PAOK claim Thessaloniki derby honors

SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFFS - MATCHDAY 4

PAOK put their disappointing Greek Cup semi-final exit behind them on Sunday with a vital 2-0 win over city rivals Aris in an entertaining Super League Thessaloniki derby at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.

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Defender Fernando Varela headed PAOK in front on the half-hour mark of this Play Offs Matchday 4 clash, after Karol Swiderski had missed a first-minute penalty. Swiderski made amends on the stroke of half-time by making it 2-0 with a slick finish from a Diego Biseswar pass.

That gave PAOK a commanding lead and it was one they never looked like relinquishing in the second half, almost adding to their lead on several occasions in fact as the home side struggled to find a way back into the game.

Aris’ miserable evening was complete in the first minute of added time before the final whistle when defender Giorgos Delizisis was shown a red card for a bad challenge on Chuba Akpom just outside the Aris penalty area.

The result means PAOK moved on to 59 points and were three points clear of third-placed AEK, who faced Olympiacos in the late game.

THE MATCH

Unlike the day’s other derby which features an Olympiacos side not necessarily needing points, such is their lead atop the table, both Aris and PAOK came into this match with the incentive to claim victory, along with the prize of city pride.

Aris needed the points as they try to hold off OFI Crete for the last European place, while PAOK were looking to shrug off the bitter taste of their Greek Cup defeat by Olympiacos in midweek and attempt to win this game in order to keep pace with, or surpass AEK and take over sole possession of second place.

PAOK became the game full of energy and running and their efforts earned them a penalty after just 40 seconds when Abou Ba handled in the box to cut out Biseswar’s smart pass.

Karol Swiderski stepped up to take the spot-kick but the Polish striker’s side-footed effort was saved brilliantly by Julian Cuesta, who guessed correctly to parry the ball to safety.

Aris’ Spanish goalkeeper was the hero again nine minutes later when he came out on top in a one-on-one duel against PAOK’s Dutch midfielder Biseswar, whose side-footed effort was far too tame.

Next it was Dimitris Giannoulis to go close for an energetic PAOK but the full-back’s shot from an unmarked position was not as well-aimed as the Greek international would have liked and Cuesta again came to the rescue for the sluggish hosts.

Aris finally managed to fashion an opening after 22 minutes, but when they did PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis was on hand to deny Bruno Gama’s shot and keep the scores at 0-0.

Swiderski had another chance to score on 28 minutes following a cooling break, but his shot was weak and easily dealt with by Cuesta.

It only seemed a matter of time for PAOK to get a breakthrough and it finally came after 30 minutes. Miroslav Stoch sent over a perfect, curling free-kick from the left which was met by the head of the unmarked Varela. The Cape Verde defender made no mistake, directing his header past a helpless Cuesta to make it 1-0 to the visitors.

Aris looked to respond but the best they could manage before the half-time interval was a shot from outside the penalty area which a stable-looking Paschalakis saved comfortably.

In the fourth minute of added time at the end of the half Swiderski made up for his earlier penalty miss by slotting home through Cuesta’s legs after being put through on goal by Biseswar’s brilliant, threaded pass.

That gave Aris a mountain to climb in the second half and the hosts struggled to create chances against a well-organised PAOK side who should really have extended their margin of victory.

Swiderski was guilty of some profligate finishing, first after 68 minutes when his tame shot was easily saved by Cuesta after good work from Anderson Esiti, and then again on 72 minutes when he had a header blocked by Cuesta.

But those misses mattered not for Abel Ferreira’s visitors, who held firm comfortably to claim maximum points and give both their points total and their ego a collective lift - as well as claiming the local bragging rights in Greece’s second city.

STARTING LINEUPS

Aris: 23 Cuesta (Gk), 92 Rose, 69 Korhut, 5 Delizisis, 26 Matilla, 19 Tonso, 88 Sasha, 98 Ba, 16 Gama, 11 Ideye, 24 Mancini

PAOK: 31 Paschalakis (Gk), 23 Giannoulis, 4 Ingason, 5 Varela, 3 Matos, 24 Esiti, 21 Biseswar, 8 Mauricio, 99 Stoch, 68 Tzolis, 9 Swiderski

HIGHLIGHTS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sport-fm.gr

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