Olympiakos await court decision to retain Super League title

AEK, Panathinaikos win, PAOK loses in thriller to Larissa

James Belias

The final round of the Super League lived up to all expectations with a record goal haul and some huge surprises but no Champion as yet. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is still deciding whether to re-award relegated Apollon Kalamarias the three points they earned when they defeated Olympiakos 1-0 earlier in the season. The issue has gone to court because Kalamaria apparently fielded an ineligible player, who had been cleared by the Super League to play. Olympiakos complained and received the three points despite losing on the field. The CAS decision is expected within 24 hours.

No surprise at the top of the table, as Olympiakos defeated northern challengers 3-1 at Karaiskakis Stadium in Athens. Though he received a red card last week, for some reason captain Predrag Djordjevic played for the reds and even scored their third goal with a massive deflection from a free kick. Iraklis challenged well in the second half after showing almost nothing in the first 45 minutes. Olympiakos now needs the CAS to rule in their favour to retain their title, no trophy was presented after the match.

Across Athens, AEK needed Iraklis to get a result if they were to leap-frog their rivals into top place. AEK endured a jittery opening 45 minutes at the buzzing OAKA Stadium in Athens against Asteras Tripolis. Over 50,000 AEK fans had filled the arena to hopefully witness their team's first title in over a decade. AEK needed to win the match and rely on either Olympiakos to drop points, or the CAS to rule in Kalamaria's favour to take the title.

Rivaldo scored a wonder goal with a blistering shot in the 44th minute of the match after good lead up work by Ismael Blanco. Blanco then produced the moment of the match with a scissor kick that beat the Tripoli goal keeper and sent the AEK fans into raptures.

AEK fans were in a buoyant mood and gave a fitting send off to one of AEK's recent heroes, Akis Zikos, who was playing his final match. Zikos, who had a magnificent career abroad, even played in the Champions League final, in a losing side with French Club Monaco. Gustavo Manduca gave Zikos the chance to end his career with a goal when he earned AEK a late penalty but despite two attempts, Zikos failed to convert, his second shot smashing against the crossbar then hitting the goal-line before being cleared to safety.

At the beginning of play, Panathiniakos could even have been made Champion, needing both AEK and Olympiakos to draw their matches and then the CAS to rule against the reds tomorrow, if they won their own match, incidentally against Kalamaria. Galanopoulos had a nightmare for Kalamaria, scoring two own goals in his side's 1-3 loss. Panathinakos were condemned to end their Centenary year with no silverwear.

The most entertaining match of the round was in Thessaly, where Larissa hosted Macedonian side PAOK. Larissa needed to win their match, hope Panionos drew or lost to relegation threatened Atromitos and AEK beat Tripolis. They got off to the worst possible start, and were down 0-3 at home. Coach Giorgios Donis was possibly in his last match with the club (he is rumoured to move to AEK) and undoubtedly inspired his team to make a dramatic comeback. Larissa went on a scoring spree, putting four past PAOK in quick succession. With AEK leading Tripoli it looked as if Larissa had made an epic come back and would take part in the Super League play-offs, until news of Panionios' result spoilt their hopes.

Panionios scored a late winner in their fiercely contested match against Atromitos, to squeeze them into the playoffs, knock out Larissa and relegate Atromitos all at once. Elsewhere, Levadiakos confirmed their Super League status for next season with an epic 5-3 victory over relegated Veria.