With Taborda’s penalty on 88 minutes, Panathinaikos, who had been playing with 10 players since 58 minutes due to Zaroury’s suspension, beat Betis 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie and have a lead to qualify for the quarter-finals.
The Greens wanted to start the game strongly and tried to press in the opening minutes, but it took a big save from Lafon on 8 minutes from a Couzzo header to keep them from falling behind. It was the first very good chance for the Spaniards and the response of the “clover” came on 14′ with Kyriakopoulos who was in a shooting position and took a shot but the ball went out of bounds.
The game had a very good pace but not many phases, with the visitors focusing on Tettei to cut him off from the rest of the team and Panathinaikos, on the other hand, defending well, having left possession of the ball to their opponents.
The minutes, therefore, went by without any major play until 45 minutes, when Tettey was waiting for the ball to be executed, after filling in from the right, but the Spaniards managed to cut in. At the start of the second half Manuel Pellegrini took off Natan, who had seen a yellow card, and brought on Valentin Gomes, with Betis regaining possession of the ball.
On 55 minutes, the Andalusian threatened with a shot from Coucho that went just wide, and soon after, on 58 minutes, things changed… And they did, because Marchiniak showed Jaroury a second yellow card for a foul on Esalzouli, leaving the Greens with 10 players.
It was a harsh decision that caused nerves for Rafa Benitez, his players and the fans in the stands. Things were more difficult, now, for the “treble”, but his reaction was good. With a lot of passion in every duel, Panathinaikos continued to defend well while Lafon was excellent whenever he was needed, such as for example on Anthony’s shot on 78 minutes.
In 83′ Benitez made his first substitutions and one of those who came on, Sfidersky, became instantly decisive as he won a penalty on 84′, after a VAR review, from Jorente, who also saw a red card! Taborda took the penalty on 88′ to make it 1-0, which gave Panathinaikos the lead to qualify for the round of 8.
Panathinaikos (Rafa Benitez):Lafon, Calabria, Ingason, Katris, Jarouri, Cherin (83′ Siopis), Renato Sanchez, Kyriakopoulos, Pelistri (92′ Djuricic), Taborda (94′ Antino), Tettei (83′ Sfidersky).
Betis (Manuel Pellegrini): Pau Lopez, Ruibal, Yorente, Natan (46′ Valentin Gomes), Rodrigues (68′ Junior Firpo), Sergi Altimira (79′ Deossa), Fornals, Marc Rocca, Anthony, Couzzo, Esalzuli (68′ Rikelme).
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