PAOK see off Larissa to go top
 

SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 11

PAOK climbed to the top of the Super League on Sunday after securing a straightforward 1-0 home win over Larissa at the Toumba.

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Karol Swiderski opened the scoring for the reigning champions after 16 minutes to notch up his eighth goal of the season to spark jubilant celebrations among the home fans.

Despite creating several further chances, Abel Ferreira’s PAOK failed to add to the scoreline, but they also managed to keep a disappointing Larissa team at bay with the Vissini unable to trouble Zivko Zickovic’s goal.

After Olympiacos dropped points in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Panionios, it was imperative for PAOK to get the three points in order to catch their title rivals and move level on 27 points. And the Black and Whites did not fail to deliver, claiming a vital win which sets things up for an enthralling top of the table duel next week between the Thessaloniki club and Olympiacos at the Georgios Karaiskakis stadium.

THE MATCH

PAOK have been as consistent as ever this season and they began the day looking to keep the pressure on Olympiacos.

Ferreira’s team, who are undefeated for 45 Super League matches, have not been as strong as usual at home, dropping points twice in five matches at the Toumba Stadium, and this is something which gave an unpredictable Larissa a chink of hope.

As for the Thessaly club, in recent weeks they have dropped points at Panetolikos, been thumped 3-0 at home to Lamia, while also drawing away to Panathinaikos and coming back from two goals down to defeat OFI at home.

Anything could happen at the Toumba, and thankfully for the home fans it was a dominant display from PAOK that unfolded.

The hosts controlled much of the possession from the kick-off and it came as no surprise when they took the lead in the 16th minute. Top scorer Swiderski was the man on target, directing the ball into the net from Vierinha’s cross.

The PAOK players dedicated the goal to injury victim Leo Jaba, running to the dugout to grab his shirt and hold it up in his honor. The Brazilian winger underwent an operation on his right knee this week and is expected to be sidelined for up to three months.

Larissa struggled to get anywhere near the PAOK goal in the opening 45 minutes, and PAOK went close to making it 2-0 after 24 minutes when Swiderski pounced on a cross from Diego Biseswar, only to see Larissa defender Slavko Bralic block his effort to safety.

Swiderski then had the ball in the net again five minutes later, but the effort was ruled out for a foul committed in the build-up by PAOK’s Brazilian full-back Leo Matos.

The pattern of play continued in the same vein in the second half, although PAOK did seem to ease of the accelerator somewhat and allow Larissa to come into the game more.

Despite that, the Vissini struggled to create clear chances, with a 64th-minute snapshot from Marko Nunic which PAOK goalkeeper Zivko Zivkovic gathered comfortably the best that they could offer.

Ferreira attempted to freshen his attacking options up in the latter stages, bringing on Dimitris Limnios for Vierinha and Chuba Akpom for the tiring Swiderski, as the home side looked for a second goal to kill the game off.

Those changes failed to inspire much of a change, as a disappointing second half deteriorated in quality in the closing stages, with Larissa having defender Alexis Michail sent off for a second bookable offence.

That mattered not, however, as PAOK clinched another vital three-point haul which sets up a mouth-watering North vs. South derby next weekend in Piraeus.

STARTING LINEUPS

PAOK: 88 Zivkovic (GK), 3 Matos, 4 Ingason, 15 Crespo, 23 Giannoulis, 20 Vieirinha, 33 Douglas, 27 Misic, 7 El Kaddouri, 21 Biseswar, 9 Swiderski

Larissa: 1 Kristinsson (GK), 5 Mihail, 8 Milosavljevic, 18 Moras, 20 Karanikas, 22 Secerovic, 23 Assoubre, 28 Bralic, 33 Nunic, 64 Andoni, 88 Stankovic

HIGHLIGHTS

by Graham Wood

Image Source: sportfm.gr

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