PAOK open with win over Panetolikos
 

SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Reigning champions PAOK kicked off the defence of their Super League crown with a comfortable 2-1 home win over Panetolikos at the Toumba in Thessaloniki on Sunday evening.

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Goals from Karol Swiderski and Josip Misic put the Double-headed Eagle of the North in firm command, and there was never any doubt that PAOK would come away with nothing less than three points.

Portuguese midfielder Dálcio netted a consolation goal for the visitors deep into added time, but that strike did nothing to take the shine off a solid performance from Abel Ferreira’s side, whose focus will now turn to the upcoming UEFA Europa League playoff second leg clash with Slovan Bratislava.

THE MATCH

Having suffered the disappointment of losing 1-0 to Slovan Bratislava in Slovakia on Thursday, PAOK came into this match, the first to be broadcast exclusively by a club’s own television channel in PAOK FC TV, determined to build up a head of steam.

And after an energetic start in front of a packed Toumba which brought a couple of half-chances, the home side went on to take the lead in the 27th minute through their Polish frontman Swiderski.

PAOK right-back Dimitris Giannoulis was the architect, sending over a dangerous cross from the right which Panetolikos goalkeeper Christopher Knett failed to deal with and Swiderski scored with a header.

PAOK continued to boss proceedings and the home side should have been 2-0 up in the 45th minute just before half-time, but captain Dimitris Pelkas’ effort was off target following good work from winger Dimitris Limnios.

Panetolikos tried to counter whenever they could, and their best chance of a goal in the first half came in the 35th minute when Spanish striker Joan Román fired a shot narrowly over Alexandros Paschalakis goal after finding himself in space.

After half-time it was again the home side calling the shots, but there was a slice of fortune about the way in which they doubled their advantage in the 76th minute. Misic worked himself some room down the right channel and sent over a cross-shot which ended up in the back of the net after Knett again failed to judge the flight of the ball.

Despite that setback the visitors fought back and should have pulled a goal back just three minutes later when Dalcio released Admir Bajrovic with a slide-rule pass, but the Swede’s shot was off target.

Panetolikos finally had something to cheer in the third minute of added time when Dalcio beat Paschalakis with a powerful shot from distance which flew into the bottom left corner.

STARTING LINEUPS

PAOK: 31 Paschalakis, 3 Matos, 5 Varela, 15 Crespo, 23 Giannoulis, 24 Esiti, 33 Douglas, 18 Limnios, 21 Biseswar, 10 Pelkas, 9 Swiderski

Panetolikos: 1 KNETT, 5 JOVANOVIC, 33 ROMAN, 54 LIAVAS, 20 FYTOPOULOS, 21 SAGNA, 10 DALCIO, 11 DIAZ JORGE, 47 MALIS, 9 BAJROVIC, 18 LUCERO

HIGHLIGHTS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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