A numb day at work
PAOK didn’t win, didn’t perform particularly well, but did manage to get a 1-1 result out of their Kiev clash against FC Olimpik Donetsk.
Qualification to the UEFA Europa League play-offs will be decided in the second leg. However the “Double-Headed Eagle” need to improve, even if it’s normal for them to be off-form in this stage of the season.
Aleksandar Stanojević started the game with a 4-3-3 formation and José Alberto Cañas, Gojko Cimirot and Yevhen Shakhov in midfield, aiming to control possession. His plan worked partially. The black-and-whites were not threatened by their rivals, but weren’t threatening either in the first half. PAOK’s only classic chance to score was a shot by José Ángel Crespo.
After the interval, the “Double-Headed Eagle” wasted two big opportunities to break the deadlock through Róbert Mak and Aleksandar Prijović. It looked as if the Thessaloniki outfit had snapped out of their nap. However, it was FC Olimpik Donetsk who scored, Bilenkyi making the most of a set piece in the 49th minute.
Two quick substitutions of Stanojević (Diego Biseswarand Pedro Henrique coming off the bench) allowed PAOK to overcome the shock and become livelier in attack. The Brazilian winger equalized in the 59th minute with a splendid individual effort.
In the last half hour, the hosts were more energetic, but the “Double-Headed Eagle” held on to the 1-1 scoreline that turns them into tie favourites for the second leg next week.
Line-ups:
FC Olimpik Donetsk: Makharadze, Lukyanchuk, Kravchenko, Shabanov, Nyemchaninov, Tsymbalyuk, Bohdanov, Khomutov (69’ Mikhalyov), Moha (64’ Mihunov), Shestakov, Bilenkyi (78’ Sondey)
PΑΟΚ: Rey, Μatos, Varela, Crespo, Leovac, Cañas, Cimirot, Shakhov (55’ Biseswar), Campos (55’ Henrique), Μak (81’ Pelkas), Prijović
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