Simoes late show helps AEK overcome Asteras
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 2
AEK chalked up their first win and points of the new Super League season thanks to a late goal deep into added time from Andre Simoes which earned the Kitrinomavri a 3-2 win over Asteras Tripolis in the last Sunday clash of Matchday 2 at the Theodoros Kolokotronis stadium.
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Luis Fernández opened the scoring early on for the home side, but AEK responded quickly through Nelson Oliveira’s strike. From then on it was all AEK as the Enosi chased a win to boost their morale after being eliminated from the Europa League in mid-week.
And Simoes conjured up a winning goal in the second minute of added time, headed home at the back post from Paulinho’s excellent cross.
While interim coach Nikos Kostenoglou will be delighted with the result, he will also be pleased with the much-improved performance his team showed in Tripoli, with the hope being that the Athens club can build from here.
THE MATCH
Having narrowly missed out on qualification for the Europa League following their defeat on away goals in the playoffs by Trabzonspor, AEK went to Tripoli aiming to get their first points of the new Super League season.
But they were dealt an early blow when the home side took the lead after an energetic start. Spanish midfielder Adrián Riera threaded a great pass through for his countryman forward Fernández, who beat AEK goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas with a cool finish.
To their credit, AEK did not crumble and responded with a shot from Andre Simoes which flashed narrowly past the post. It was a good sign and the visitors continued to apply pressure on the home goal.
Finally, AEK’s persistence was rewarded with an equalising goal on 14 minutes. Italian winger Daniele Verde sent over a precise free-kick which was met and converted by Portuguese forward Nelson Oliveira.
The goal seemed to settle AEK down and they went on to dominate proceedings but without threatening the home goal again. In fact, it was Asteras who almost went back in front in the 38th minute but following a poor clearance by the AEK defence, Riera was presented with a chance but he missed the target.
Next it was AEK’s turn to waste a golden chance just before half-time and Verde was the villain of the piece, firing over the crossbar after being teed up perfectly by Oliveira’s superb ball.
AEK came out in the second half looking for a goal that could win them the game, and they almost had it after 56 minutes when a flowing move ended with Simoes receiving the ball at his feet in a great position. Unfortunately for AEK, the Portuguese midfielder’s effort was wayward and another chance was gone.
AEK did not lose heart though and continued to move the ball around superbly, showing a few glimpses of the style of play that won them the title just over 12 months ago.
And another chance was not long in coming with Livaja working himself into a great position on the hour mark. But the Croatian striker fluffed his lines with only Tripolis goalkeeper Nikos Papadopoulos, the latter producing a fine save to deny the AEK man.
Four minutes later AEK threatened the Tripoli backline again, this time through Verde, who was sent clean through on goal by Christos Alpanis’ pass. However, the Italian forward missed the target.
AEK’s hard work finally paid off in the 68th minute when a stunning run from Alpanis ended with the 24-year-old forward teeing up Livaja to score and make it 2-1 to the visitors.
All that effort from AEK was then undone by defender Michalis Bakakis just two minutes later, however, as the Greece international gave away a penalty. His foul on forward Jeronimo Barrales allowed the Argentine to dust himself down and then step up from the spot and score an unlikely equaliser.
At that point AEK had created 12 chances to Asteras’ 4, and the visitors could consider themselves hugely unlucky not to be in front.
In the end, however, just as it seemed that the Enosi would pay for their profligacy in front of goal, Simoes popped up to head home Paulinho’s cross and win it for AEK.
STARTING LINEUPS
Asteras: 1 Papadopoulos (GK), 15 Suarez, 6 Valiente, 42 Antzoulas, 77 Kyriakopoulos, 8 Fernandez. B, 17 Iglesias, 23 Riera, 27 Kotsiras, 7 Fernandez. M, 10 Fernandez. L
AEK: 1 Barkas (GK), 2 Bakakis, 19 Chygrynskiy, 21 Vranjes, 23 Hult, 8 Simoes, 7 Verde, 25 Galanopoulos, 27 Paulinho, 10 Livaja, 18 Nelson Oliveira
HIGHLIGHTS
