Pregame
Kick Off
Half Time
Goals
Penalty
Substitution
Corners
Offside
Opportunity
Barshot
Comment
Yellow Card
Second Yellow Card
Red card
Missed Penalty
A "crazy" and defiant qualification in Israel
The question of who the superior side was had already been proven in hte first leg. But which team would eventually qualify had to be decided in a… crazy 90 minutes, which had it all. Own goals, penalties, red cards, goals, missed opportunities and a big winner: Razvan Lucescu’s PAOK.
Despite the fact that Beitar were playing in front of their passionate home crowd, it was PAOK who took control from the start of the game and tried to create chances, with the home team once again putting up a wall in front of their goal.
The Double-headed Eagle took the lead in the 11th minute via an own goal by the Israelis. Beitar tried to response, but PAOK continued to be a threat.
Everything changed in the 40th minute when Douglas was sent off, making life difficult for PAOK. However, the visitors had Kotarski in top form, providing all the answers to anything Beitar had to throw at him.
In fact, PAOK then took a two-goal lead with the clock showing 45+2 minutes, with Brandon combining perfectly with A. Zivkovic to make it 2-0 to PAOK.
The first half action was not over yet though, as the nine minutes of extra time, due to countless stoppages in the game, gave Beitar the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 2-1 on 45+6 minutes via a header from inside the six-yard box.
In the second half it was a given that the hosts would pile on the pressure as they had the numerical advantage. But the black and white defense held firm. The home team tried everything they could, with PAOK also having chances in the match with especially Tsingaras and Samatta going close to extending their lead.
In the final stretch of the match, Beitar went on the attack en masse and PAOK punished them with some great counter-attacking play. One of the night’s main protagonists, Giannis Konstantelias was sent clean through on goal in the 92nd minute by a pass from Samatta. Although the Greek attacking midfielder saw his effort saved by the home ‘keeper, the ball ricocheted off a Beitar defender and into the net to make it 3-1 to PAOK. Four minutes later, the epilogue of the match was written.
Tsingaras played in Konstantelias with a nice pass and the latter produced a magical, clipped finish to make the final score 4-1 to the visitors.
PAOK did their duty the hard way and now turn their attention to the next round games against Hajduk Split.
Team lineups:
Beitar: Silva, Bitton, Dgani, Krieff, Gottiv (Micha 47′), Morozov, Ashkenazi (Tomas 56′), Azaria, Yona (Nicolaescu 46′), Friday, Shua.
PAOK: Kotarski, Kedziora, Ekong, Michailidis (Koulierakis 46′), Baba, Douglas, Schwab, Narey, A.Zivkovic (Konstantelias 76′), Taison (Tsingaras 44′), Brandon (Samatta 60′)
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