Brave AEK lose out to 10-man Benfica
Brave AEK lose out to 10-man Benfica
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
A superb second half comeback could not prevent AEK going down to a 3-2 home defeat to Benfica in a thrilling Champions League clash at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Tuesday.
Early goals from Haris Seferović and Grimaldo which caught AEK napping put the Portuguese firmly in control, before Ruden Dias was sent off for Benfica on the stroke of half-time after picking up two bookings.
AEK battled back and a Viktor Klonaridis’ double brought Marinos Ouzounidis’ team on level terms with their Group E rivals, but after the AEK forward missed a great chance for his hat-trick, Alfa Semedo’s long-range strike won it for Benfica on the counter attack.
The result leaves the Athenians with zero points after two matches, and they have it all to do as they prepare to welcome Bayern Munich to Athens on October 23 in their next match.
AEK came into the match looking to atone for their opening 3-0 reverse to Ajax in Amsterdam, but their dream of bringing Champions League football back to their fans at the Olympic Stadium turned into a nightmare in the opening 15 minutes as a Benfica team eager to get off the mark took complete control.
The impressive Portuguese, who lost 2-0 to Bayern on Matchday 1, had the hosts on the backfoot from the whistle and opened the scoring through Seferovic after just six minutes. The Swiss slotted home the rebound past a helpless Barkas after the AEK goalkeeper had parried Gedson Fernandes’ shot.
Benfica were monopolising possession and they quickly doubled their advantage after 15 minutes - although this time it was a case of a defensive lapse from Tasos Bakasetas.
Bakasetas allowed left-back Grimaldo to get in behind him at the back post the head a right-wing cross past a furious Barkas.
To AEK’s credit, they responded well and took a grip of the game a lot more as the half worse on, threatening through Hult and Mantalos down the left, and Bakasetas and Klonaridis down the right.
Hult first saw a shot saved brilliantly by Odysseas Vlachodimos in the Benfica goal, before Ezequiel Ponce was denied as he slide in to try and score.
Bakasetas missed a golden chance to atone for his earlier error late in the half as he chested the ball and fired in a shot on the turn. But his effort was scuffed and bounced up off the turf making it easy for Vlachodimos to save albeit at full stretch.
Hope for AEK came in the form of Dias’ sending off just before the half-time, and AEK came out in determined mood in the second half.
The Kitrinomavri knew they would need an early goal and they got it just eight minutes in to the second half when Hult surged forward and crossed for Klonaridis to score from close range.
The hosts sensed their chance and continued to pour forward and direct play down the left. And a few minutes later, they were level when Klonaridis turned in Marios Oikonomou’s headed pass.
Klonaridis should have scored a hat-trick and won the game for AEK in the 72nd minute when he was sent clean through on goal, but again the excellent Vlachodimos said no, making a great save. Rather a better option for the AEK winger was Giorgos Giakoumakis, who was waiting in front of an open net to tap in the go ahead goal for the hosts.
AEK were then made to pay dearly just two minutes later when substitute Alfa Semedo surged forward on a counter attack and hit a low shot from distance which beat AEK keeper Barkas to clinch it.
by Graham Wood
Image Source: to10.gr
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