Panathinaikos upset AEK’s unbeaten run in the derby (2-1) in the 3rd matchday of the Super League playoffs and stayed alive in the hunt for the title. At the same time, he knocked AEK from the top of the standings, in which PAOK is now, whom they welcome next Sunday at the “OPAP Arena”.
AEK entered the derby furiously and surprised the “greens” with their pressing. Somehow he managed to take the lead in just 5′ with Eliasson stealing the ball from Huancar and turning in the center of the small area with Vida making it 0-1 with a shot.
The Union dominated the first quarter with Panathinaikos missing a huge opportunity in the 10th minute when Bernard hit the crossbar from Ioannidis’ turn. The match had a very fast pace and in the 12th minute it was Zuber’s turn to miss a great opportunity for 0-2.
Panathinaikos picked up the pace after the 20th minute and in the 26th minute scored a goal with Bakaseta’s header from Arao’s turn (he did not celebrate the goal) but the goal was disallowed because Arao was in an offside position. The “greens” were not disappointed and they were the ones who suffocated AEK, leading them to many individual mistakes. Thus, in the 32nd minute, Ioannidis stole the ball from Mukudi, entered the area and crossed to Athanasiadis, who saved the ball. At the end of the phase, the ball reached Arao who passed it to Bakaseta and he made it 1-1 with a powerful shot from the semi-circle of the area. Again, the former AEK ace did not celebrate his success. And as if that wasn’t enough, two minutes later (34′), Ioannidis again stole the ball from Mukudi, entered the area and brilliantly slotted past Athanasiadis for 2-1. Mukudi’s ‘gifts’ were made the most of…
AEK took control of the match from 40 to 45′ + 2′. He stepped 3 times in the area, but had poor final options.
In the second half, the two teams started with the same lineups, with Panathinaikos staying further back and giving space to AEK, which forced the “greens” to look for counterattacks. In the 55th minute, Ioannidis’ strong shot went wide. In the 57th minute, Almeida made four changes (!) in order to change the image of his team and freshen up its attack. In the 63′ Araujo’s shot was blocked by Dragovski, while Araujo also threatened in the 75′.
The match did not have the exhausting pace of the first half, as after 60′ the players dominated and the many fouls interrupted the pace. AEK was in complete control but could not seriously threaten the defense of the home team. In the 92nd minute, Gacinovic’s foul from an excellent position was kicked out for a corner by Dragovski. In the next minute, there was tension in front of the AEK bench and then Amrabad’s cross and Ponce’s header went wide.
The Portuguese Pereira “yellowed” Jonsson, Bernard, Mukudi, Ioannidis, Mandalo, while dismissing the home team’s technical director Papadimitriou.
PANATHINAIKOS: Dragovski, Kotsiras, Jedvai, Akaidin, Huancar (61′ Mladenovic), Arao, Cerin (88′ Vilena), Verbic (61′ Mancini), Bernard (79′ Limnios), Bakasetas (88′ Pereth), Ioannidis.
AEK: Athanasiadis, Rota, Vida, Mukudi, Hadjisafi, Simanski (57′ Pineda), Jonsson (70′ Amrabad), Eliasson, Zuber (57′ Gacinovic), Mandalos (57′ Araujo), Garcia (57′ Ponce).
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