AEK see off Asteras in Athens
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 15
AEK produced a solid display at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday to defeat struggling Asteras Tripolis 2-1 despite a nervy finish and continue to give chase to Super League leaders Olympiacos and PAOK.
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Petros Mantalos opened the scoring from the penalty spot after six minutes to put Massimo Carrera’s AEK in front, and Marko Livaja slotted home in the first minute of the second half to seal all three points.
Luis Fernandez reduced the deficit with 12 minutes left, but AEK were able to withstand considerable late Asteras pressure - and seven minutes of injury time - to claim the victory.
The result moved third-placed AEK to within seven points of PAOK, who are second with 34 points, with a game to play against Panionios in Nea Smyrni on Thursday.
Milan Rastavac’s Asteras remain 12th, and continue to look nervously over their shoulder at bottom two Panionios and Panetolikos.
THE MATCH
AEK’s new coach Carrera enjoyed a winning debut as his new side prevailed 1-0 over Xanthi at the weekend, and the challenge for the Italian was to do it all again in his first home match.
It seemed like a straightforward task against visiting Asteras Tripoli, who arrived at the Olympic Stadium on the back of an embarrassing 5-0 home loss to Olympiacos - a result typical of the kind of season they have had so far.
AEK started on the front foot and were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after just two minutes when Nelson Oliveira had has shirt pulled by Patricio Matricardi.
The penalty appeal survived a VAR review, and four minutes later Mantalos stepped up to slot the spot-kick home to make it 1-0 and set AEK on their way.
After the goal, Asteras tried to push forward but their midfielders and forwards simply could not seem to hang on to possession long enough as AEK closed them down quickly and effectively.
Asteras did manage to threaten the AEK goal on 19 minutes though, but they could not find a way through. Jeronimo Barrales began the move, releasing Marc Fernandez. The Spanish forward had a sight of Vasilis Barkas’ goal, but his shot was blocked by Michalis Bakakis.
Whatever footing Asteras managed to try and get in the first half was then extinguished 45 seconds into the second half when a slick passing move involving Nenad Krsticic and Paulinho was finished off with a one-touch finish by Livaja.
The visitors did have a threatening moment in the 59th minute but Barrales and Fernandez got their wires crossed trying to meet Dani Suarez’s headed pass and the chance was gone.
AEK went straight down the other end and had the chance to make it 3-0 on the hour mark, but Asteras goalkeeper Nikos Papadopoulos saved well from Oliveira’s shot on the turn from a Paulinho cross.
The home side were playing with plenty of confidence and it seemed as though it would be sailing from that point on until the final whistle for AEK.
But Asteras got back into the game with 12 minutes left when Luis Fernandez produced a moment of individual brilliance to score. The Spaniard surged into the box with a strong run and left Barkas with no chance, scoring with a cool finish.
That set up a tense finale to the game and AEK had to play with their backs to the wall at times in the face of late pressure to hold on to claim the win that they deserved.
Barkas was replaced by Panagiotis Tsintotas and AEK’s substitute goalkeeper pulled off a superb save to preserve the hosts’ lead three minutes from time, parrying a powerful header from Asteras substitute Walter Iglesias.
STARTING LINEUPS
AEK: 1 Barkas (GK), 2 Bakakis, 4 Oikonomou, 19 Chygrynskiy, 27 Paulinho, 6 Krsticic, 25 Galanopoulos, 3 Lopes, 20 Mantalos, 10 Livaja, 18 Oliveira
Asteras Tripolis: 1 Papadopoulos (GK), 33 Martinez Ortega, 15 Suarez, 34 Matricardi, 27 Kotsiras, 12 Munafo, 6 Valiente, 7 Fernandez, 8 Fernandez, 10 Fernandez, 30 Barrales
