U13s succumb in the penalty shootout [photos]
It’s all about gathering experiences in this age group. PAOK U13s star in international tournaments for a third consecutive spring, while producing attractive football. This time around they were deprived of luck though and will return from Stockholm empty-handed after losing to SK Rapid Wien.
The “Double-Headed Eagle” went ahead in the 7th minute courtesy of Christos Tzolis (top scorer of the tournament with 11 goals) and were rarely troubled by the Austrians thanks to their accurate ball circulation. Under constant rain in the second half, PAOK speculated with the result, trying to hold on to their narrow win until the end.
The Thessaloniki youngsters wasted a glorious chance to finish off the encounter from the spot. Tzolis culminated a fine counterattack and was brought down in the area by the rival goalkeeper. He stepped up to take the spot kick but Rapid’s goalkeeper, who had just come off the bench, saved the shot.
Rapid pushed for an equalizer and achieved it three minutes before time (47’), taking advantage of a defensive slip up. A penalty shootout would decide the final. Karamperis and Tselios missed their efforts and the Austrians claimed the trophy of the Lennart Johansson tournament.
PAOK U13 squad consists of: Konstantinos Balomenos, Ioannis Stavrianidis, Theodoros Kaltsidis, Stefanos Vasilopoulos, Vasilis Katsoulidis, Giorgos Lagonidis, Theodoros Pyrtsos, Aventis Aventisian, Giorgos Krimitzas, Giorgos Kalaitzis, Vasilios Grosdis, Thomas Karamperis, Anastasios Sapountzis, Anastasios Tselios, Christos Tzolis, Vasilios Altintzis, Dimitris Theodoridis, Anestis Temertzoglou.
Browse the exclusive picks from the tournament’s day 2.
