It was a hard-fought encounter from minute one, with tough duels in midfield that disrupted the match pace. PAOK started strongly, took control of proceedings and started pressuring AEP Iraklis’s into their box. Noukaris’s shot went wide after 10 minutes of play and, nine minutes later, Kozak teed up Mattheou, whose volley needed a double save effort by the rival goalkeeper. In the 23rd minute, PAOK’s Ukrainian player came close to scoring again, but wasted his chance.

The visitors gained ground and tried to create their own opportunities, but PAOK managed to get their opener. Papathanasiou broke free from the right wing, crossed towards the six-yard box, the ball bounced once and Kozak took a powerful header to break the deadlock.

After the interval, PAOK players remained in command looking for that second goal that would seal their victory. They wasted a glorious chance in the 77th minute, Mattheou somehow fluffing his lines from point blank! Their fragile lead made them nervous and allowed AEP Iraklis to seek an equalizer in the last minutes and coming close to it in minutes 80’ and 87’.

Let us point out that there were 8 former members of PAOK Academy in the 18-men squad chosen by AEP Iraklis for the match: Papadopoulos, Pechlivanidis, Gounopoulos, Chatzidimpas, Efthymiou, Vlachopoulos, Nestoras and Draganis. Vasilis Chatzidimpas, who joined AEP Iraklis one month ago, played against his brother Kostas, who had been upgraded to PAOK U20s this season.

After this victory, PAOK U20s focus on their second-leg encounter against Puskás Akadémia Felcsút for the UEFA Youth League. The first leg ended 1-1. The match will be held in Kaftanzoglio Stadium on 19 October (kick-off at 18:00).

PAOK U20: Muca, Papathanasiou, Dodontsakis, Dimitriou, Gialamoudis, Kyrillidis (60′ Μeletidis), Κozak (67′ Αidonidis), Νoukaris, Μattheou, Chatzidimpas, Κonstantinou (60′ Stathopoulos)