PAOK march on with victory in Volos
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 8
PAOK moved to the top of the Super League on Saturday after defeating Volos 2-0 at the Panthessaliko stadium thanks to a couple of goals from Greece stars Dimitris Limnios and birthday boy Dimitris Pelkas.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage with Go Greek TV!
Limnios, who has been in scintillating form in recent weeks, headed home from Dimitris Giannoulis’ cross after 29 minutes. It was the second header in as many games for Limnios, who is not usually revered for his heading prowess.
And PAOK captain Pelkas slotted home a 73rd-minute penalty to seal victory in what was another solid away performance from Abel Ferreira’s PAOK side against tricky opponents, who have begun life in the top flight impressively.
The win moved PAOK top of the standings with 20 points, with Olympiacos, who have 19 points, facing AEK at the Georgios Karaiskakis in Sunday’s big derby match.
The goals and three points were a double celebration for the two Dimitris’, who along with full-back Dimitris Giannoulis were celebrating their name days, while Pelkas was also celebrating his birthday after turning 26.
THE MATCH
The visitors travelled to Volos to face the Super League newboys for the first time, with the clear aim of continuing their undefeated form and taking advantage of playing 24 hours ahead of Olmypiacos to try and take over at the summit.
And the visitors began brightly, creating the first clear scoring chance after 16 minutes. The move started with the lively Limnios, who offloaded to Josip Misic. The Croatian midfielder picked out Diego Biseswar at the back post, but the Dutchman’s shot from a tight angle was parried to safety by Volos goalkeeper Thanasis Garavelis.
The home side responded four minutes later, however, with defender Franco Ferrari sending over a cross for Erik Jendrisek. The Slovakian missed the ball, which fell kindly for Joaquin Torres. Fortunately for PAOK, however, the Spaniard fired his shot wide.
PAOK didn’t let that unsettle their play, and the Thessaloniki club continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession and attacking threats.
After a spell of peppering the Volos box with dangerous crosses without getting a breakthrough, a goal finally came in the 29th minute. And it was that man Limnios again.
The 21-year-old is really beginning to find his best form of late, both for club and country, and he got on the end of another cross from Greece team-mate Giannoulis, who had been released by Miroslav Stoch’s clever backheel pass.
With the visitors happy with their half-time lead and the home side needing to press more if they wanted to get back into the game, the odds were in favor of PAOK.
Ferreira’s players slowed the tempo of the game and were content to wait for their chance to pounce to lock-up the three points.
And they almost scored again a minute after the hour mark when Biseswar skipped past a defender and fired a shot in on goal. Garavelis was equal to the Dutchman’s effort though and parried the ball away for a corner.
PAOK continued to passively search for a second goal, though, and the Double-headed Eagle of the North were presented with a golden opportunity to get one when they were awarded a penalty in the 71st minute.
Volos defender Stergio Dimopoulos was the guilty party, illegally halting Limnios progress in to the box. PAOK skipper Pelkas stepped up to slot home from 12 yards in the 73rd minute with a stylish Panenka spot-kick.
Volos could and should have got themselves to within a goal of PAOK just moments later when they went straight down the other end and forged a chance which substitute Vasilis Mantzis headed wide from an unmarked position.
And that was that. PAOK held on comfortably to seal a very professional job done and three points in the bag.
STARTING LINEUPS
Volos: 1 Garavelis (GK), 3 Ferrari, 2 Dedakis, 33 Dimopoulos, 44 Chika,
5 Max, 6 Tsokanis, 23 Joao, 14 Attiyat, 18 Torres, 26 Jendrisek
Paok: 88 Zivkovic (GK), 23 Giannoulis, 15 Crespo, 4 Ingason, 3 Matos, 33 Douglas, 27 Misic, 99 Stoch, 21 Biseswar, 18 Limnios, 9 Swiderski
HIGHLIGHTS
