Klonaridis stunner saves AEK in Nea Smyrni
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 26
Viktor Klonaridis scored a stunning goal in stoppage time to salvage a thrilling 1-1 Super League draw for AEK in Nea Smyrni against Panionios.
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AEK, without 10 players such as Vasilis Barkas, Ognjen Vranjes, Marko Livaja and Nelson Oliveira, consequently fielded a weakened line-up in Nea Smyrni, with 17-year-old Slovenian centre-back Ziga Laci notably receiving his Super League debut. Initially, AEK looked somewhat shaky against their lowly opponents, and they were horribly exposed in stoppage time at the end of the first half as Dimitris Emmanouilidis gave Panionios the lead on the counter.
As the minutes ticked by, it seemed that frustrated AEK would fall foul of a major shock on the road, but substitute Viktor Klonaridis conjured up a stunning goal - albeit with the help of a deflection - in the 92nd minute to salvage an important point for the Enosi.
This match was played inside an empty Nea Smyrni Stadium as a result of fan trouble at the Panionios - Atromitos game in late January.
In last position of the table, Panionios enter the relegation playouts, while third-placed AEK move into the championship playoffs. The Kitrinomavri trail PAOK in second spot by eight points.
The playoffs are scheduled to begin next week.
THE MATCH
Despite being rooted to the bottom of the standings, Panionios came flying out of the blocks in Nea Smyrni, surprising AEK with their energetic approach. In the very first minute, Panagiotis Tsintotas tipped a low cross beyond a lurking Panionios forward, before the AEK goalkeeper then pulled off a fantastic save to prevent Luis Domingues’ header from a corner creeping over the line.
Nevertheless, after that early scare, AEK quickly found their rhythm.
After controlling a looping cross, Christos Almpanis fired a powerful attempt against the legs of Matic Kotnik, although offside had already been indicated. Not long later, Daniele Verde’s strong free-kick was punched clear by Kotnik, and the Panionios goalkeeper then displayed great reactions to stop Anel Sabanadzovic’s low attempt at point blank range.
AEK continued applying pressure on the hosts.
In quick succession, Kotnik wonderfully saved two efforts from Verde and Paulinho from the right flank, and Stratos Svarnas headed wide with the goal at his mercy.
However, against the run of play, Panionios broke the deadlock at the end of the first half
Catching AEK cold on the counter-attack, the Panthers spread the ball across the box to Emmanouilidis, who calmly tapped it into the empty net with Tsintotas helpless.
Almpanis, AEK’s most lively player during the first half, was substituted at the break in favour of Klonaridis.
Klonaridis’ introduction did add more pace to the AEK game. At the start of the second half, Sergio Araujo - sporting a new blonde hairstyle - had a promising chance to promptly draw AEK level, but he headed into the grateful hands of Kotnik.
Panionios should have doubled their money moments later.
Beating Tsintotas to the ball, Bachana Arabuli had an unguarded net to aim at, however the Georgian forward contrived to shoot into the side-netting when under pressure from backtracking AEK defenders.
At the other end, Andre Simoes was the next to come agonisingly close for AEK, with his seemingly goalbound shot being turned aside by Kotnik.
The pulsating, end-to-end tempo continued. On the break, Sotiris Tsiloulis thought he had grabbed the second for Panionios with a curling attempt, however Tsintotas produced an agile save to tip the ball inches over the crossbar.
Tsintotas came to the rescue for AEK again when Emmanouilidis was clean through.
With 16 minutes remaining, teenage AEK striker Theodosios Machairas replaced Verde to make his maiden Super League appearance, and the youngster showed a number of neat touches.
AEK huffed and puffed, and with the match entering its second minute of stoppage time, the Athenians eventually scored their goal. And what a goal it was.
Lining up from distance, Klonaridis unleashed a thumping drive which deflected off Dimitris Stavropoulos and flew past the impeccable Kotnik.
THE TEAMS
Panionios: Kotnik, Domingues, Stavropoulos, Saramantas, Papageorgiou, Papanikolaou, Oikonomidis (Lymperakis 83’), Rentzas, Arabuli (Retsos 88’), Emmanouilidis (Camara 90+1’), Tziloulis.
AEK: Tsintotas, Hult, Laci, Svarnas, Paulinho, Simoes, Sabanadzovic (Szymanski 70’), Almpanis (Klonaridis 46’), Mantalos, Verde (Machairas 74’), Araujo.
HIGHLIGHTS
