There was no winner in the “double-header” derby held on Sunday at Opap Arena, as AEK and PAOK drew 1-1, for the 8th matchday of the Super League.
After tonight’s division, the “black and white” remained at the top (17b.), which they now share with their compatriot, Aris, while “Enosas” for its part reached 15 with this point and is tied for third place with Olympiakos.
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The Thessalonians opened the scoring with a goal by Baba in the 16th minute, but Union responded with a goal by Piero in the 25th minute.
A minute before their goal, Lucescu’s team had a crossbar with Ozdoev. Martial made his debut with the yellow and black, coming on as a substitute in the match instead of Levi Garcia in the 75th minute.
Wanting to take advantage of the strength of the home team, AEK entered the match more furiously, adding dynamism to their game. Abubakari Koita’s shot in the 12th minute did not find the target, with PAOK reaching the goal in the 14th minute.
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After a mistake by Roberto Pereira, Tyson took the effort, set up Magomed Ozdoev who shot from the top of the penalty area, with Thomas Strakosia touching the ball and sending it over the crossbar.
And from the corner that followed, the “black and white” opened the scoring. Andrija Živkovic scored, Fedor Chalov took the first header and Baba with a double effort beat Strakosia for 0-1.
In fact, wanting to take advantage of the momentum, the guests created conditions for a second goal on two occasions, but without a substantial final effort.
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AEK regrouped and were lucky to equalize relatively quickly. Koita found Piero in the area who made a move… pivoted on Tomas Kenziora and placed under the feet of Dominic Kotarski for 1-1 in the 25th minute.
Ten minutes later, the forward from Haiti came out on the right and crossed, but Levi Garcia’s header missed the target.
A quick counter-attack from the home side in the 38th minute, with Piero laying on Lazaro Rota after Levia’s cross, but Kotarski was quick to stop the international right-back’s shot, with Pereira then desperately missing. It was also the last good moment in the first half.
Erik Lamela’s free kick in the 55th minute went over Kotarski’s goalposts, at a time when AEK protested for Baba’s penalty on Leviai, while Piero’s header after Rota’s cross in the 59th minute went high. PAOK’s scorer was forced to change, with Yoni Otto moving to the left back role and Kenziora to the right.
The two coaches made their changes – Matias Almeida even replaced Anthony Martial who made his debut – but the game had lost its rhythm. A shot by Andrija Zivkovic on the body of Mukudi and one by Moses Odubajo that went wide were the only chances worth recording.
The 1-1 remained until the end with PAOK remaining at the top of the standings, having as a roommate Aris, with AEK following with Olympiakos having two points less.
Yellow: Lamela, Mukudi – Ozdoev.
AEK (Matias Almeida): Strakosia, Mukudi, Pelios, Rota (76′ Odubajo), Vida, Simanski, Pereira (76′ Pineda), Lamela, Koita (82′ Gacinovic), Levia (76′ Martial), Piero.
PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski, Otto, Lovren, Kenziora, Baba (63′ Koley), Schwab, Ozdoev (75′ Kamara), Murg (75′ Konstantinas), Zivkovic, Tyson (89′ Despodov), Chalov (63′ Brandon).
* Also present at the OPAP Arena is little Yiannis Papastephanakis, the well-known friend of PAOK who a few days ago returned from the United States of America, having undergone a serious surgery in order to be able to stand on his feet again.
* Also present in the stands of the OPAP Arena was the national coach of the Greek national team, Ivan Jovanovitch, who experienced the apotheosis.
* Rade Obrenovic’s yellow card was witnessed in the 43rd minute by Razvan Lucescu for a strong protest, with Arnold Mukudi approaching and… kissing the Romanian coach.
AEK’s director of football, Javier Ribalta
Martial
The powerful man of PAE AEK, Marios Iliopoulos
Source: www.zougla.gr
