AEK flirted with defeat at the OPAP Arena in their first match in front of their fans in this season’s Super League (their opening match against OFI was played behind closed doors), but ultimately avoided the worst against Lamia (1-1) thanks to corrective moves by Matías Almeyda and a goal by Harold Mukudi in the 87th minute.

Lamia had taken the lead in the 39th minute with Gustavo Furtado, scoring on their first attempt. AEK became more aggressive in the second half, but despite numerous attempts, they struggled to finish until Mukudi stepped up. In the end, AEK had two shots hit the post—one from Eliasson in the 90+2 minute and another from Koita in the 90+6 minute.

AEK started the match strong, showing mobility and creating chances early on. However, Lamia held their ground, waiting for Matías Almeyda’s players in their own half, which made it difficult for AEK to threaten Kostis’ goal.

In the 15th minute, AEK had their first good opportunity when Mukudi tried to head in a corner kick from Amrabat, but Kostis made a save. The Lamia goalkeeper did the same in the 26th minute, this time denying Koita, who had received a pass from Ljubicic and attempted a curling shot.

In the 29th and 34th minutes, Levi Garcia missed two chances to open the scoring. The first attempt saw him send the ball over the bar from the edge of the box, and the second was a direct free-kick from Pineda that was blocked by the wall. In the 38th minute, after a cross from Amrabat from the right, Pineda headed the ball just wide. A minute later, in the 39th minute, Lamia punished AEK.

Specifically, after a low corner kick, Bikov set up Furtado, who struck a beautiful shot into the net, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead with Lamia’s only shot up to that point. The play was checked by VAR for a potential handball by Ring earlier, but the goal stood. Levi Garcia tried twice with headers to equalize, in the 44th and 45+2 minutes, but at halftime, Lamia remained in the lead.

Both coaches made no changes at the start of the second half. AEK became even more aggressive in search of an equalizer, but despite several attempts, mainly from Koita and Garcia, they struggled to finish. Almeyda made two substitutions in the 58th minute, bringing on Lamela and Eliasson for Pineda and Amrabat.

In the 61st minute, Levi Garcia went one-on-one with Kostis, but the Serbian goalkeeper stopped him, and the ball went out off Garcia’s foot. In the 68th minute, Almeyda made two more substitutions, bringing on Mantalos and Oduvayo for Szymanski and Rota. AEK continued to press but couldn’t find the back of the net. Lamia’s coach made changes in the 76th minute, bringing on Sandberg and Dendakis for Andrade (who was injured) and Sarandas.

Tschuber replaced Ljubicic in the 78th minute as Almeyda did everything he could to change the game for his team. Tschuber and Koita sent the ball wide and over the bar in the 82nd minute. Vlachomitros broke through AEK’s defense and beat Strakosha, but he was offside in the 85th minute.

A minute earlier, Tereziou came on for Ring for the visitors. Finally, the goal that AEK desperately sought came from Mukudi in the 87th minute! After a free-kick from Lamela, the Cameroonian stopper headed the ball into the net to make it 1-1. AEK pushed for all three points, giving it their all in the final minutes but were denied by the woodwork twice, first by Eliasson in the 90+2 minute and then by Koita in the 90+6 minute.

Referee: Poulikidis (Drama)
Yellow Cards: Mantalos – Kostis, Bikov, Tereziou, Furtado

Line-ups:

AEK (Matías Almeyda): Strakosha, Rota (68′ Oduvayo), Mukudi, Vida, Pilios, Szymanski (68′ Mantalos), Pineda (58′ Lamela), Amrabat (58′ Amrabat), Koita, Ljubicic (78′ Tschuber), Garcia

Lamia (Marinos Satsias): Kostis, Sarandas (76′ Dendakis), Kornezos, Giannoutsos, Andrade (76′ Sandberg), Ring (84′ Tereziou), Mekic (90′ Simoni), Furtado, Bikov, Doiranlis (90′ Athanasakopoulos), Vlachomitros

*With AMNA