A remarkable comeback at the death saw PAOK suffer a shock defeat against Volos, costing them vital points in their title challenge.

The Thessaloniki giants fell 1-2 to Volos at Toumba Stadium on Monday morning (AEDT) in the Greek Super League’s 18th round, falling seven points off top spot in the process.

PAOK opened the scoring in the 69th minute through Mady Camara’s corner header, putting them in control of the fixture.

They held onto the lead until injury time when a ball from Volos defender Daniel Sundgren led to PAOK centre half Giannis Michailidis inadvertently knocking it into his own net (90+2′).

The evening turned worse moments later as forward Pedro Conde scored in the 90+4th minute to stun the hosts and grab a most impressive victory for the Magnesia outfit.

The result ensured PAOK of their second straight loss to greatly hinder their championship aspirations.

Panathinaikos was held to a 2-2 away draw with Panserraikos amid extremely wet conditions in a game filled with twists and turns, with the “Trifylli” ultimately dropping crucial points to fall further behind the league leaders.

The Greens went ahead in the 38th minute after winger Tete struck the ball sweetly from distance into the bottom right corner.

Panathinaikos then doubled it quickly into the second period through a well-guided volley by midfielder Adam Cerin inside the box (48′).

Forward Jefte Betancor stepped up for with an important headed goal in the 64th minute to keep the Serres club in the contest.

Betancor then won a penalty minutes later after goalkeeper Bartlomiej Dragowski was deemed to have headbutted the forward in a coming together, with the Pole also receiving a red card for his action (69′).

The Spaniard converted the spot-kick into the top right (76′) to bring Panserraikos level in what proved the final decisive moment of the outing.

AEK performed better than their rivals as they beat Kallithea 2-0 at home to ascend into second place.

Enosi broke through in the 18th minute via a lovely headed goal by defender Gerasimos Mitoglou.

The home side suffered a late red card to midfielder Mijat Gacinovic (86′), though it had little impact as they even managed to grab a second goal in injury time via substitute Erik Lamela’s excellent free kick strike (90+3′).

Atromitos extended Lamia’s troubles with a 0-3 success at “Athanasios Diakos” ground in a worrying outcome that further suggests the Fthiotida outfit is at big risk of relegation this season.

Striker Carlitos put the Peristeriotes in front just five minutes into the clash with teammate Dimitrios Kaloskamis doubling it soon after (19′),

Carlitos then put the game to bed early into the second period with another goal in the 51st minute.

Olympiacos was spurred to a dramatic 2-1 triumph against Aris at “Georgios Karaiskakis” ground on Sunday morning, with youngster Charalambos Kostoulas striking twice to lead the “red-whites” to victory.

The “yellow-blacks” managed to strike first after marksman Loren Moron released an excellent long-range shot into the bottom right (35′).

The Piraeus giants came out of the break firing as they equalised soon after the restart through young forward Kostoulas, who cleverly pressed and claimed the ball from Aris in their half as he dribbled into the box and hit it into the back of the net (50′).

The night was complicated for the visitors when right back Martin Montoya received his second booking (72′), putting the Thessaloniki side down to ten players.

It took the league leaders up until the 90+6th minute to capitalise on the advantage with Kostoulas meeting defender Giulian Biancone’s cross into the box and heading it into the goal.

The strike ensured the “red-whites” remain first for another week with the result itself a great boost ahead of their first leg in the Cup quarter-finals against Panathinaikos.

The round will close out on Tuesday morning with matches between Asteras Tripolis-Panetolikos and OFI-Levadiakos.

 

Greek Super League Ladder (games in hand)

1-Olympiacos: 40

2-AEK: 37

3-Panathinaikos: 36

4-PAOK: 33

5-Aris: 27

6-Panetolikos: 23 (17)

7-OFI: 23 (17)

8-Asteras Tripolis: 22 (17)

9-Atromitos: 22

10-Volos: 20

12-Panserraikos: 18

12-Levadiakos: 17 (17)

13-Kallithea: 12

14-Lamia: 9