The Dikefalos tou Vorra went about this potentially tricky second leg match with intelligence and flawless tactics, and in the end deservedly clinched the progression to the semi-finals that they wanted at the ΟΑΚΑ, despite facing a Panathinaikos side who had rested key players in the derby match against AEK last weekend in an effort to focus on the cup.

Swiderski’s goal following a brilliant, mazy run and assist from Dimitris Pelkas after just 11 minutes knocked the stuffing out of the home side, who should have been further behind by the time they recovered from that early shock, as PAOK got in behind the home defenders time and again. Play balanced out a little at the half-hour mark. Abel Ferreira’s side allowed Panathinaikos space to come forward but the Greens struggled to create clear chances and goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis dealt with any dangerous moments when needed comfortably.

In the second half the Greens struggled to create any meaningful threat on the visitors’ goal with PAOK managing the remainder of the game comfortably as they kept a clean sheet to claim a 3-0 victory on aggregate.

Team lineups:

Panathinaikos (Giorgos Donis): Dioudis, Johansson, Schekenfeld, Pouggouras, Chatzitheodoridis, Donis, Kourbelis, Nagy (46’ Ayoub), Zahid (70’ Bouzoukis), Chatzigiovanis (58’ Perea), Macheda.

PAOK (Abel Ferreira): Paschalakis, Vieirinha , Varela (86’ Mihailidis), Ingason, Giannoulis, Misic, Mauricio, Limnios, Pelkas (63’ Lamprou), Biseswar, Swiderski (72’ Akpom).