Olympiakos plays to 1-1 draw against Iraklis in Greek league

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ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Apostolos Vellios came off the bench Saturday to score an injury-time goal for Iraklis and salvage a 1-1 draw at Olympiakos.

Enzo Maresca had given Olympiakos a first half lead, and the draw was enough to give the defending champion the overnight lead in the Greek league. Olympiakos has 26 points, one more than Panathinaikos, which travels to Levadiakos on Sunday.

Olympiakos was without four regular starters because of injuries, but attacked from the start. However, Iraklis had the best early scoring chance when a blistering shot by Dimitris Giantsis in the fourth minute forced Antonis Nikopolidis to make a diving save.

Olympiakos came close to taking the lead in the ninth when goalkeeper Wojciech Kowalewski leaped high to send a shot by Giorgos Niklitsiotis over the crossbar.

Maresca put Olympiakos ahead with a powerful shot from the edge of the area in the 39th.

Olympiakos' Brazilian midfielder Dudu had a shot that bounced off the crossbar in the 86th, one minute before Nikopolidis stretched to save a low drive by Costas Giannoulis. In the 89th, Nikopolidis made a flying save to a powerful shot by Stelios Iliadis.

Two minutes into injury time, the 17-year-old Vellios beat Nikopolidis with a shot from inside the area after a cross from Denis Epstein.

Also Saturday, it was: Aris 0, Kavala 0 and Panthrakikos 1, PAOK 2.

On Sunday, its: Asteras vs. Giannena, Atromitos vs. Ergotelis and Xanthi vs. Panionios. AEK hosts Larissa on Monday.

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