National winger Levi Garcia scored the opening goal for AEK Athens in their 3-1 spanking of Panetolikos at Penetolikos Stadium, Agrinio on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Garcia, who was issued a straight red card in his team’s 3-3 draw with OFI Crete on September 19, scored in his second match back in the 13th minute, his first of the campaign, with a powerful header after he out-jumped defender Derek Cornelius and the goalkeeper Diego Rodriguez, off a cross by Milad Mohammadi.
Bosnian defender Ognjen Vranjes then doubled AEK’s lead in the 27th minute which they held until the half-time interval.
On the resumption, Panetolikos cut the lead in the half through Nikos Vergos but with seven minutes left in regulation-time, Steven Zuber secured all three points for AEK with his team’s third goal.
The victory was AEK Athens third in five matches and lifted them to ten points and fourth on the table, two behind joint leaders PAOK and Volos while Olympiacos is third with 11.
Following the international break, AEK will return to action on October 17 against cellar-placed Atromitos Athens, who have two points and are winless in their five matches to date.