Panathinaikos beat Panetolikos 3-0 in a clash between the division's two front-runners, making it four wins from four matches and moving three points clear at the top of the Super League Greece table.
Goals from Tamborda, Unai and Calabria settled the contest. Panathinaikos are now three points ahead of PAOK, four ahead of AEK Athens and five ahead of Olympiacos at the top of the standings.
Results elsewhere involving AEK and Olympiacos had opened the door for Panathinaikos to stretch their advantage at the top, and the home side showed from early on that they were determined not to waste the opportunity, going ahead through another headed goal from Tamborda.
Early Goals Give Panathinaikos Control
In the 13th minute, in the first good chance of the match, Antino crossed from the left and Tamborda timed his movement well, heading the ball into the net for 1-0. Neestrup's side had the lead early, though the Danish coach was forced into a substitution shortly afterwards.
Tamborda, the scorer, went off in the 20th minute with discomfort in his groin and was replaced by Levi Garcia. Panetolikos also made a forced change, in the 29th minute, when Satsias came off for Esteban.
The match had few other clear-cut chances, but Panathinaikos doubled their lead in the 39th minute with a well-worked goal. Unai found space, advanced and picked his spot, beating goalkeeper Kucherenko for 2-0. The scoreline could have been 3-0 by the 44th minute after Descers went through one on one and got past the goalkeeper too, but defender Granath managed to clear the ball before it crossed the line.
Second-Half Penalty Seals Win
Panathinaikos were fully in control of the game after the break. In the 52nd minute, Unai went for goal again, but his finish was off target and the ball went out. Panetolikos coach Yannis Anastasiou made one substitution after another, but none of them changed the pattern of the match.
Neestrup also made further changes as Panathinaikos continued to dictate the tempo. In the 93rd minute, they won a penalty following contact between Genepo and Calabria. The Italian defender took the kick himself and scored to make the final result 3-0.
Lineups
Panathinaikos (Jacob Neestrup): Penia, De Frey, Van Drongelen, Calabria, Kyriakopoulos, Louza (Kangwa, 60'), Camara, Unai (Tetteh, 60'), Tamborda (Levi Garcia, 20'), Antino (Pellistri, 76'), Descers (Tsapras, 76').
Panetolikos (Yannis Anastasiou): Kucherenko, Mavrias (Prodromitis, 63'), Granath, Stajic, Apostolopoulos, Satsias (Esteban, 29'), Erakovic (Opoku, 56'), Bassi, Alexic (Nakamba, 46'), Genepo, Mejia (Bazi, 56').
