Perfect beat on playoffs of the Stoiximan Super League was held by AEK, which prevailed 4-0 at the headquarters of Lamia in the context of the 1st matchday.
Excellent appearance by the doubles of Greece behind closed doors, due to the relevant decision of the DEAB (for the cameras), “Athanassios Diakos”.
Matias Almeida’s team, after a first half full of opportunities, took advantage of one of their many – and… their favorite – static phases, breaking the Gordian bond at 45’+2′ with Callens. In the second part, where she controlled the tempo, her fores took action. Since, then, first o Ponce laid the foundations with a cross-field finish in the 68th minute, the newcomer added his signature in the finale Levi with two masterpiece goals (88′ and 90’+3′), with the first… a strong contender for best of the season and the second coming from some terrific assists from Ljubisic!
Thus, AEK, albeit temporarily, returned to peak (62b.) ousa at +2 from PAOK, at +5 from Olympiakos and at +6 from Panathinaikos, waiting for the results in the “Eternal” and Thessaloniki derbies that start later.
On the other hand, Lamia – in its first, historicalparticipation in the playoffs- remained at 34 points, 6th and -8 from Aris.
The Levi and Ponce they arrived 13 and 12 goals in the championship, respectively. In fact, the Argentinian forward scored for the third match in a row, while he has scored eleven goals in his team’s last eight games! Second goal for Cullens.
In… the minds of the coaches:
THE Leonidas Vokolos brought back the four in defense for Lamia, with a system 4-4-1-1. Under the posts was Koselef, with the defensive quartet consisting, from right to left, of Simon, Tzanetopoulos, Kornezos and Amaral. Stanko and Tzandaris are a pair of midfielders, with Nunes on the right and Sidclay on the left. Slivka moved next to the promoted Malchi, who, of course, quickly changed positions with Nunes.
On the other hand, Mr Matias Almeida keep it 4-4-1-1 for AEK and Stankovis at home. Vida and Cullens once again composed the duo in the stoppers, with Rota on the right end of the defense and Pelios on the left. Jonson and Szymanski in the central midfield duo, with Pineda on the left end of the midfield and Eliasson on the right, while Mandalos moved a little behind Ponce.
(AEK fans did not leave their favorite team alone, supporting it even from a… relative distance!)
The match:
Very good beating of AEK in the game, with “Union” threatening only at 2′ with Jonsson’s header after Eliasson’s turn.
A pattern quickly began to build, with the “yellow and black” having and moving the ball around and Lamia defending organized on the edge or behind the cross. Yes, as the minutes passed, AEK began to climb more and more meters and create one chance after another. The static phases also entered her game, finishing the first part with eleven corners and several threats with foul executions.
The first big moment was his 10′ with the bad finish of the promoted Pelius from a vantage point. In the 16′ Mandalos – who took many initiatives – executed the free-kick at the height of the large area, from where Eliasson caught a one-piece deflected shot, with the ball going past the right post.
Many moments in between, before and after, for the “yellow and black”, who, however, had difficulty finding the net. Besides, in 28′ Simon made a crucial tackle on Eliasson’s shot after a fine release, while in 31′ Koselev cleared Ponce’s header after Mandalo was stuffed. Another opportunity for AEK in two seasons, at 38′with Ponce and Cullens, with Pineda in 45’+1′ to catch a shot he countered.
And while everything showed that the two teams will go to the locker room without a score, AEK finally found the solution in 45’+2′capitalizing on one of her many static phases: Sweet execution of his foul MandalaThe Ponce he overextended the projection, with the Koselev to repel but without firmly blocking him as well Callenswhich followed, to take the “rebound” and send the ball into the net from close range.
The two teams started the second half without changes. AEK entered again very strongly, already threatening to 48′ with Pineda.
The tempo was slower than in the first half. Of course, AEK controlled it, against a Lamia that tried to look more threatening as the minutes passed.
To get to 68′ when AEK scored a second goal: O Rota took a cross from the right, bringing the ball into the area. There o Ponce he left it well to come in front of him and then execute… a cross for 0-2! No margin for reaction to Koselevwith the ball also popping on the ground.
Afterwards, several changes followed, with Garcia and Ponce playing for a few minutes as a duo in the “yellow and black” attack and Pineda on the right end of the defense.
And entering the final stretch, the icing on the cake for AEK’s victory, both from Garcia. Initially, at 88′, the newly arrived forward dropped extremely few meters in front of the midfield and after carrying the ball without anyone being able to take it away from him, unleashed a shot 7-8 meters outside the area nailing it into the left window! In a goal that is a strong candidate for the best of the season. While, in 90’+3′ received terrible balls from him Ljubisic and after… stunning Amaral, he placed perfectly for 0-4, which was also the final score.
Watch the match live here.
MVP: If the game was stopped at the end of the first half, the distinction would go to Mandalo (many initiatives, while his own foot created the 0-1 phase). However, the Levi came in and… spread terror by “painting”. His distinction!
The whistle: Good refereeing by Evangelos Manouhos, who did not have to face any difficult phase. Correct decision on the foul that made it 0-1 (there were some tepid protests), as Jandaris found Jonsson just below the knee.
The compositions of the two teams:
Lamia (Leonidas Vokolos): Koselev – Simon, Tzanetopoulos (87′ Giannoutsos), Cornezos, Amaral – Nunes, Stanko (73′ Kontonikos), Jandaris (58′ Tsoukalos), Sidkley (73′ Santana) – Malchi (73′ Lake), Slivka.
On the bench for the home team were: Hadjiemmanouil, Vasilantonopoulos, Lambropoulos, Tereziou.
AEK (Matias Almeida): Stankovic – Rota (79′ Ljubisic), Vida, Cullens, Pelios – Eliasson (83′ Hadjisafi), Jonson, Simanski, Pineda (83′ Sidibe) – Ponce (83′ Araujo), Mandalos (79′ Garcia).
On the bench for the visitors were: Athanasiadis, Mokudi, Galanopoulos, Pissaro.
Referee: Evangelos Manouhos
First Assistant: Konstantinos Nikolaidis
Second Assistant: Konstantinos Psarris
4th referee: Stefanos Koumbarakis
VAR: Spyridon Zambalas
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
