A determined win at Rizoupoli
After a difficult evening against an impressive Apollon Smyrnis at Rizoupoli, PAOK still managed to come away with three precious points thanks to a hard-earned victory.
Despite having played in Europe against PSV Eindhoven on Thirsday, the Double-headed Eagle battled until the final whistle, and found the answers to the questions that were asked of them by the home side to get the win that the team desperately wanted.
PAOK carried the positive momentum from the second half of the mid-week game against the Dutch into the early stages o this match and began on the front foot. The promising start lead to the opening goal after 16 minutes when Karol Swiderski took on a great pass from Stefan Schwab and beat home goalkeeper Davino Verhulst to make it 1-0.
In the 24th minute Αndrija Zivkovic won a penalty, however it was ruled out following a VAR review which showed that the Serbian forward was in an offside position. PAOK keep going forward, however, and missed a clutch of opportunities towards the end of the first half with Schwab and Ingi Ingason both unable to increase their team’s advantage over the Elafras Taxiarchis.
In the second half the home side came out in more determined mood and managed to get some useful possession in areas where they could threaten PAOK. Giorgos Paraschos’ team levelled matters in the 63rd minute thank to Sotiris Tsiloulis, who headed confidently home from a corner.
PAOK’s coaching team opted to bring on Omar El Kaddouri and he seemed to bring some much-needed composure to the midfield, and the visitors began to start pressing the home goal again.
In the 74th minute Swiderski was fouled in the penalty area by Christos Lisgaras, and sure enough following a VAR review, the match referee awarded PAOK a penalty. Schwab stepped up to stroke the ball home from the spot and put PAOK back in front.
Paraschos then deicded to take some risks, bringing on extra forwards as the match entered its closing stages to try and get another equalizer, but in the last phase of play of the game, the Double-headed Eagle managed to lock up the result after being awarded another penalty when Karlo Brucic handled the ball. Douglas Augusto made no mistake from 12 yards to make the final score 3-1.
Team lineups:
Apollon Smyrnis: Verhulst, Tsampouris (79’ Mounier), Brucic, Lisgaras, Domingues, Baxevanidis, Slivka, Fatjon (82’ Dauda), Bedinelli (82’ Coll), Tsiloulis, Ioannidis.
PAOK: Zivkovic, Rodrigo, Ingason, Crespo, Lyratzis, Augusto, Schwab , Tziolis (67’ El Kaddouri), Murg, Α.Ζivkovic, Swiderski (83’ Colak).
