The young generation of Panathinaikos proved its worth in Thursday’s cup game against second-division Iraklis Psachnon staking a claim for the future of the cash-strapped club that remains in great need of quality.
The Greens won 3-0 in the first leg of the Round of 16 game for the Greek Cup in Athens to reduce the return leg next month at Evia into a mere formality.
Opening the score was 19-year-old Cypriot Christos Donis, the son of former Panathinaikos and Blackburn Rovers star Giorgos Donis (currently the coach of APOEL in Cyprus). The other two goals came from 21-year-olds Viktor Klonaridis and Nikos Karelis.
In the other first-leg matches for the Round of 16 this week, Atromitos beat Panetolikos 2-0 at Agrinio on Wednesday while ten-man Kalloni Lesvou beat OFI 1-0 on Crete. On Thursday Apollon Smyrnis saw off second-division Niki Volu 3-1 in Athens.
The other four first-leg games are scheduled for later this month, including a repeat of last year’s final, Olympiakos vs Asteras Tripolis.