Two-faced AEK found themselves leading 4-0 at OPAP Arena and in their first encounter with Inter Escaldes for the 2nd qualifying round of the Conference League, but relaxed after 65′ and conceded three goals, eventually winning with the… stressful 4-3.
Absolute dominant until the 65th minute, the Union did everything they wanted on the field and showed themselves capable of getting the qualification from tonight, thanks to the goals of Ljubitzic (6′), Garcia (20′), Gacinovic (31′) and Mukudi (53′). However, the Andorran side fell behind in the 65th minute with an own goal from Vida, Garcia missed a penalty in the 75th minute, with the visitors reducing the final 4-3 with two more goals in the 78th minute and the 83rd minute.
Thus, Matias Almeida’s team did not manage to “lock” the qualification even though they were clearly superior to their opponent, creating 24 final attempts (13 of them on target), while they will go… annoyed to next week’s rematch ( 1/8, 19:30). However, they celebrated their first European victory at the OPAP Arena, having drawn with Dinamo Zagreb and Ajax last season, while losing to Antwerp, Marseille and Brighton.
In the mind of the coaches
In his starting XI for this season, Matias Almeida selected Strakosa to make his official debut under the AEK goal posts, with Rota, Mukudi, Vida and Hadjisafi in front of him. Jonson and Szymanski formed the duo on the axis, with Eliasson on the right, Gacinovic on the left and Ljubicic behind the more advanced Levi Garcia. The new transfer acquisitions, Lamela, Pereira and Odubajo, along with Tzumber and Tsilouli, were left out of the mission.
On the other hand, Felipe Ortiz lined up Inter Escaldes in a 4-5-1 system and with only 7 of the 12 available substitutes. Munioth started under the posts, while Gagego, Feher, Puentes and Torres formed the back four. Alonso, Lopez and Buharma were the trio of midfielders, with Asoubre, Berlaga on the wings and with Lopez at the top of the attack.
The match
The match started with AEK imposing its superiority from the first minutes, with its players constantly having the ball at their feet and with Inter Escaldes pressing with its defensive line very high. The Union reached the goal for the first time in the 5th minute, with Ljubitzic finding space and shooting with a drag, forcing Munioth into a difficult intervention, while Gacinovic then took the… rebound, but shot at the visitors’ right crossbar.
Seconds later (6′), AEK managed to score their first goal of the new season, with Levia García getting behind the defense after a deep ball and delivering a perfect cross for Ljubitzic, who made the move to second post and had no trouble opening the scoring from close range. In 11′ Eliasson crossed and Mukudi sent the ball into the arms of Munioth with a header, while in 19′ Inter Escaldes made a forced change, with De La Torre replacing the injured Asoubre.
In the 19th minute, the visitors stepped threateningly for the first time in the large area of AEK, with De La Torre misfiring from an advantageous position, while in the 20th minute, Almeida’s team doubled their goals, with Strakosa making a brilliant long pass for Garcia, who again got in behind the defense, beating Munioth with a double effort to make it 2-0.
Union continued to dominate the pitch, scoring a third goal in the 31st minute when Eliasson and Rota teamed up on the right side of his side’s attack, with the latter making the sweeping turn and Jonsson making a clever clearance before Gacinovic scores to make it 3-0 with a perfectly placed move from the height of the penalty area.
The first half ended with AEK missing two more great chances, after in 45’+1′ Eliasson forced Munioth into a difficult intervention after his individual energy and shot drift, while in 45’+2′ Eliasson upset again the opposition defense and made the turn for Ljubicic, who was surprised and failed to send the ball into the net from close range.
The second half began with Inter Escaldes threatening but Strakosa winning a t-a-tat with Lopes, while in the 51st minute Szymanski found space and shot from distance, forcing Munioth to save for a corner, from which made it 4-0 after Eliasson took over and Mukudi scored with a header!
In the 54th minute, Eliasson stole the ball and dribbled for Ljubitzic, but he tried to pass to the oncoming Rota instead of finishing the move himself, before committing an aggressive foul on the opposition goalkeeper. Against the flow of the match, Inter Escaldes were 4-1 down in the 65th minute when Vida headed the ball into his team’s net after a deep ball as he tried to turn the ball past his keeper.
In the 73rd minute, AEK “touched” the fifth goal, with Ljubicic making a wonderful vertical pass to Garcia, who was brought down by Munioth taking a penalty. However, he failed to beat the visitors’ keeper, with the score remaining at 4-1. In fact, two minutes later (75′), Inter Escaldes also got a penalty, with Strakosa making a big mistake by opening the control and overturning Andreou, who executed the last penalty for 4-2.
AEK’s relaxation continued, with the visitors scoring again in the 83rd minute, when after a foul with a cross and the defense’s inability to clear the situation, Martines took advantage of the opportunity to make it 4-3 with a strong shot. In the remaining minutes, AEK reacted looking for the fifth goal, but in 89′ Fernandes failed to beat Munioth after his beautiful individual effort, while in 90’+7′, Amrabad misplaced from a very advantageous position.
AEK (Matias Almeida): Strakosa, Hadjisafi (75′ Mandalos), Mukudi, Vida, Rota, Simanski (64′ Galanopoulos), Jonson, Gacinovic (64′ Koita), Eliasson (64′ Fernandes), Ljubisic, Levi Garcia (75′ Amrabad)
Inter Escaldes (Otger Canals): Munioth, Torres (63′ Sanchez), Feher, Puentes (89′ Herman), Gagego, Lopeth (46′ Martinez), Alonso, Buharma (63′ Andreu), Asoubre (19′ De La Torre), Berlanga, Lopeth
Live of the match from sport-fm.gr
Source: Sport Fm
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