PAOK U20s wasted the opportunity to overtake Panionios in the standings, after their 1-1 draw with the Nea Smyrni outfit in a mediocre encounter. With just games remaining until the end of the season, the “Double-Headed Eagle” trail by two points, but will be playing host to the “blue-and-reds” at Nea Mesimvria.

PAOK lined up at Argyroupoli ground opting for a victory and went at it from minute one, when they wasted their first chance to score through Kushta. The “Double-Headed Eagle” had possession and the game initiative, but could not find the crack in Panionios’ defence. Their rivals contented themselves in counterattacking efforts. Syrakos also came close to an opener, while Panionios’ defence almost scored an own-goal a few minutes later… However, against the run of play, the Nea Smyrni outfit took the lead with an unstoppable strike.

PAOK’s response was immediate. Six minutes later, Dimitriadis crossed and Tselepidis headed home to make it 1-1 before the interval.

The complexion of the encounter remained unchanged in the second half, but PAOK were not efficient in the rival box. The introduction of Kakkos and Pouflis for the last ten minutes of the encounter certainly boosted the team, as evidenced by the efforts of Kakko, Panagiotidis and Dimitriadis to sentence the match. But the scoreline remained unchanged.

PAOK U20: Soilemezoglou, Topalidis, Vasaitis (46′ Chatzidimpas), Tselepidis, Anastasiou, Patralis, Panagiotidis, Dimitriadis, Tsiampazis, Syrakos (57′ Kakko), Kushta (78′ Pouflis)