Unstoppable AEK edge closer to Champions League dream
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - PLAYOFF ROUND (LEG 1)
| Vidi | 1 - 2 | AEK |
|---|---|---|
| Lazovic 68' |
Klonaridis 35' Bakasetas 49' |
AEK edged closer to a return to the Champions League group stage on Wednesday after claiming a battling 2-1 away win over FC MOL Vidi in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Groupama Arena in Budapest in a match which saw both teams have a player sent off.
Marinos Ouzounidis’ team, who have not played in Europe’s elite competition since 2007, took the initiative in the tie thanks to another vital goal from Viktor Klonaridis and a deflected Tasos Bakasetas strike. Danko Lazović pulled a goal back for the home side, but AEK hung on for a vital win.
AEK’s cause was initially helped by the 23rd-minute dismissal of Vidi forward Szabolcs Huszti, as the hosts struggled to create a serious goal threat with visiting goalkeeper Vassilis Barkas rarely called upon. But the visitors then made life hard for themselves early in the second half when Bakasetas was also sent-off for a dangerous tackle just four minutes after scoring.
The result means AEK are in the driving seat to seal a superb return to the Champions League group stage draw on August 30, just five years after playing in the third tier of Greek football due to financial ruin.
AEK now simply have to finish the job at the Olympic Stadium in Athens next week for the second leg against Marko Nikolic’s Vidi.
In general, chances were at a premium in a scrappy first half in which defence was on top and there seemed little time or space for either side to get hold of decent possession and try to create openings.
The key moment came in the 23rd minute when the home side were reduced to 10 players after Huszti was shown the red card for a dangerous tackle on AEK midfielder Tasos Bakasetas.
At first glance it seemed like an innocuous foul by the Vidi number nine, but replays showed Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi had got it right as the 35-year-old forward went in with his studs showing and stamping on Bakasetas’ ankle.
AEK were able to take more an an attacking initiative after the sending off and it was not long before the breakthrough came, with AEK taking the lead in the 35th minute.
It was Klonaridis, the scorer of AEK’s away goal in Scotland against Celtic, who was on target again, slamming home the rebound from close range after Bakasetas’ snapshot had been parried by Vidi goalkeeper Ádám Kovácsik.
The home side, who are aiming to make group stage debut, could have drew level just five minutes later as they responded immediately to going behind with a spell of pressure, but AEK goalkeeper Vassilis Barkas made a solid save to deny Attila Fiola.
AEK began the second half on the front foot and were rewarded with a second goal, Bakasetas twisting on the edge of the box before firing in a shot which flew past Kovácsik via a deflection off Vidi defender Roland Juhász.
Bakasetas then evened up the numbers when he was dismissed in the 53rd minute for leaving after foot in on Loïc Nego when he had lost possession.
Vidi were right back in the match in the 68th minute when Lazović pulled a goal back, latching on to a superb lofted pass from Istvan Kovacs before rifling a clinical finish past Barkas.
AEK survived several scares in the losing stages, the biggest of which came on 79 minutes when Nego missed by inches with a first-time effort from close-range after Stopira’s shot was blocked.
