(GSM) - Belgian side Standard Liège seized control of their Round of 16 Europa League tie on Thursday with a 3-1 away win against Panathinaikos.
The Belgians opened the scoring after just eight minutes when Alex Witsel headed home a cross by Dieudonne Mbokani, and they stunned Panathinaikos with a second just eight minutes later as Milan Jovanovic made it 2-0 with the goalkeeper off his line.
The Greeks pulled a goal back to keep the tie close in the 48th minute as Loukas Vyntra got his cranium on the end of a free kick, but it wasn't to be for Panathinaikos on this night as Standard sealed the match later on.
With 16 minutes to play, Standard made it 3-1 when Iván de Camargo took a long pass from Jovanovic before hitting past goalkeeper Dario Galinovic.
Panathinaikos will need a massive comeback, needing to score at least two goals in the second leg to have a chance in the tie.
0 - 1 |
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0 - 2 |
||
1 - 2 |
||
1 - 3 |
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Galinović | |
| 8 | C. Kanté | |
| 3 | Josu Sarriegi |
 62'
|
| 24 | L. Vyntra |
35'
 48'
|
| 21 | F. Darlas | |
| 15 | Gilberto Silva | |
| 23 | Simão Junior |
61'
 90'
|
| 7 |
S. Ninis
|
|
| 11 |
S. Leto
|
|
| 9 | D. Cissé | |
| 5 |
A. Rukavina
|
|
| Coach: N. Nioplias | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | S. Bolat |
66'
|
| Marcos Camozzato | ||
| 19 | M. Sarr |
47'
|
| 3 | Victor Ramos | |
| R. Gershon |
58'
|
|
| 26 |
B. Nicaise
|
|
| 8 |
S. Defour
|
|
| 28 | A. Witsel |
8'
|
| 9 | D. Mbokani | |
| 10 | I. De Camargo |
74'
|
|
M. Jovanović
|
16'
62'
|
|
| Coach: D. D'Onofrio | ||
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 26 |
for S. Ninis 45' |
61'
|
| 14 |
for S. Leto 45' |
|
| 17 |
for A. Rukavina 71' |
| # | Player | Bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 33 |
for S. Defour 21' |
|
| 22 |
for B. Nicaise 66' |
|
| 7 |
for M. Jovanović 79' |
