Qualification party at the Toumba
The atmosphere inside the packed Toumba was incredible. And Razvan Lucescu’s players walked out onto the pitch with a glint in their eyes. The gameplan was executed flawlessly and PAOK will now be in the League Phase of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League after beating 10-man Rijeka 5-0, overturning the one-goal deficit from the first leg in some style, throwing a party on the pitch and in the stands.
Razvan Lucescu lined up his team with Jiri Pavlenka in goal, Michailides and Kedziora as the central defensive duo, Baba and Kenny in the full-back positions, Meite and Ozdoev in central midfield, Konstantelias in front of them, and a trio in attack feauring Despodov, A. Zivkovic and Chalov .
Ozdoev fired a warning shot in the fourth minute with a header before Meite arrived perfect to meet a corner in the 12th minute to put PAOK ahead. The flag-kick was taken by Andrija Zivkovic , and the French midfielder rose highest to nod the ball home to spark a… «fire» among the crowd in the stands at the Toumba. Confidende was high and PAOK did not stop pressing.
Rijeka tried to equalize in the 23rd minute, but Fruk’s shot hit Pavlenka’s post. That was the last time the visitors threatened. From then on, the game was a one-team show.
Two minutes later, Giannis Konstantelias scored an impressive individual goal to make it 2-0. Mr. Breeze jigged his way into the area, skipping past his opponent before slotting the ball low into the far bottom corner for PAOK’s second goal.
Baba and Meite both had good chances, but the score did not change until the half-time break. The pattern of the match did not change in the second half. PAOK were focused on their goal, did not lose their focus in any way and managed to turn the game into a spectacle.
In the 55th minute, Konstantelias pulled the ball back to Chalov , who made it 3-0 from close range, while in the 70th minute, Majstorovic received a second yellow card and then his marching orders, a fact which essentially ended the game as a contest.
PAOK, however, were in the mood and continued to deliver a high-level footballing performance. Giorgos Giakoumakis came off the bench and in the 75th minute scored an incredible solo goal to make it 4-0, dribbling past his opponent with an elaborate flickover the defender’s head before smashing the ball in off the woodwork from a difficult angle.
The home side managed the match flawlessly right up until the final whistle and also scored a fifth goal. Another substiutute, Taison this time, combined with Baba and then provided an assist for fellow sub Pelkas to score with a clever finish with the outside of his right boot to make the final score 5-0 in the 89th minute.
The Double-headed Eagle now await to learn their eight opponents in tomorrow’s League Phase draw to be held in Monaco.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Pavlenka, Kenny, Kedziora, Michailides, Baba, Ozdoev (79′ Kamara), Meite, Konstandelias (79′ Pelkas), A. Zivkovic (79′ Ivanusec), Despodov (69′ Taison), Chalov (69′ Gikoumakis).
Rijeka: Zlomislic, Randelic, Majstorovic, Devetac, Orec (60′ Cop), Lasickas, Dandas (75′ Husic), Petrovic, Fruk (84′ Bogojevic), Jankovic, Menalo (60′ Butic).
