PAOK edge tense derby with AEK
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 18
PAOK returned to winning ways on Sunday with a narrow 1-0 victory over AEK in Sunday’s big North vs. South derby clash at the Toumba in Thessaloniki in a match that the Kitrinomavri ended with nine players.
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Captain Vieirinha scored the only goal of a closely-contested Matchday 18 showdown from the penalty spot after 57 minutes to clinch all three points for Abel Ferreira’s men, who successfully bounced back from last weekend’s disappointing 4-2 loss against local rivals Aris.
The win means that second-placed PAOK, the reigning champions, move back to within one point of Super League 1 leaders Olympiacos, who ran out 4-0 winners at Lamia earlier in the evening.
AEK lost the plot in added time at the end of the match with defender Niklas Hult getting himself red-carded for a professional foul just outside the penalty area on Chuba Akpom, while striker Marko Livaja was also dismissed for picking up a second yellow card shortly after.
THE MATCH
PAOK came into this match with the knowledge that they had to summon up their powers of recovery again, having got over the defeat by Aris in some shape with a 3-0 midweek win over OFI in the Greek Cup.
But with last week’s 4-2 defeat at the hands of Aris ending the team’s 51-match unbeaten run in Super League 1 play, all eyes were on the Toumba to see if they could continue their “recovery” against an unpredictable AEK outfit.
AEK have begun the Massimo Carrera era well and took care of business last time out against Panetolikos, and their aim was to try and upset the home side again in an effort to try and chip away at Olympiacos and PAOK’s lead.
Chances were at a premium in the opening 45 minutes, with both sides clearly not wanting to give much away, with the only notable chance an effort from Diego Biseswar after 31 minutes. Dimitris Giannoulis was the creator, sending over an inviting cross for the Dutchman, but he was thwarted by AEK goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas.
The teams went in at 0-0, and there was little to suggest that there would be a goal glut in the second half.
The pattern of the game did not change much as the second half began, but then came a crucial moment after 56 minutes when Andre Simoes pulled Vierinha’s shirt in the penalty area after some good play from Dimitris Limnios and Karol Swiderski. Vieirinha stepped up to take the spot-kick himself and slotted the ball confidently past Barkas.
That goal seemed to give PAOK an extra lift, while in turn denting AEK’s psychology. The home side began to press forward with added impetus and they should really have made it 2-0 on 69 minutes.
Vieirinha robbed AEK defender Michalis Bakakis and squared the ball for Biseswar, but the Dutch midfielder somehow missed from 8 yards out, and a few moments later Josip Misic fired wide.
That prompted AEK into action, and the Kitrinomavri then had their best opportunity on 71 minutes when Livaja teed up Petros Mantalos, but the AEK captain’s effort cannonced off the post.
PAOK were forced on the backfoot as AEK desperately sought an equalizer, and with 10 minutes left, Mantalos sent a pass through for Nelson Oliveira, but the Portuguese forward’s effort was saved by PAOK goalkeeper Zivko Zivkovic.
A goal was not forthcoming for AEK, however, and it was PAOK who next went close to adding to their lead when Dimitris Limnios skipped past Bakakis before seeing his effort saved well by Barkas.
STARTING LINEUPS
PAOK: 88 Zivkovic (Gk), 3 Matos, 4 Ingason, 5 Varela, 23 Giannoulis, 18 Limnios, 24 Esiti, 27 Misic, 20 Vieirinha, 21 Biseswar, 9 Swiderski
AEK: 1 Barkas (Gk), 2 Bakakis, 19 Chygrynskyy, 21 Vranjes, 23 Hult, 6 Krsticic, 7 Verde, 8 Simoes, 20 Mantalos, 44 Sabanadzovic, 10 Livaja
HIGHLIGHTS
