PAOK never give up
PAOK were superior for most of the game, missed a hatful of chances (as well as hitting the woodwork and missing a penalty), fell behind, but they never gave up. And with a goal from Giakoumakis in the dying moments of the match, the visitors claimed a draw at the “Kleanthis Vikelidis”, taking an important point in the League Phase of the 2025-26 Betsson Greek Cup.
Razvan Lucescu fielded a much-changed team, and PAOK started the match with plenty of enthusiasm and energy, pressing the hosts from the kick-off, and creating many problems for the opposing defense.
The first threat came in the seventh minute, with Despodov crossing for Mythou who looked to apply the finishm only for Athanasiadis to make an impressive save to deny the PAOK forward. bThe baton was taken on by Michailides, who fired a shot goalwards in the 10th minute only to be denied again by an Athanasiadis save.
The Aris goalkeeper made another vital stop when he saved Despodov’s penalty, which had been awarded after Vogliacco was upended in the box.
Despodov then threatened again in the 35th minute with a header, but the ball went wide, with Aris essentially having only one shot on goal in the first half, with Perez missing in the 36th minute, while a goal by Jensen was also correctly disallowed for offside. The 0-0 scoreline remained unchanged until the end of the half.
The second half started in the worst possible way for PAOK, as Aris took the lead through Dudou in the 47th minute.
For the rest of the match, the home team focused on how to close down the spaces towards Athanasiadis’ goal and waste time.
On the other hand, Lucescu tried to make some adjustments, bringing on Taison, Giakoumakis, Hatsidis, Ivanusec and Kenny .
The visitors hit the post in the 63rd minute from Despodov’s free-kick, and it took until the final moments of the match for the team that didn’t give up to finally get their «revenge» and level the game.
Taison provided the crosse, which Giakoumakis converted in emphatic style to make the final score 1-1, with PAOK taking a very important point from the game.
Team lineups:
Aris: Athanasiadis, Alvaro, Rose, Fadiga, Frydek (83′ Techero), Montsou, Galanopoulos, Jensen (71′ Rasic), Peres, Panayidis (83′ Charoupas), Dudou (79′ Moron).
PAOK: Tsiftsis, Baba, Michailides, Vogliacco, Sastre (81′ Kenny), Bianco (63′ Taison), Ozdoev, Kamara, Despodov (75′ Hatsidis), A. Zivkovic (81′ Ivanusec), Mythou (75′ Giakoumakis).
