Akpom helps PAOK increase lead
 

GREEK SUPERLEAGUE - MATCHDAY 13

Unstoppable PAOK increased their lead at the top of the Super League table to seven points, edging past 10-man AE Larissa 2:1 at the Toumba Stadium.

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When Marko Nunic headed AEL into a shock lead, it looked as though a surprise was on the cards, but Aleksandar Prijovic converted a penalty on the stroke of half time after Nikolaos Karanikas was sent off for a second yellow card. Predictably, PAOK laid siege to the AEL goal in the second half, and English striker Chuba Akpom tapped home from point blank range to win it 2:1. PAOK now boast a seven point advantage over second placed Atromitos in the Super League, while AEL are down in 11th place with 14 points.

THE MATCH

PAOK started with intent inside a pumped up Toumba Stadium. Young winger Dimitris Limnios impressed with some silky skills on the right wing, but when he crossed the ball into the box, AEL goalkeeper Ogmundur Kristinsson was on hand to kill the danger. The hosts were dominant, but on 35 minutes, AEL opened the scoring out of the blue.

A searching cross caught Fernando Varela and Alexandros Paschalakis cold, and alone at the left post, Nunic was on hand to nod into the left corner. PAOK hadn’t seen that coming, but to their credit, they reacted well and equalised in first half stoppage time. Karanikas was handed his second yellow for a foul against Prijovic, and after dusting himself down, the 28-year old Serbian hitman cooly sent Kristinsson the wrong way.

In the second half, PAOK were struggling to break down a stubborn AEL defence, but they eventually broke through after 69 minutes. Stealing past his marker, substitute Akpom reached out to connect with Yevhen Shakhov’s pass, sliding the ball nto the net. PAOK could have had more goals, however Icelandic shot stopper Kristinsson was in inspired form to deny Mauricio on several occasions.

TEAMS

PAOK: Paschalakis, Matos, Varela, Crespo, Vieirinha, Wernbloom (Shakhov 66’), Mauricio, Limnios (Jaba 81’), El Kaddouri (Akpom 66’), Warda, Prijovic.

AEL: Kristinsson, Hubchev, Zizic, Gojkovic, Karanikas, Andoni, Bargan (Golias 46’), Acosta (Piti 86’), Milosavljevic, Deletic, Nunic.

HIGHLIGHTS: PAOK - LARISSA

by Shaun Nicolaides

Image Source: onsports.gr

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