PAOK’s opening Europa League game against Maccabi Tel Aviv proved an entertaining spectacle despite the lack of goals, with the two keepers doing well to protect their nets and ensure the points were split.
The two teams played out a 0-0 draw at “Toumba” Stadium on Thursday morning in the League Phase’s first matchday, with the clubs left to rue several missed opportunities.
The excitement began as early as the fourth minute when Taison passed by keeper Roi Mishpati with a header, and the veteran playmaker looked destined to tap the ball into an empty net until a last-ditch tackle sent the ball to safety.
The Israeli outfit composed themselves and created numerous chances, including in the 21st minute when their captain Dor Peretz had a one-on-one opportunity saved by Jiri Pavlenka.
The Tel Aviv side thought they had found the opener in the 35th minute when Peretz sent the ball into the net, but VAR intervened and found his teammate who had provided the assist was offside when he first received the ball.
The visitors pushed further to take the lead with Pavlenka stepping up once more in the 65th minute to produce a stellar save off a Kervin Andrade shot.
The pressure then turned back on Maccabi Tel Aviv when an attempted clearance by a defender from a free kick smacked into the crossbar, nearly ratting his own net, and it marked a slight chance in momentum as PAOK edged closer to a goal of their own.
Mishpati stepped up with some huge saves in the dying minutes, the first being a spectacular diving effort to prevent Fedor Chalov from scoring at very close range (90′) and the second seeing him stop Mady Camara equally impressively in the 90+4th minute.
The result gives both teams a point to get their Europa League tallies up and running.
Olympiacos opens Greek Cup defence in victorious fashion
The Piraeus giants got their Cup defence off to a winning start as they beat Asteras Tripolis 2-1 away in their first game of the competition’s League Phase, the second matchday of it overall.
Olympiacos owed the win to a first half brace by Mehdi Taremi, who scored first from the penalty spot in the 13th minute and then again five minutes later in the 18th.
A late goal from Dimitrios Emmanouilidis (90+4′) instilled some concern, though the “red-whites” ultimately hung on to ensure maximum points.
AEK also secured a 2-1 victory as they beat Panetolikos at home, with goals from Frantzdy Pierrot (26′) and youngster Dimitris Kaloskamis (45+1′) outweighing Jorge Aguirre’s 90+2nd minute penalty.
Full Results from 2nd matchday of Greek Cup League Phase
Wednesday morning (24 Sep)
Aris-Marko 1-0
Wednesday evening (24 Sep)
Volos-Atromitos 1-1
Kallithea-OFI 0-1
Ellas Syrou-Egaleo 3-0
Thursday morning (25 Sep)
Asteras Tripolis-Olympiacos 1-2
AEK-Panetolikos 2-1
Larissa-Levadiakos 1-2
Remaining match:
Iraklis-Ilioupoli: 10pm AEST, Thu 25 Sep
