An inspired second-half performance from Panathinaikos saw the Greens run out emphatic 4-0 winners over Larissa, Monday evening at the OAKA Spiros Louis. Djibril Cisse bagged a brace while Loukas Vyntra and Kostas Katsouranis also tallied, as Henk ten Cate's men made it six wins from six matches in Greek Super League play this season.
Yet it was an inauspicious start from the hosts, who failed to establish their football in the early going. Larissa by contrast looked the side with more conviction, Marinos Ouzounidis' men stroking the ball around in comfort while never truly coming under any duress.
In fact, it was Alexandros Tzorvas who was the busier of the two keepers initially, Antonio de Nigris forcing him into a fine kick save on 12 minutes. The Mexican striker did well to hold off Josu Sarriegi's challenge, but watched in dismay as Tzorvas kept his low drive out.
Pana would signal their own intent almost immediately as Aleksandar Simic's errant back pass was intercepted by Cisse, who then struck tamely at Arkadiusz Malarz.
Things were less comfortable for Malarz on 31 minutes as he failed to punch clear a Giorgos Karagounis corner. The ball ultimately fell to Vyntra, but his volley from an acute angle hit the outside of the post.
Yet the defender would manage to open his account in first-half stoppage time. Sebastian Leto's corner caused problems for Larissa's defense, the ball passing through a crowd and reaching a well-positioned Vyntra, who happily tapped in at the far post.
It was somewhat harsh to the visitors, who were left to further curse their luck five minutes into the restart as Salim Tuama's swerving drive from distance smacked Tzorvas' post.
Once more the response was swift from Pana, Cisse volleying over the bar from Katsouranis' elegant cross.
Shortly after, Dimitris Salpingidis would come close, the striker's rasping drive forcing Malarz into a difficult parry.
But there was no denying Katsouranis on 66 minutes, the midfield player's audacious header from some 25 yards rustling the back of the net. Malarz came off his line to punch clear a cross but stranded himself in the process, the ball ultimately reaching the Greek international, whose looping header gave the keeper little chance.
The writing was on the wall for the visitors, who conceded for a third time just minutes later. Sotiris Ninis' inviting corner was flicked across the face of goal by Cedric Kante, and Cisse reacted first to the loose ball, sliding it over the line from close range.
Larissa were then denied a consolation as Tzorvas pushed Romeu's fizzing strike against the upright.
That set the stage for Cisse to add the gloss three minutes from time. Gabriel's perfectly weighted through ball sprung the striker, who drove his low effort across Malarz and into the corner of the goal.
