Qualification was secured, but frivolous PAOK put an end to the absolute!

He dominated, qualified, but failed to win in Toumba o PAOK!

The “double-header of the North” drew 2-2 with the Aberdeen for the 4th matchday of its groups European Conference Leaguein a match that, based on opportunities, deserved the victory, but conceded two goals with… 1.5 chances, losing the opportunity to continue the absolute streak of victories that it “ran” until previously in the 7th group.

Thus, the “black and white” with ten points remained at the top, ensured their presence in the European competitions and at the beginning of 2024, while the Eintracht Frankfurt reached nine points with the victory against Helsinki, which means that the first place and the ticket for the “16” it will be largely decided on the next matchday in Germany (30/11, 22:00).

PAOK was behind in the score with a goal Loopsbut quickly responded with the excellent, Tyson, and in the second half he took the lead with a header from Samata, who had entered the match a few minutes before. However, Aberdeen immediately equalized with a superb free-kick from him McGrathin a game in which the Thessalonians had the upper hand throughout and deserved the “three points”.

In the minds of the coaches:

His eleven had six changes PAOKin relation to the one quoted by Razvan Lucescu against Olympiakos, with the 4-2-3-1 arrangement, however, not changing. Specifically, Kotarski remained at home, as did Baba Rahman, Koulierakis, while Ekong took Kenziora’s place in the center of defense, as did Sastre’s Vieirinia on the right wing.

The Romanian manager changed the midfield to 100%, as Cigaras and Schwab started in place of Meite and Ozdoev, while the central attacking trio consisted of Constantelia, Tyson and Despodov, with the latter two returning to the starting line-up. At the top of the attack remained the MVP of the triumph at “G. Karaiskakis”, Brandon Thomas.

On the opposite bank, Barry Robson, left the Skopje forward, Miovski, on the bench, as well as Polvara, the two players who had found the net against the “double-header of the North” in Scotland. Her eleven Aberdeen it had a 5-4-1 formation and under the posts was Roos, with a five in defense of Mackenzie, Rubezic, Gartenman, Devlin, Jensen. Baron, Cini, McGrath and Duncan competed in midfield, with Luis Lopez the only forward.

The match:

With a slow start to the match, PAOK took possession of the ball early on and tried to control the pace, while Aberdeen defended closed back, almost in 1/3 of the field, with their lines very close and with a clear defensive approach.

The “two-headed of the North” could not find the right moment in the first minutes, while Aberdeen in their first attempt to come forward and attack opened the score! In particular, the Scottish team in the 14th minute caught the “black and whites” asleep, with Devlin making the turn from the right, Koulierakis failed to chase the ball, which reached Lopes who turned his body exceptionally to Ekong and executed Kotarski for 1-0.

The visitors’ goal did not change anything in the tempo of the match, since PAOK had the initiative of the movements and tried to find the gap in the defense of Aberdeen, which was defending with almost 10 players behind the ball. In the 22nd minute, Baba made the turn from the left, Jensen pushed on Schwab who shot in the movement but the ball ended up wide and a minute later the Thessalonikians brought the game in the balance!

Tyson stole just short of the centre, crossed a few meters with the ball and passed to Despontov, who again turned to the Brazilian and he placed the ball into the net for 1-1.

In the 28th minute, the home team missed an important opportunity, after Baba made the turn, Rubezic didn’t find the ball correctly, which found the post and almost made it 2-1. PAOK were easily in Aberdeen’s area and in the 37th minute Devlin drove to where Tyson was, who with an outside ball filled the area, Schwab didn’t have time to make the projection and the ball went just past his right post Ross.

The dominance of the ‘Northern double-header’ continued and in the 42nd minute, Bamba and Schwab worked brilliantly together, the former turning to Thomas, with the Spaniard taking the shot, but it ended up hitting the right-hand post of Roos. Two minutes later (44′) PAOK took a great lead with Tyson, the Brazilian broke the ball to Constantelia who tried to return to the area without success, but won the corner. That was the last threat in the first half, which ended with the score tied at 1-1.

In the second half, PAOK came in with their foot on the gas and threatened in the space of one minute (47′) with a shot by Konstantinos, initially, but also with a projection by Koulierakis that Roos pushed away for a corner. The home team’s pressure continued and in the 67th minute they took the lead, achieving 2-1! Despontov took the corner from the right, the ball was cleared to Tyson who made the save, Ekong got the first header and Samata with the second scored shortly after coming on.

And while everything looked like the “black and whites” would greatly boost their confidence after taking the lead, three minutes later they conceded the equalizer from almost… nowhere! Aberdeen won a free-kick, with McGrath making a terrific run to make it 2-2, with Kotarski unable to do anything at all.

In the 73′ Konstantelias threatened with a long-range shot, while in the 74′ the referee whistled a penalty in favor of PAOK for marking on Koulierakis, but after a hint from the VAR, he took it back. In the last quarter of the match the “black and white” were constantly in front, they had two good moments with Schwab (80′) and Tyson (86′) but they could not threaten with conditions. Thus, 2-2 remained until the final whistle, with Razvan Lucescu’s side securing passage to the next stage.

MVP: Terrible performance from Tyson. Eager to create chances from the start, he scored to make it 1-1 in a phase largely owned by him, while his own feet set up Samata’s goal. He was a constant source of danger for Aberdeen’s defense and deservedly takes the title of man of the match.

The whistle: Eugene Tzaia saw a penalty on Koulierakis, but after a VAR check he took it back fairly, while in the 68th minute he should have punished Rubezic who hit Samata out of phase. Otherwise, he did not commit any big mistake that could have wronged PAOK or Aberdeen.

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Kotarski, Vieirinia (82′ Kenziora), Ekong, Koulierakis, Baba (85′ Rafa Soares), Tsingaras (65′ Ozdoev), Schwab, Despodov (82′ A. ​​Zivkovic), Constantelias, Tyson, Thomas (64′ Samata).

Aberdeen (Barry Robson): Rose, Jensen, Rubezic, Gardenman, McKenzie, Devlin, Seaney (61′ Polvara), Barron, Duncan (61′ Hayes), McGrath (79′ Miovski), Lopez (85′ Sockler).

Referee: Eugene Jaya (Albania)

Assistants: Dojanto Miftari (Albania), Redi Avdo (Albania)

4th: Olsion Izeirai (Albania)

VAR: Daniele Kiffi (Italy), Marco Serra (Italy)