A tale of 10 minutes
This time the plan worked like… clockwork. PAOK achieved what it failed to do in several previous games this season and locked up three points thanks to a powerful first 10 minutes, beating PAS Giannina 2-0 on Matchday 11 of the 2022-23 Super League.
The hosts began the match in determined mood and managed to simplify the game by doing all the hard work within the first 10 minutes.
The first half was a monologue from PAOK. Razvan Lucescu’s team took possession of the ball, and attacked at will with momentum, quickly moving into a two-goal lead.
The first strike came in the eighth minute, when Ingi Ingason headed home impressively from a Rafa Soares free-kick. Two minutes later, Stefan Schwab doubled the advantage from penalty spot, after the home side were awarded the spot-kick for a foul on Nelson Oliveira in the penalty area.
The Double-headed Eagle, boosted by their confident start, did whatever they wanted on the pitch and created good chances to take an even bigger lead into the half-time break. In the 23rd minute, Omar El Kaddouri found Giannis Konstantelias beautifully, and the latter send a cross-shot just past Athanasiou’s post.
In the 28th minute, the PAS goalkeeper saw the ball flash narrowly over his crossbar from a shot by Oliveira, just like in the 41st minute after a header by Ingason, while a minute earlier he also stopped a very good shot by Oliveira, and so the teams went into the dressing rooms at 2-0.
Completely lacking any threat during the first half, PAS Giannina came out more determined in the second and looked for a goal that would put them back in the game. Kotarski saved well from Rossero in the 50th minute, scrambing the ball away for a corner.
PAOK quickly restored their dominance, however, and did not allow the hosts to threaten afterwards, with the rest of the match being more or less procedural in nature, as Lucescu’s players shielded the ball well, while they also had some good moments up front, but finding a third goal.
PAOK then, returned to winning ways and now turn their full attention to the next match against Ionikos in Nikaia next Thursday.
Team lineups:
PAOK (Lucescu): Kotarski, Sastre, Ingason, Koulierakis (Nasberg 64′), Rafa Soares, Dadntas, Schwab, A. Zivkovic, Konstantelias (Biseswar 79′), El Kaddouri (Filipe Soares 70′), Oliveira (Brandon 79′)
PAS Giannina (Staykos): Athanasiou, Soria, Pantelakis, Eramouspe, Pelios, Bilbao, Lolis (Pamlidis 81′), Liassos (Tsiris 91′), Rosero (Tsavos 91′), Fofana, Balan (Stmatelopoulos 64′).
