strike to be ruled out by VAR after replays showed a handball in the build-up.

The Greens looked like they had it all to do in the second half, but they failed to regroup and found themselves 2-0 down four minutes after the restart when Manos struck again following an error by Portuguese defender João Nunes. At first the goal was ruled out due to an offside, but after consulting VAR, the referee awarded the goal

Still, Panathinaikos struggled to find a response, and it was 3-0 to the visitors in the 58th minute when the lively Tsilianidis, who set up the first goal, swept home the ball after another poor mistake from Nunes.

The home fans were jeering and booing their players at this point, but finally, Panathinaikos did manage to get on the scoresheet in the 85th minute, with Macheda slotting home a penalty won by substitute Juan José Perea.

But that was scant consolation on what was a miserable night for Donis and Panathinaikos, who must quickly turn things around in the next outing on Matchday 3.

STARTING LINEUPS

PAO: 1 Dioudis (GK), 2 Johansson, 3 Insua, 7 Kolovos, 8 Donis, 9 Macheda, 10 Ghayas Zahid, 11 Chatzigiovanis, 21 Kourbelis, 30 Joao Nunes, 44 Pouggouras

OFI: 32 Sotiriou, 6 Nastos, 8 Juan Neira, 9 Manos, 10 Nabi, 11 Semedo, 16 Marinakis, 18 Giannoulis, 19 Tsilianidis, 29 Mellado, 34 Korovesis

credits: www.agonasport.com