PANATHINAIKOS 3 - 2 United (386974030)

Clear skies welcomed the 36501 spectators who had made their way to Green Hell Arena. Benjamin Griffin was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Anton Drillich and Marco Polo. PANATHINAIKOS started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Lineup: Türk - Charreton, Belluzzo, Moonen - Rubinstein, Akram, Ottens, Pilichiewicz, Ajofrín - Budych, Ziosi.

United had chosen a strategic 4-5-1 formation. Starters: Totev - Clements, Vaissière, Correia, Titan - Diggelmann, Toro Díaz, Sallinen, Barradas, Feeney - Spirou.

Using their counter-attacking abilities was the strategy of choice for United. With 3 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. Z. Spirou put the ball away for 0 - 1. With the crowd on their feet chanting wildly, some great moves down the right hand side after 4 minutes gave PANATHINAIKOS a wonderful opportunity to level the score, and A. Rubinstein stepped up to the challenge. 1 - 1 R. Clements stunned the crowd with a brilliant counterattack from the left, giving United the goal to make it 1 - 2. With a shot curled in from just outside the middle of the penalty area after 20 minutes played, R. Charreton of PANATHINAIKOS made the score 2 - 2. United mounted an inspired counterattack down the right wing after 23 minutes, but A. Toro Díaz was unable to convert from short range. 2 - 2 was the halftime score. Possession in this half belonged to PANATHINAIKOS, who controlled the ball 68 percent of the time.

PANATHINAIKOS made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left A. Rubinstein completely alone with keeper V. Totev, who made a spectacular block. PANATHINAIKOS could have put themselves ahead after 62 minutes but J. Akram missed a volley shot on a ball coming in from the right. 68 minutes into the game, United had difficulty finding their positions and their organisation dropped to weak. With 79 minutes gone, a long pass from the defence of United resulted in a counterattack that set J. Barradas free through the middle, but the keeper made a spectacular diving save. The referee showed United's A. Toro Díaz the yellow card after a particularly nasty challenge. PANATHINAIKOS were forced into a substitution as J. Budych couldn't continue due to some rough treatment, forcing L. Embley to come in off the bench. After 83 minutes, G. Ziosi came in from the right, feinted, then sped past the off-balance defender to make the score 3 - 2, giving PANATHINAIKOS the lead. In the lead, PANATHINAIKOS adjusted their style of play with 84 minutes gone. In an effort to secure the lead, PANATHINAIKOS changed their tactic after 84 minutes. PANATHINAIKOS enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 71 percent of possession.

PANATHINAIKOS's top performer was clearly G. Ziosi. L. Embley was a disappointment, however. P. Diggelmann performed admirably for United. T. Sallinen turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 3 - 2.