Portugal veteran João Mário scores title-winning goal for AEK in Greece [video] | OneFootball

João Mário was AEK's hero [Getty Images]

AEK Athens 2-1 Panathinaikos 

Former Portugal international João Mário was the hero on Sunday evening as AEK Athens became champions of Greece for a 14th time with a dramatic late victory over rivals Panathinaikos.

The Greek Super League is in its playoff mini-league stage, during which the top four teams each play each other twice to close the campaign. Heading into the meeting with Panathinaikos in the capital on Sunday, AEK held a six-point advantage over defending champions Olympiacos as well as PAOK, who played each other at the same time.

For a brief period late in the match things appeared to be unravelling for AEK, who had Portuguese defender Felipe Relvas in the line-up. Not only did AEK fall behind to a goal by Andres Tetteh (62’), but word also filtered through that Olympiacos had gone ahead against PAOK in Piraeus. The combined results would have seen AEK’s lead cut to three points, with matches against PAOK and Olympiacos still to come.

However, PAOK pegged Olympiacos back to 1-1 swiftly after going behind, before AEK staged a dramatic comeback thanks to two substitutes. First, Angolan midfielder Zini struck to draw the hosts level, but the best moment was yet to come and followed the introduction of experienced midfielder João Mário just five minutes from the end of normal time.

The Euro 2016 winner had only scored one goal in the Super League this season, which came in a routine 5-0 win at Panetolikos in December, but his second would be far more memorable. With the clock ticking in the 93rd minute, João Mário drifted into the penalty area and found himself free to latch onto a terrific headed lay-off by ex-Benfica man Luka Jović and find the corner with a right-foot finish.

News filtered through that Olympiacos and PAOK had drawn their match, leaving AEK eight points clear with just two games remaining and reclaiming the title last won in 2023. AEK won three consecutive titles in the early 1990s before a 24-year drought, but have re-established themselves as a powerful force in Greek football with three wins in the last eight years.

For João Mário, a third league title at a third different club, having lifted the domestic crown in his home country with Lisbon giants Sporting and Benfica. Former Portimonense and Vitória de Guimarães defender Relvas, 26, wins the first trophy of his career having featured in 26 of the team’s 30 matches in the Super League this term.