For the Greek cup competition, Panathinaikos started the game against Chania with only Greeks in its starting eleven for the first time since 1991! A historic moment, as times have changed and foreigners on the starting squad is a given nowadays. UEFA’s rules in the early 90’s restricted the amount of foreigners to just three or under, whereas recent laws have no limits in the amount of players that can start. Last time Panathinaikos had accomplished a similar act was Novermber 91′ when former Greek national team and Panathinikos’ coach Vasilios Daniil paraded with Abadiotakis, Karageorgiou, Mavridis, Georgamlis, Kalitzakis, Christodoulou, Kalatzis, Andoniou, Athanasiadis, Maragos and Saravakos at a game against Panachaiki in Patras. In Sotiris Ninis’ second debut with the “green clover” on his chest (scored and was named MVP), coach Yannis Anastasiou decided to arrange the team in such a way where there was no need for non-Greeks to start. Kotsaris, Spiropoulos, Chouchoumis, Koutroumpis, Triantafyllopoulos, Klonaridis, Lagos, Donis, Karelis, Ninis, Dinas were the chosen ones to lead the greens to the victory. A deed dubbed a piece of cake especially at halftime when the team from Chania was down two goals to nil. In a Herculean comeback, the Cretans returned with two goals in the last fifteen minutes of the game, picked up the draw and consequently the ticket to the Cup’s final 16 just behind their opponents today. Chania will now face PAS Giannena and Panathinaikos was drawn to face SKODA Ksanthi.
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