Five-star Under-19’s demolish Asteras Tripolis
PAOK’s Under-19 side recorded yet another landslide victory in the Super League on Saturday thanks to a second-half goal blitz as they crushed Asteras Tripolis 5-0 at Souroti on Matchday 19.
On paper the match was predicted to be a difficult one, since in recent weeks Asteras Tripolis have been in excellent form, and that showed in a closely-fought first half at the Lolas Sports Center.
Pablo Garcia and Miroslav Schanauzner’s players did not have things all their own way in the opening 45 minutes, failing to create many scoring chances against the Arcadians’ well-organised defence. The best chance before half-time fell to Koutsias who missed the target from a good position following Tziolis’ cross. PAOK may have gone ahead after 20 minutes if the referee had awarded a penalty when Doumtsis was fouled inside the penalty area by the opposing goalkeeper.
In the second half, the Dikefalos tou Vorra increased the intensity and began to put the visitors on the ropes with some slick passing and attacking football. After 59 minutes Gorteziani was fouled in the box by the Asteras goalkeeper and this time a spot-kick was awarded which Doumtsis slotted home to make it 1-0. After that, the visitors were forced to come out of their defensive shell and this gave PAOK the opportunity to take advantage of the extra spaces which began to appear and turn what had been up to that point a close match, into a rout.
In the 71st minute, Tziolis sent in a dangerous cross which the visiting keeper could only parry into the path of Doumtsis who scored from close range to double the advantage at 2-0. In the final 10 minutes the visitors collapsed under the intense pressure from the home side.
On 80 minutes, Tziolis sent over a free-kick which Panidis headed home to make it 3-0, and after 86 minutes a superb flowing move ended with Tziolis’ cross being turned into the net for an own goal by an Asteras defender. The best goal of the match went in in the last minute of normal time when Grosdis picked out Panidis with a set-piece, and the PAOK forward scored with a excellent volley on the turn to make it 5-0.
PAOK line-up:
Talihmanidis, Kaloutsikidis (86′ Tsopouroglou), Tachatos, Michailidis, Panagiotou, Tsiggaras, Giaxis, Doumtsis (73′ Grosdis), Koutsias (46′ Pournaras), Tziolis (86′ Pipilaris), Gorteziani (69′ Panidis).
