Hard-fought victory for the U19s
Against a defensively impeccable AEL, PAOK’s U19 side had to work very hard but managed to turn the tie around and celebrate one more victory in Super League Souroti.
The visiting side defended in numbers from minute one, with all eleven players camped in their own half.
PAOK tried to create danger in every way possible: long-range shots, vertical passing, crossing from the flanks… Nothing though seemed to threaten AEL’s goalkeeper.
On the contrary, Larissa managed to take the lead against the run of play with the first chance they got. Pinakas culminated a fine counterattacking move with a powerful shot past Talichmanidis to make it 0-1.
That development didn’t change the outlook of the encounter, mostly played in AEL’s half. PAOK equalized in the 42nd minute with Tsaousis’s net-busting shot from outside the box.
After the interval, PAOK kept their foot firmly on the throttle and AEL kept defending. The “Double-Headed Eagle” gor their reward for their perseverance in the 79th minute. Chatzistravos teed up Balogiannis and the latter beat the rival goalkeeper with a fine finish to make it 2-1.
PAOK U19: Talichmanidis, Lyratzis, Τsaousis, Diamantis, Μichailidis, Μaniotis (72’ Pournaras), Balogiannis, Chatzistravos, Gaitanidis (80’ Salamouras), Τzovaras, Doumtsis (83’ Gargalatzidis)
