PAOK throw away third place, focus switches to cup final
The desire was there. And the plan – to a great extent – seemed to be working. However, composure in front of goal was missing and cost PAOK the result as they lost 1-0 to Olympiacos, who claimed third place. PAOK now must look to the Greek Cup final against AEK.
PAOK started in determined mood, taking control of proceedings from the kick-off. Olympiacos, playing for two results (a win or draw), sat back in their own half and looked to try and hurt the home side on the counter-attack.
In the fifth minute, visiting goalkeepr Tzolakis saved from Brandon Thomas in a one-on-one situation, while in the 15th minute, the Olympiacos ‘keeper once again had the answer to a shot by Rafa Soares. At the other end, Kotarski saved from Biel in the 20th minute, while PAOK then had two further efforts through Rafa Soares and a double-chance via Brandon and Dantas, although neither player could find the net. Then, in the 28th minute, Kotarski did well to save from Fortounis, while Andrija Živkovic missed the chance to open the scoring a minute later.
Against the run of play in the 33rd minute, Olympiacos took the lead with a header from Samassekou after a cross from Rodinei, with the teams going into the dressing rooms at half-time without PAOK having found a way to respond to the visitors’ goal.
The pattern of the match did not change in the second half. PAOK had the majority of the possession, moved the ball around well, and created chances, but they failed to find a breakthrough. In the 57th minute, Tzolakis saved an excellent shot by Koulierakis from distance, while Tzolakis was at it again to deny Schwab’s free-kick in the 68th minute.
Kedziora and Konstantelias then wasted two more good chances, with the scoreline remaining 1-0 to the visitors at the final whistle.
PAOK then missed the chance to win and claim a place in the UEFA Europa League for the next season from tonight, and they will now go into the cup final to fight for the trophy and try to win their 2023-24 Europa League place via that route as cup winners.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Kotarski, Kedziora, Ingason, Nasberg (Koulierakis 46′), Rafa Soares, Augusto (Filipe Soares 76′), Dantas (Schwab 64′), A. Zivkovic, Biseswar (Taison 64′), Konstantelias, Brandon (Tzimas 82′).
Olympiacos: Tsolakis, Rodinei, Papastathopoulos, Ndoi, Reabciuk, M.Vila, Hwang (Kasami 77′), Samassekou, Biel (Vrousai 65′), Fortounis (Massouras 77′), Bakabu (El Arabi 72′).
