PAOK started strongly and signalled their intent just seconds after kick-off. Alexandros Gargalatzidis was masterfully set up by Kostas Chatzidimpas and went one-on-one with AFC Ajax’s goalkeeper Jeffrey de Lange, but his shot hit both posts before the intervention of the local defenders. Afterwards, Stergios Dodontsakis’s header flew just wide. AFC Ajax started gaining ground on the pitch and coming closer to Giorgos Muca’s area, but still PAOK had a good chance to take the lead in the 10th minute. Nikolas Mattheou unleashed a powerful shot from an angle, but the home side’s goalkeeper reacted well.

By then AFC Ajax had gotten possession and in the 22nd minute they wasted a glorious chance, as Mees de Wit’s shot met the woodwork. Muca and his defenders were busy dealing with the Dutch outfit’s crosses from the flanks. The home side had closed all spaces and PAOK couldn’t launch counterattacks.

After the interval, Pablo García introduced Giorgos Tzovaras and Sokratis Aidonidis on the pitch to freshen up his frontline (retiring Antonis Stathopoulos and Leftheris Lyratzis respectively who ran a lot in the first half). AFC Ajax continued firing on all cylinders, but still it was PAOK who wasted the biggest opportunity. In the 63rd minute, a few seconds after coming off the bench, Stathopoulos went close to breaking the deadlock but he was beaten by the rival goalkeeper in their one-on-one.

The match was practically decided in the 71st minute, when the referee got it wrong to award a penalty in a challenge by Dodontsakis. Muca picked the right corner, but Kaj Sierhuis’s spot kick was excellent and gave the lead to AFC Ajax. The home side were boosted by the goal and soon scored a second one through the same player with a point-blank header.

The game gained more intensity, as PAOK made an effort to reduce distances through Aidonidis and Tzovaras, the latter being denied by the woodwork. Muca produced an incredible save in the 83rd minute. Three minutes later, Kostas Dimitriou got on the scorers’ sheet with a strong finish. During stoppage time, Muca made two brilliant saves and the scoreline remained unchanged.

The European adventure of PAOK U20 players is over for this season and now they will focus exclusively in their Super League engagements, starting with their game against Atromitos on Sunday.

PAOK U20: Muca, Papathanasiou, Dodontsakis, Dimitriou, Gialamoudis (62′ Stathopoulos), Meletidis, Noukaris, Chatzidimpas (46′ Αidonidis), Mattheou (46′ Τzovaras), Lyratzis, Gargalatzidis.