Pablo Garcia and Miroslav Schnauzner’s team produced a solid performance in a match which featured some high quality football and chances for both teams. In the end, a solitary goal from Panidis in the second half proved enough to seal qualification and a meeting in the second round of the competition against Dynamo Kiev

PAOK made a sloppy start to the game and the visitors were unlucky not to take advantage of two good scoring opportunities within the opening 20 minutes. The Double-headed Eagle of the North soon found their feet, however,  and it was their turn to waste some promising opportunities, including Panidis who failed to convert a one-on-one chance against the visitors’ goalkeeper.

But what PAOK failed to achieve in the first half, the made up for it at the start of the second half. Kaloutsikidis released Panidis with a great ball and this time he didn’t waste the chance, finding the net to make it 1-0 after 50 minutes.

PAOK then went on to miss a couple of great opportunities to make the game safe with Tziolis and Koutsias the culprits, and this allowed the visitors the chance to pile on the pressure late on to try and get an equaliser. The hosts managed to keep their Irish opponents at bay, however, and the Toumba celebrated another victory and qualification for the club’s youngsters.

PAOK starting lineup:

Tachlimanidis, Kaloutsikidis, Michailidis, Panagiotou, Tachatos (62′ Grosdis), Tsiggaras, Tsopouroglou, Giaxis, Gaitanidis (17′ Tziolis), Pournaras (70′ Theodoridis), Panidis (70′ Koutsias)