AEK defeat Atromitos in five-goal OAKA thriller
 

SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 9

AEK came back from a goal behind to go on and beat a well-organised Atromitos 3-2 on Sunday to earn three vital points at the Olympic Stadium in Athens following an exciting and closely-contested Super League Matchday 9 contest.

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AEK fell behind in the 20th minute when Giorgos Manousos netted the rebound from his own missed penalty which had been well blocked by AEK goalkeeper Panagiotis Tsintotas.

But Nikos Kostenoglou’s AEK side got back in the match two minutes after the hour mark through Nelson Oliveira’s equaliser, which hit the post before deflecting off the back of Atromitos’ young goalkeeper Christos Mandas and into the net.

The 18-year-old Mandas then made a woeful mistake trying to play the ball out of defence, which allowed an interception from Oliveira, who then rolled the ball into an empty net. But Atromitos did not give up the ghost and Thanasis Androutsos levelled the match in the 89th minute.

That goal looked to have earned Atromitos a deserved point, but AEK won it at the death when Oliveira prodded the ball home from close range. The result means AEK move up to third in the standings with 17 points, while Atromitos remain in eighth with 11 points.

THE MATCH

AEK came into this match down in fifth place, looking to put the fall-out of the 2-0 derby defeat by Olympiacos behind them, while Yiannis Anastasiou’s Atromitos were looking to ensure stability to their results and follow up last week’s 4-0 thrashing of Panionios with another victory.

The Kitrinomavri have been working hard to forget about the limp derby loss and the controversy surrounding Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Ognen Vranjes, who was left out of the team as punishment for his recent misdemeanors on social media.

But it was Atromitos who looked to have better shape and composure in the opening 20 minutes against an unsure-looking AEK side, and the Peristeri club got the chance to take the lead when AEK defender Marios Oikonomou upended Androutsos in the box and a penalty was awarded.

Manousos stepped up to take the spot-kick, and although his effort was saved by AEK ‘keeper Tsintotas, Manousos followed up to ram home the rebound and put his team in front.

AEK responded six minutes later by fashioning a great chance to equalize, but big central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy was perhaps the wrong man to be presented with the opportunity as the Ukranian’s effort was saved by Mandas in the Atromitos goal.

The home side continued to huff and puff their way forward with difficulty against a well-drilled Atromitos, who had clearly done their homework and were managing to snuff out AEK’s build-up play.

There was a golden triple-chance for AEK to level matters though after 35 minutes, when Atromitos defender Dimitris Goutas gave the ball away cheaply. Marko Livaja was able to work himself into space for a shot but Mandas again blocked the effort from AEK’s Croatian striker. Daniele Verde followed up but his effort struck the crossbar, and Livaja then headed wide from the rebound.

In the second half AEK managed to step up their game, and after a spell of pressure the Kitrinomavri worked an opening for Oliveira. The Portuguese forward fired in a shot on goal which found its way into the back of the net via a combination of post and Mandas.

That came as a sucker punch to Atromitos, who had looked comfortable up to that point. AEK grew in confidence after the equaliser and they were almost 2-1 up two minutes later. Chygrynskiy was in the thick of the action again, heading the ball back across goal for Oikonomou, who contrived to volley the ball high over the crossbar.

AEK eventually did move in front for the first time in the match when Mandas made a crucial error which allowed Oliveira to score, and it was a remarkable turnaround given that Atromitos were in the ascendancy for long spells.

The Peristeri club tried to fight back and get back on level terms, but Tsintotas came to the rescue for AEK in the 76th minute when he pulled off a superb save to deny Atromitos striker Apostolos Vellios.

The visitors were not to be denied their point, however, and they got themselves back on level terms with one minute of normal time to play. Petros Giakoumakis headed the ball back across goal for Androutsos, who netted to make it 2-2.

It seemed that would be that, but AEK had other ideas and Petros Mantalos steed up Oliveira in the third minute of added time to clinch a rollercoaster victory.

STARTING LINEUPS

AEK: 16 Tsintotas (GK), 27 Paulinho, 4 Economou, 19 Chygrynskyy, 3 Lopes, 6 Krsticic, 8 Simoes, 11 Deletic, 7 Verde, 10 Livaja, 18 Oliveira

Atromitos: 35 Mandas (GK), 4 Goutas, 6 Harissis, 18 Baena, 12 Galo, 55 Talocha, 14 Androutsos, 9 Manousos, 10 Nsikulu, 44 Risvanis, 39 Vellios

HIGHLIGHTS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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