Under-19s drop two points in Souroti
One could claim that the Unsder-19 side threw away two points, but at the same time one could also say that they got off lightly. In any case, a mediocre display from the home side against a determined PAS Ioannina team saw the match end in a 1-1 draw.
The visitors got themselves in front early on in the eighth minute, after PAOK goalkeeper Balomenos commited a foul. The remainder of the half became a very one-sided affair, with PAOK pushing for an equalizer against a well-drilled PAS defence. There was plenty of mobility and chances created, mainly from the wings, sides, but although the crossbar took a hit, a goal did not arrive.
In the start of the second half, although there was an urgent need for the home side to get themselves back on level terms, at the same time the players found themselves under pressure. That was until the 52nd minute when the lively Smyrlis produced some impressive work down the right-hand side before playing in Giaxis to score and make it 1-1. PAOK then pushed on for a winning goal, but although the Double-headed Eagle were the superior side, the goal never came as the visitors withstood whatever PAOK threw at them.
PAOK have now collected 22 points from eight games are remain undefeated. Next up is a match against Panaitolikos in Agrinio, a postponed game from earlier in the season.
PAOK lineup:
Balomenos, Panagiotou, Manolioudis, Aventisian (77′ Kitsakis), Tassiouras (46′ Smyrlis), Giaxis, Tsopouroglou, Koutentakis, Grosdis (64′ Koulouris), Koutsias, Gordeziani (86′ Spyrakos).