Panathinaikos draw 1-1 with Villarreal
February 25, 2009
From The International Herald Tribune:
VILLARREAL, Spain: Giuseppe Rossi scored an equalizing goal from the penalty spot Wednesday to give Villarreal a 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos in the first knockout round of the Champions League.
Robert Pires was taken down by midfielder Jakub Wawrzyniak in the 66th minute and Rossi, an American-born Italian, converted the penalty.
Giorgos Karagounis had given the Greek team the lead in the 59th, sending a shot from 25 meters (yards) that tipped off the hand of Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez before bouncing into the net off the crossbar.
Panathinaikos still leaves Spain with the advantage of an away goal heading into the second leg in Athens on March 10.
Karagounis, however, nearly stole a goal at the other end with a long free kick than went right into the hands of Lopez. Although it appeared to be an easy save, Lopez stepped back into the goal after catching the ball, and Panathinaikos midfielder Gilberto Silva appealed for a goal. Replays appeared to show Silva was correct.
Moral of the story: Gilberto Silva is always right.