Football : émeute à Athènes – 30 avril 2011

Fans clash with police after AEK Athens win Greek Cup

latimes.com

Graham WoodReuters

April 30, 2011, 2.

ATHENS (Reuters) – AEK Athens ended a nine-year trophy drought by lifting the Greek Cup with a 3-0 win over Atromitos Athinon but their win was marred after dozens of fans clashed with the police following a pitch invasion on Saturday.

Fans tossed seats and plastic bottles on to the pitch following the final whistle and also ripped out advertising hoardings before the police managed to clear the crowds.

The kickoff was also delayed for several minutes as police dispersed small groups from both sets of fans who attempted to get on to the pitch and threw fireworks and flares at each other.

Goals from Greek international Nikos Liberopoulos, Nabil Baha and Pantelis Kafes sealed the win for Manuel Jimenez’s team, whose last trophy was in the 2002 edition of the same competition.

Both teams struggled to find their rhythm before Liberopoulos opened the scoring for AEK in the 28th minute with a glancing header from Nacho Scocco’s pinpoint right-wing cross.

That proved to be Scocco’s final contribution as the Argentine limped off. His replacement Baha almost doubled the advantage in the 37th minute but his shot was saved by Atromitos keeper Charles Itandje. Read more…