Vranjes the difference as AEK earn slender lead
GREEK FOOTBALL CUP - SEMI FINAL (LEG 1)
AEK, in a dramatic, tense first leg of the Greek Cup semi-final against Aris, earned a 2-1 advantage at the Olympic Stadium with the visitors reduced to 10 men.
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A match full of tension, drama and controversy finished with AEK earning a slender 2-1 advantage against Aris in Athens, with the second leg of the Greek Cup semi-final to be played at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium next month. In the opening 11 minutes, the two teams traded goals with Petros Mantalos scoring for AEK and Bruno Gama replying for Aris from the penalty spot, but the Thessaloniki club were undone by a straight red card issued to Javier Matilla at the start of the second half. Ognjen Vranjes headed past Julian Cuesta in the 57th minute to ensure that AEK gained a lead in the tie.
Proceedings at the OAKA were temporarily halted after Vranjes’ marker due to an incident involving one of Aris’ coaches on the touchline. There had also been a 25-minute delay to the second half.
THE MATCH
AEK could, and should, have opened the scoring within three minutes.
Collecting a cross from the right wing, Sergio Araujo found himself with only Cuesta to beat, however the Argentine striker contrived to head against the bar with the goal gaping.
Nevertheless, moments later, AEK did score the goal which their aggressive start merited.
Fooling the Aris defence with an intelligent pass, Marko Livaja picked out the onrushing Mantalos on the left flank, and the latter calmly stroked the ball into the far corner beyond Cuesta.
However, immediately after the restart, Aris were handed a golden opportunity to get back on level terms as Stratos Svarnas was found guilty of clumsily tripping Daniel Larsson in the penalty area.
An opportunity which was successfully used by Gama as he cooly passed the ball under Panagiotis Tsintotas.
AEK, shellshocked by that quick equaliser, responded in a positive manner.
Applying pressure on Aris with fast, purposeful play in the attacking third, AEK continued to create clear chances, and Daniele Verde was denied by a smart stop from Cuesta. Pouncing on the ensuing rebound, Mantalos subsequently attempted a fierce volley which flashed over the crossbar with Cuesta panicking.
Araujo’s header then looped off target after moving past the rather static Aris defence.
At the other end, Aris rarely threatened as they seemed happy to soak up the AEK pressing, however Tsintotas was called into action towards the end of the first half as a bouncing Matilla volley almost crept over the home goalkeeper.
AEK failed to use another wonderful chance with the half reaching its conclusion. Picked out by Araujo, Nenad Krsticic looked sure to score from close range, but the Serbian midfielder could only hook the ball wide.
The start of the second half was delayed by almost half an hour after Portuguese referee, Artur Soares Dias, didn’t appear from his dressing room without any given reason.
The stanza began in highly dramatic fashion. After taking a look at the video assistant referee system, Soares Dias issued a red card to Matilla for a strong challenge against Livaja as AEK broke on the counter. A furious Matilla responded by ripping off his shirt and kicking water bottles in the direction of the AEK supporters.
AEK, sensing blood, promptly punished Aris for their poor discipline.
Rising highest to meet a corner from the right, Vranjes hit the jackpot with the help of the left post.
There was a brief stoppage after Vranjes’ goal as Aris coach Lazaros Vardakis fell to the ground in strange circumstances. Initially, Aris appeared to refuse to continue playing, but they were eventually persuaded to keep the game going.
Araujo, causing the opposing defenders problems with his movement and intense play across the forward line, had a fantastic opportunity in the 76th minute. Escaping the Aris back line, Araujo was clean through, however he failed to get a shot away and the chance was gone.
The 10 men of Aris, purely focused on damage limitation with the second leg in mind, defended deeply and managed to break up some of AEK’s neat play. On the counter-attack, Hugo Souza had a half-chance to snatch a second away goal for Aris, heading over when connecting with a whipped cross.
Desperate for a third goal to take to Thessaloniki, AEK continued pumping the Aris area with crosses mainly from Michalis Bakakis, but the visiting team clung on for dear life with Fran Velez unbeatable in the centre of defence.
THE TEAMS
AEK: Tsintotas, Lopes, Svarnas, Vranjes, Bakakis, Szymanski, Krsticic, Mantalos, Verde (Klonaridis 75’), Livaja, Araujo (Christopoulos 88’).
Aris: Cuesta, Korhut, Velez, Delizisis, Rose, Matilla, Sasha, Larsson (Souza 68’), Gama (Diguiny 90+5’), Fetfatzidis (Ba 53’), Ideye.
HIGHLIGHTS
