Another friendly win thanks to a double from Oliveira
A Nelson Oliveira-inspired PAOK defeated Heracles Almelo 2-1 in the club’s penultimate friendly match of their Dutch pre-season training camp.
Razvan Lucescu once again opted to pick two separate starting XI’s in each half of the match. For the first time, the Romanian coach chose Omar El Kaddouri on the left side of the midfield, with Shinji Kagawa taking a position behind Oliveira.
PAOK began the game with intensity and an appetite for goals and managed to take the lead in the 13th minute. El Kanddouri broke nicely down the left side and played in Oliveira who scored from close range to make it 1-0.
Three minutes later, Heracles found a response in fortunate circumstances. The ball hit the wall after a free-kick and ended up in the back of the net to make it 1-1.
The Double-headed Eagle continued to press, and at times showed great passing and created chances. In the 33rd minute Oliveira struck again. This time the goal was an all-Portuguese affair, as Vieirinha relased the PAOK forward with a measured pass. Oliveira controlled the ball and with a shot on the move made it 2-1 to PAOK.
PAOK had a great triple opportunity to extend their lead in added time at the end of the first half, but unfortunatley the ball did not end up in the back of the Heracles net.
There were no further goals in the second half either, but PAOK did continue at the same pace and tempo with a completely different set of players. There were some dangerous moments, with Lambrou, Koutsias and Rodrigo all having chances, but the scoreline remained unchanged up until the final whistle.
The Double-headed Eagle are now entering the final stretch of their pre-season preparations up until Sunday, when the club will play another friendly, this time against Feyenoord. That match will take place in four sets of 30 minutes, in order for all of the players to get enough participation time.
The PAOK lineup:
Paschalakis (46′ Zivkovic), Vieirinha (46′ Pereira), Varela (46′ Mihaj), Michailidis (46′ Crespo, 74′ Lyratzis), Taylor (46′ Rodrigo), Esiti (46′ Tsingaras), Schwab (46′) Ninua), Kagawa (46′ Vrakas, 70′ Konstandelias), El Kanddouri (46′ Lambrou), Murg (46′ A. Zivkovic), Oliveira (46′ Koutsias, 88′ Tzolis).
