Uninspired AEK stall in Lamia
SUPER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 16
AEK produced another lackluster display on Saturday and had to settle for a point in a goalless draw at Lamia.
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Chances were at a premium as Massimo Carrera’s Kitrinomavri struggled to negotiate what was a tricky match against an in-form Lamia side, whose recent form has them challenging for a top-six place.
Despite the lack of creativity and quality on show, both sides hit the woodwork, Lamia in the first half and AEK in the second, but a draw was probably a fair result based on the balance of play in this disappointing Matchday 16 clash.
As a result, third-placed AEK, who are nine points adrift of joint-leaders Olympiacos and PAOK, will likely lose further ground as both of that leading duo have a game to play, on Sunday and Monday respectively.
THE MATCH
Coming into this match, Lamia’s form has been superb in the last month and a half though the club have gone winless in their last two - a draw away to Atromitos and a narrow defeat to Panathinaikos.
Still, Lamia began the day 10th in the table and appear to be serious about launching a challenge for the top six. AEK, meanwhile, came into this Matchday 16 showdown with two wins on the trot since Italian manager Massimo Carrera took over.
This match offered Carrera’s biggest test yet, and after being well below-par in their last outing despite winning 2-1 against Asteras Tripolis at the OAKA, the onus was on AEK to regroup and produce a convincing display.
Unfortunately the opening 45 minutes was yet more uninspiring stuff from Carrera’s team, who don’t seem to be too sure of their identity and style of play under the Italian coach just yet.
And in fact it was the in-form visitors who had the best chance of the first half, with AEK goalkeeper Panagiotis Tsintotas producing a superb save to tip Andreas Vassilogiannis’ free-kick onto the post after nine minutes.
AEK’s only real threatening moment of the opening period came after 17 minutes when Petros Mantalos’ cross-come-shot found its way to Nelson Oliveira, but the Portuguese forward fired his effort wide.
The second half was not much of an improvement with neither side looking like they would manage to score, but it was again the home side who looked the most threatening on 65 minutes when Danny Bejarano headed just wide.
AEK did manage to get their act together in the latter stages, and they missed a golden chance to get what surely would have been the winning goal after 79 minutes.
Helder Lopes’ set-piece took a deflection and fell kindly into the path of Giorgos Giakoumakis, who somehow contrived to direct the ball onto the bar instead of into the back of the net.
STARTING LINEUPS
Lamia: 30 Theodoropoulos (Gk), 27 Scarduelli, 24 Vyntra, 4 Adejo, 50 Asigba, 18 Romanic, 16 Bejarano, 9 Thuram, 10 Del Pino, 7 Vassilogiannis, 23 Skondras
Aek: 16 Tsintotas (Gk), 2 Bakakis, 3 Lopes, 19 Chygrynskyy, 21 Vranjes, 27 Paulinho, 6 Krsticic, 8 Simoes, 20 Mandalos, 10 Livaja, 18 Oliveira
HIGHLIGHTS
