Too good not to go through…
PAOK seemed almost self-destructive with their lack of luck and poor finishing, but were undoubtedly better than FC Spartak Trnava and eventually got a deserved qualification to the UEFA Europa League play-offs with a 1-1 draw in Slovakia.
PAOK’s qualification could have been more comfortable, as they wasted many chances both in Toumba and in ViOn. They allowed the Slovakians to stay in contention until the 48th minute.
At that exact moment, Nikos Korovesis evaded his rival with an impressive effort and met Dimitris Konstantinidis with a cross. The latter headed the ball home for a very important goal. It was his first goal for the “Double-Headed Eagle”, his personal vindication after so much time on the sidelines due to injury.
This goal restored football justice and PAOK won’t rue the wasted chances of Róbert Mak, Dimitris Pelkas and Ergys Kace. They will come up however in the talk about the team’s obvious improvement with each match.
That is the most important conclusion after the ties against FC Spartak Trnava. Even when fielding an emergency line-up, even reduced to 10 for more than 112 minutes (out of the possible 180), they eliminated the obstacle of the Slovakian side. Meanwhile Igor Tudor proved he is building a team on solid foundation.
The Croatian coach fielded Giannis Skondras to cover for the absence of suspended Miguel Vítor and chose Korovesis and Konstantinidis for the flanks and Giannis Mystakidis upfront. The team’s overall display wasn’t affected despite the numerous absences.
PAOK moved the ball around, closed down spaces in their defence and were in control of proceedings. The home side couldn’t create any dangerous, had the referees not interpreted Robin Olsen’s effort to protect the ball from incoming Erik Sabo as infraction deserving of a penalty call. The captain of FC Spartak Trnava stepped up to take the spot kick and netted the opener.
The “Double-Headed Eagle”, who will be deprived of suspended Skondras in the next match –he was sent off for hitting an opponent-, will learn their rivals in the UEFA Europa League play-off draw on Friday.
FC Spartak Trnava: Kamenár, Janečka, Greššák, Nikolić, Tóth, Casado, (79’ Báez), Sabo, Bortel, Halilović (79’ Mikinič), Mikovič, Vojtuš (62’ Harba)
PAOK: Olsen, Konstantinidis , Skondras, Costa, Tzavellas, Kace (80’ Κ.Savvidis), Pelkas , Tziolis, Korovesis, Mak, Mystakidis (57’ Κoulouris, 68’ Pougouras)
