Albanis wins it for AEK
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 24
Christos Albanis scored the only goal of the game as AEK triumphed 1-0 against Aris at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium in Thessaloniki in Sunday’s Super League late match.
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Massimo Carrera’s AEK, who were clad in their all-blue change shirt, got themselves in front early on with just five minutes played when Albanis latched on to a brilliant pass from Nenad Krsticic and applied a clinical finish which ultimately decided the destination of the three points.
Aris had plenty of chances and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for long spells of this closely-contested Matchday 24 affair, but Michael Oenning’s men could not find a way past AEK goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas, who produced a couple of stunning saves to keep a clean sheet.
The result means third-placed AEK move onto 47 points from 24 matches played, while Aris remain fifth with 33 points, four points clear of Asteras Tripolis below them in sixth.
THE MATCH
Both teams headed into this game already bound for the Playoffs with AEK having locked up third place and Aris the clear favorites for fifth.
However, both sides still had something to prove. AEK came into the match in inspired form having won nine of their last eleven matches, with the arrival of Italian manager Carrera clearly galvanising the club.
In contrast, Aris’ form has been patchy. Michael Oenning’s men began 2020 with a thrilling victory over PAOK, but have since blown hot and cold. In the last few weeks, the Thessaloniki side dropped points to the likes of Larisa, Panetolikos, and most recently Asteras Tripolis.
In a frantic start, AEK began the match strongly and they were ahead after just five minutes with a classic counter-attacking goal. Nenad Krsticic picked up possession in midfield following a mistake from Aris midfielder Fran Zelez, and he sent a defence splitting pass through for Albanis, who prodded the ball past on-rushing goalkeeper Julian Cuesta to make it 1-0.
Aris immediately sought to respond and they went close on 12 minutes when Bruno Gama’s cross was met by defender Giorgos Delizisis, but his header flashed agonishly wide and the chance was gone.
The home side then took the initiative for the rest of the half after that, controlling much of the possession and producing some good attacking football against an AEK side that looked to soak up the pressure and hit the hosts on the break.
It was a fascinatingly fast-paced and entertaining match between the two sides, with plenty of interesting one-on-one duels all over the park which made for some tough tackling and niggly fouls.
Aris should really have drawn level just before the half-time whistle, but substitute Fiorin Durmisaj failed to hit the target from a great position following a cross from Bruno Gama which AEK defender Stratos Svarnas failed to deal with.
Aris came out in the second half with all guns blazing and it seemed like it would be a question of whether or not AEK had the mettle to dig in and hang on to their slender one-goal lead in front of a passionate Kleanthis Vikelidis crowd.
The home side did most of the attacking with AEK breaking forward intermittently on the counter attack.
AEK had their goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas to thank after 58 minutes when the Greek international keeper made a superb save to deny Gama, who had worked himself some space on the edge of the penalty area to fire in a powerful shot, only to see it beaten away by the Kitrinomavri shot-stopper.
Both teams were showing signs of fatigue in the latter stages and more niggly fouls kept disrupting the play as the match fizzled out.
STARTING LINEUPS
Aris: 23 Cuesta (Gk), 5 Delizisis, 69 Korhut, 44 Velez, 92 Rose, 88 Sasha, 26 Matilla, 28 Fetfatzidis, 11 Ideye, 10 Larsson, 16 Gama
Aek: 1 Barkas (Gk), 2 Bakakis, 21 Vranjes, 23 Hult, 24 Svarnas, 5 Szymanski, 6 Krsticic, 7 Verde, 14 Albanis, 17 Klonaridis, 10 Livaja
HIGHLIGHTS
