PAOK held by Greens in Athens
SUPER LEAGUE PLAYOFFS - MATCHDAY 2
PAOK were left frustrated on Saturday evening at the Olympic Stadium after they were held to a goalless draw by Panathinaikos on Matchday 2 of the Super League Play Offs.
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Home goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis was the star of the show as the Greens managed to pick up a second successive draw following last week’s 1-1 draw with AEK.
PAOK coach Abel Ferreira would have been left impressed with his team’s solid performance, which was just what the Portuguese ordered after last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 defeat by Olympiacos at the Toumba.
However, there was still a bitter taste for PAOK fans after their team dominated proceedings but only came away with a point to show for their efforts.
THE MATCH
All eyes were on the OAKA where an Athens-Thessaloniki derby clash provided the highlight of The Matchday 2 fixtures. PAOK’s defeat at home last weekend to Olympiacos essentially saw the defending champions concede the title to their bitter rivals.
Now, with a 17-point deficit heading into this match, it was clear that the Dikefalos tou Vorra had to regroup and focus on finishing second place (they were currently tied with AEK on 52 points before kick-off).
Panathinaikos meanwhile felt like they threw away a golden opportunity last weekend. After Federico Macheda’s 65th minute goal against AEK gave them a big advantage, they went on to give up an equalizer, forcing them to settle for a draw. A victory would have pulled them to within five points of second place.
The stakes were high then at the OAKA, and it was PAOK who came out with all guns blazing looking to put last week’s disappointment behind them. The Black and Whites fashioned three decent opportunities to open the scoring inside the first 12 minutes.
However, on each occasion, Panathinaikos goalkeeper Sokratis Dioudis was on hand to save from Diego Biseswar, Dimitris Limnios and Andre Vieirinha.
PAOK continued to pile the pressure on the home goal, but Dioudis was determined to keep the visitors out, while Dimitris Pelkas as also guilty of missing with a good headed chance.
The only real sight of goal that the Greens got in the first half was a free kick which Giannis Bouzoukis sent high over PAOK goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis’ crossbar.
Panathinaikos raised their game after half time, but chances were at a premium in the second half, with neither side able to get what would have been a crucial goal to win the match.
PAOK did not create as many chances as they did in the first half, but again the home side were indebted to Dioudis for several crucial saves.
Panathinaikos then went close to scoring in the dying moments of the game, but Argyris Kampetsis failed to direct the ball home after great work by Dimitris Kolovos.
STARTING LINEUPS
Panathinaikos: 1 Dioudis (Gk), 3 Insua, 4 Kolovetsios, 5 Schenkeveld, 2 Johansson, 8 Donis, 21 Kourbelis, 10 Zahid, 11 Chatzigiovanis, 9 Macheda, 18 Bouzoukis
PAOK: 31 Paschalakis (Gk), 20 Vieirinha, 4 Ingason, 5 Varela, 23 Giannoulis, 18 Limnios, 24 Esiti, 7 El Kaddouri, 21 Biseswar, 10 Pelkas, 47 Akpom
