Apithanos Pineda: He has not only played stopper and center forward in AEK

THE Orbelin Pineda justifies him so much Matias Almeida who wanted more than anything else initially to bring him to AEK and then to keep him in Greece, as well as Dimitris Melissanidis who did everything to buy his rights from Telta (for 6.5 million euros) and kept him on the roster.

The Mexican was not only the scorer of the winning goal, but was – together with Steven Zuber – the MVP of yesterday’s victory of “Enos” over Panathinaikos in Leoforos (1-2) and at the same time he showed that he can offer in one more position, his left back.

In the last 20 minutes of the derby (Milad Mohammadi was replaced in the 75′) he was called to play in place of the Iranian and he did greatafter reacting defensively, kept the ball and took his team out several times in the attack.

The 27-year-old ace had not been used until now with the AEK jersey as a left back. We have seen him as a central midfielder, as a left winger, as a staff midfielder and as a second striker, as a right midfielder, while he even played as a right back (in the Cup final with PAOK after Rota’s suspension and more).

Now we have seen how he can give things, if needed, even in this position. The only positions in which he has not played so far with AEK are – without exaggeration – the center forward, the… goalkeeper and the stopper. Although for the latter don’t put your hand in the fire that we won’t see him, after the accumulated absence problems (with the latest of Cullens) that exist in the center of the “Union” defense.

Yesterday’s goal was Pineda’s eleventh with AEK in 51 appearances, while he even has 4 assists. In fact, he reached three goals against Panathinaikos, after scoring in a 2-1 loss and a 1-0 win last regular season. The only other Greek team in which the Mexican has scored so many goals is Volos.