Under-17’s defeat AEL 2-0 and reach final [with pictures]
A goal in each half, together with managing the stress of being the favorites, were the keys to PAOK Under-17’s victory over a determined AEL team in the first semi-final of the Under-17 Final Four. Dimitris Orfanou’s and Stelios Bika’s men won 2-0 and they will await either Olympiacos or Panathinaikos in Tuesday’s final (28.05, 17:00).
If one excludes Papanikopoulos‘ goal in the 18th minute, Dunga’s missed effort in the first minute and Beleri’s save in the 40th minute, there was not much to show for the first 45 minutes. Both teams found it difficult to create openings, perhaps even difficulty in coping with the high temperatures, with PAOK of course having the initiative of the play but AEL also standing up to the task well, in only their second appearance in the final phase of the season, after their maiden effort in the 2009-10 season.
The match had a better tempo in the second half, and clearly more energy. AEL pushed for an equaliser, and they had a good chance to score in the 53rd minute with Dimenikos, but the goal threat mainly belonged to PAOK. Twice Mythos did not have time to send the ball into the net, but Stylos came off the bench and with a header in the 75th minute, from Tsiota’s cross, made it 2-0. Somewhere there, PAOK locked up qualification.
PAOK will face the winner of the second semi-final between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos in the final.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Beleris, Tsiotas, Vyrsokinos, Kosidis, Bataoulas, Eleftheriadis, Tsitsilas (85′ Krommidas), Papanikopoulos (69′ Gioka), Mythos (85′ Theofilos), Berdos (60′ Stylos), Dunga (85′ Toursounidis).
AEL: Spanos, Arsenis (74′ Bargiotas), Grozos, Avramoulis, Koupatsiaras, Varsamis (82′ Kalathas), Diminikos, Koutzailias (80′ Basdekis), Gravvanis, Rizos (82′ Ontos), Biotis.
