PAOK in London: Victory in White Hart Lane
PAOK got a draw and a qualification from their first trip to England. On their second visit, they earned their passage to the next round of the UEFA Europa League with a victory over Tottenham in White Hart Lane.
In the course of their history, PAOK have proved time and again that they rise when the going gets tough. In November 2011, the “Double-Headed Eagle” were facing Tottenham Hotspur who had Luka Modrić, William Gallas, Jermain Defoe, Harry Kane and Gareth Baleo at their ranks.
László Bölöni’s team that traveled to England didn’t include André Vieirinha , therefore Kostas Stafylidis featured in the starting line-up, in one of his early appearances with the PAOK shirt on.
The Thessaloniki side started very strongly and, against all odds, managed to take a 2-0 lead after 13 minutes of play, through goals of Dimitris Salpingidis and Stefanos Athanasiadis. Harry Redknapp’s Spurs were taken by surprised and seemed devoid of ideas, until referee Bas Nijhuis decided to put them back into the game.
The Dutchman awarded a penalty to Tottenham and gave Stafylidis his marching orders for a handfoul he didn’t commit. Modrić converted the spot kick and the English side had one hour of play to search agonizingly for an equalizer. But it never came.
PAOK defended valiantly and kept their lead until the final whistle, securing their progress to the UEFA Europa League group stage.
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