Kavala fought their way to the most surprising result in the qualifying round of the Greek Cup, becoming the only team to eliminate a Super League club.
The “Argonauts” defeated Panserraikos 5-4 on penalties, one of three games from the overall five that had to be decided via a shoot-out.
The Serres side took the lead in the 69th minute with Andrei Ivan’s penalty, but Kavala levelled it up in injury time (90+1) with a header by Rakip Bregu, sending the match to penalties.
Makis Giannikoglou stepped up with two crucial saves, the latter seeing him stop Marios Tsaousis’ penalty to help Kavala eliminate the top flight club.
Kifisia almost suffered the same fate as Panserraikos, though goalkeeper Vasilis Xenopoulos rescued them in the shoot-out to help them beat Anagennisi Karditsa 3-2 on penalties.
The game finished 1-1 with Anagennisi striking first through Ioakeim Zygeridis (39′) before Andreas Tetei converted a penalty in the 79th minute to keep Kifisia in the game before they then won the game in the shoot-out.
The other results from the qualifying round of the Greek Cup included:
Tuesday (AEST)
Makedonikos-Levadiakos 1-2
Niki Volos-Panaitolikos 1-2
Wednesday (AEST)
PAS Giannina-Volos 0-4
Kalamata-AEL 1-2
Anag. Karditsas-Kifissia 1-1 (2-3 on penalties)
Egaleo-Panargeikos 1-1 (6-5 on penalties)
Kavala-Panserraikos 1-1 (5-4 on penalties)
Four more games will be played on Thursday morning (AEST), including Kampaniakos-Kallithea, Panionios-Iraklis, Chania-Marko and Ellas Syros-Nestos Chrysoupolis
The 11 teams from the qualifiers, Ilioupoli, which qualified without a match, and the top eight teams from last year’s Super League (Olympiacos, Panathinaikos, PAOK, AEK, Aris, Asteras Tripolis, Atromitos, OFI) will participate in the single group phase (League Phase).
