PAOK pick up from where they left off
PAOK returned to competitive action after the international break in winning form on Sunday. The Double-headed Eagle prevailed 2-1 over OFI away from home in their Matchday 3 Stoiximan Super League clash at the Apostolos Nikolaidis Stadium to maintain their 100% start to the season.
It’s one of those away games that always has the potential to cause problems, but PAOK showed that they were readyfor the challenge, both physically and mentally. They were also well-read, and of course completely focused.
Razvan Lucescu’s team started the game strongly but it was OFI who created the first chance of the game, with Pavlenka saving a shot by Shengelia.
In the 10th minute, PAOK took the lead and never looked back. Baba passed to Ozdoev and he fired in a cross-shot towards the opposing goal from a wide position, no one made contact and the ball ended up in the back of the net.
OFI tried to respond immediately but the ‘goal’ they scored was ruled out for offside. Nuss had a good opportunity, but he sent the ball over the crosbar, with Pelkas then making it 2-0 to PAOK in the 24th minute.
Ozdoev pushed high, made the tackle and provided an assist to Pelkas , who scored with a low, placed effort to double his team’s lead.
Pelkas then had two more good chances before the half-time break, but the 2-0 scoreline remained.
In the second half, PAOK came out strong and looked to extend their lead, with Christogeorgos bringing down Giakoumakis , but eventually the Greek forward was ruled to be in an offside position at the beginning of the phase of play.
Giakoumakis had another good moment in the 64th minute but could not find the net while shortly afterwards Michailides won his team a penalty after he fired in a shot which struck a defender’s arm with the referee pointing to the spot. Christogeorgos saved Andrija Zivkovic’s effort from 12 yards, however.
In the 75th minute, OFI found a way to get back into the game with Nuss scoring following a corner kick. The goal gave the home team players a morale boost and they pushed for an equalizer. However, PAOK held on, keeping a clear mind and managing the rest of the game well to get an important three points.
Team lineups:
OFI: Christogeorgos, Gonzalez, Hadjitheodoridis, Lambropoulos, Krismanic, Androutsos, Theodosoulakis (46′ Salcedo), Karachalios (68′ Rakoniac), Nuss (90+1 Faitakis), Shengelia (89′ Apostolakis), Fountas (68′ Neira).
PAOK: Pavlenka, Kenny, Baba, Lovren, Michailidis, Meite, Ozdoev, Pelkas (67′ Ivanusec), A. Zivkovic, Taison (89′ Kamara), Giakoumakis (67′ Chalov).
