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Stars Soccer Review (SSR) Magazine Match
Coverage |
Panathinaikos wins
Clash of Champions
By Dixon Modeste
 
In front of
a crowd of about 18, 000 Panathinaikos was able
to defeat Inter Milan by a 3-2 margin. The first
half was lively and Cisse made the most of it
with two goals for a 3-1 halftime score. The
Greek league's reigning MVP sent out notice that
he has picked up exactly where he left off from
last year.
The first goal
came in the 12th minute from excellent work down
the left side by Sebastian Leto. His cross found
Cisse unmarked in the box and his first shot was
saved by goalkeeper Paolo Orlandoni but Cisse
was able to score on his second attempt.
 In
the 18th minute Estaban Cambiasso should have
leveled the game for Inter. He played a
wonderful one-two combination with Samuel Eto'O
at the edge of the box and his left footed shot
went just wide of the upright.
Cisse's second goal brought the crowd to it's
feet as Cambiasso errant pass was intercepted by
Cisse at midfield, from where he went on a solo
run.
Inter Milan's
defence kept retreating and Cisse released a
fierce shot from the top of the box that gave
the keeper no chance. Panathinaikos had deserved
its' 2-0 margin to that point of the match.
Seven minutes later, Cambiasso should have made
amends for his earlier errant pass but his
volley sailed just wide of the left upright.
Inter was not to be denied as they pulled one
back in the 32nd minute. Good work between
Victor Obinna and McDonald Mariga opened up the
Panathinaikos defence down the left flank.
Obinna cross was able to find Eto'O in the box
and he powered home from close range.
Inter was starting to gain some momentum but
Leto capitalised on some sloppy play again by
Inters' defence, to restore Panathiaikos two
goal lead. Materazzi was the guilty culprit this
time. His pass was short and Panathiaikos Loukas
Vyntra intercepted the ball and feed it to Leto
down the left side of the box and he beat the
keeper for power at the near post.
Panathiaikos went into the half leading 3-1.
 The
second half never lived up to the first. It was
a foul filled affair and it lacked continuity.
The game came to a head in the 77th minute when
Cisse and Brazil's captain Lucio had a shoving
match. Cisse was then immediately substituted to
cool the atmosphere.
Maicon introduction into the game brought life
to Inter's attack. On one of his runs down the
right flank he found Coutinho who scored to make
the game interesting for the last five minutes.
Argentina's star Diego Milito missed a sitter in
the final seconds that would have sent home the
Inter's faithful happy. His header from inside
the six yard box was steered just wide and with
that referee Maurice Navarro blew the whistle to
end the contest.
Panathiaikos edged out Inter 3-2 at the Rogers
Centre.
Photos by
Aldwyn McGill
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