A resurgent OFI side had the chance to climb to Super League safety in Heraklion, but struggling Asteras Tripolis held on for a vital point in a 1:1 draw.

In winning three out of the last four matches, OFI have scrambled out of the automatic drop zone, and they looked on course to climb to 12th when Ricardo Vaz converted a penalty. However, Asteras replied with a goal from Kosmas Tsilianidis, which means the Tripoli outfit remain ahead of their Cretan opponents in the standings. 13th place - currently occupied by OFI - grants a berth in the relegation/promotion playoff against the second best Football League side.

Asteras should have claimed the lead in the early stages. Connecting with a looping free-kick, Angel Martinez had a golden opportunity to beat OFI goalkeeper Dimitris Sotiriou, but he contrived to hit the right post.

The hosts then took the lead in the 17th minute. Ismail Sassi was hauled down inside the area by opposing defender Valentinos Vlachos, allowing Vaz to calmly slot the resulting penalty beyond Giorgos Athanasiadis into the middle of the net.

Giorgos Giakoumakis almost doubled OFI’s lead as the forward planted a firm header against the left post when ignored by the Asteras defence.

At the other end, Asteras were gradually asserting more pressure on OFI, and Marc Fernandez bundled the ball inches wide of the target after finding space in the box.

Asteras eventually registered their equaliser in the 59th minute, moments after Vlachos had missed the target with the goal gaping. Escaping his marker, Tsilianidis was picked out by a pinpoint cross from the left wing, subsequently sending a powerful header past Sotiriou.

After Giakoumakis and Christopher Braun passed up chances for OFI, Asteras could have snatched all three points in the dying embers of stoppage time, but substitute Martin Rolle poked wide at point blank range.

credits: www.agonasport.com