Athens, Greece, Sept 19: Algerian forward Rafik Djebbour scored a last-gasp goal and set up another for Marko Pantelic to help defending champion Olympiakos snatch a 2-1 comeback victory over visiting Xanthi in the Greek league Sunday.
Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho had opened the scoring for Xanthi in the 14th minute, stunning some 25,000 Olympiakos supporters.
It was Olympiakos first league game of the season because its scheduled opponents in the first two rounds, Volos and Kavala, have been relegated to the fourth division due to their owners' involvement in match- fixing cases and no replacements have been named yet.
Panathinaikos leads the league with seven points from 3 games, followed by PAOK, which won 2-1 at Panionios. Also Sunday, AEK beat Ergotelis 1-0 and Giannena defeated Asteras 3-1.
Xanthi didn't look intimidated by Olympiakos struck first through Marcelinho, who charged down the left flank, evaded Vassilis Torosidis' tackle and scored from an acute angle with a blistering shot.
Olympiakos immediately charged forward, but did not really threaten until the 37th when Djebbour met Vassilis Torosidis' cross from the right only to have his header sail over the crossbar. Seconds later, Djebbour's long low drive went just wide of the right post.
In the 44th, Xanthi nearly made it 2-0 when Vlasis Kazakis gained the ball just outside Olympiakos' area but his blistering shot went high.
In first-half injury time, Olympiakos defender Olof Mellberg headed just over the bar.
The defending champions continued to search for an equalizer early in the second half but only managed to threaten in the 60th minute when David Fuster's volley sailed over the bar. Olympiakos' attacks grew increasingly desperate until four minutes from time when Pantelic, who had come in for Djamel Abdoun in the 57th, sent a long ball to Djebbour on the left. The Algerian dribbled past a defender and sent a cross to the onrushing Pantelic who headed the ball home.
The visitors were left with 10 men in the 88th when Edimar was sent off with a second yellow card for a blocking foul.
In the second minute injury time, a lucky bounce inside Xanthi's area left Kevin Mirallas alone with goalkeeper Jody Viviani, but he managed to send the ball high over the bar from close up.
Seconds from the final whistle, Djebbour and Mellberg both rose to meet a corner from Ariel Ibagaza, nearly colliding. The ball bounced off Djebbour's back and ricocheted off the left post into the net to set up a frenzied celebration from the relieved home fans. AP
