Panathinaikos gains on first-place Olympiakos

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Dimitris Salpingidis, Cleyton and Ante Rukavina scored Sunday for Panathinaikos to beat Panserraikos 3-0 and move within seven points of the Greek league lead.

Salpingidis converted a penalty just before halftime to make it 1-0 after Panathinaikos had squandered at least two major scoring chances early in the game.

Panathinaikos, which finished top of its Champions League group to advance to the knockout stage, made it 2-0 with a goal by Cleyton in the 53rd. Croatian striker Ante Rukavina came off the bench in the 73rd to score 10 minutes later off a cross from Brazilian midfielder Mattos.

Olympiakos, which drew 1-1 at Larissa on Saturday, leads the standings with 33 points. PAOK has 29 and Panathinaikos is third with 26.

Panathinaikos controlled play from the kickoff. A header by Antonis Petropoulos forced Panserraikos goalkeeper Fotis Kipouros to palm the ball over the crossbar in the seventh minute. Six minutes later, Kipouros punched away a free kick by Giorgos Karagounis.

Panserraikos, which returned to the top division this season after 16 years in the second, never threatened Panathinaikos goalkeeper Mario Galinovic.

Also Sunday, it was: Levadiakos 2, Panthrakikos 0; Thrasivoulos 1, Panionios 3; Ergotelis 1, OFI 3; and Aris 1, AEK Athens 1.

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