U20s take one step closer to the league title
PAOK U20s edged out a goalless draw in Panathinaikos’s ground, in a breathtaking encounter. The point earned in Athens puts the “Double-Headed Eagle” youngsters on pole position for the league title, with two matchdays remaining. The black-and-whites could even have sealed the title on Sunday, had they taken their chances.
The first half was lacking in pace, as both sides failed to produce noteworthy opportunities to score. The home side had possession, but couldn’t create real danger in Siampanis’s box. PAOK players’s final passing was off and they went close to breaking the deadlock once, with a shot by Balogiannis. It was no surprise that the first half ended goalless.
The pace picked up after the interval. Panathinaikos moved their lines higher up the pitch and pushed for the opener, as they needed to win. Siampanis kept PAOK in the encounter with timely interventions. As time went by, PAOK were gaining more ground to launch counterattacks. In the last minutes they came close to a goal.
In the 88th minute, Kozak was denied by the woodwork and Markovski failed to score after collecting the rebound. The Ukrainian forward wasted three more opportunities: two headers were blocked by the goalkeeper of Panathinaikos U20s and he missed a one-on-one in the dying seconds of the encounter.
The goalless draw allows Pablo García’s pupils to remain at the top of the Super League Souroti standings, three points ahead of Panathinaikos. PAOK need four points in the remaining two home encounters against Platanias and Levadiakos to win the league trophy.
PAOK U20: Siampanis, Diamantis, Michailidis, Lyratzis, Τsaousis, Τsiggaras (74′ Μaniotis), Balogiannis, Chatzistravos (88′ Μoutzouris), Κozak, Gargalatzidis (67′ Doumtsis), Markovski
