Razvan Lucescu had given us an idea of ​​what to expect from his players. The Romanian coach spoke of desire, confidence and determination. And this is precisely what his players showed for 94 minutes at the Roujevica Stadium. The Double-headed Eagle struck once in each half, hit the woodwork three times, and finally achieved their goal of qualification.

Lucescu’s players started the match in impressive fashion. In just the sixth minute, there was almost a goal twice as Schwab and El Kaddouri managed to be denied by the frame of the goal in the same phase of play. These were the two warning shots from PAOK, as it was in the next threatening moment, the third, when the visitors got their reward with the opening goal.

Schwab took on the role of creator, threading a wonderful diagonal ball through the legs of a Rijeka defender to El Kaddouri, who ghosted into the penalty area and slide in to direct the pass into the bottom right corner of Rijeka goalkeeper Prskalo’s goal.

After the goal, the Croatians tried to respond, but they were limited to some long range pot shots that did not find the target. Meanwhile, at the other hand of the pitch, PAOK could have increased their lead in the 41st minute, but Prskalo first, and then the crossbar, stopped a thunderbolt from the boot of an in-the-mood El Kaddouri.

In the second half, Lucsescu’s players managed the match well, not allowing the hosts to get near Paschalakis‘ goal, while also searching for a route to goal to kill off teh game with another goal.

And that strike came in the 80th minute. An interception by the ever-busy A. Zivkovic gave the opportunity to Swiderski to tee up Murg perfectly, and the Austrian obliged with aplomb by side-footing a curling effort past a helpless Prskalo to make it 2-0.

At the final whistle, PAOK achieved their goal and celebrated an important qualification, a fact which brings some measure of satisfaction and calmness so that the squad can continue their work and build up a head of steam for the new domestic season which kicks off this coming weekend.

The Double-headed Eagle are the first Greek team to participate in the group stage of the newly-formed UEFA Europa Conference League, the draw of which will take place at 14:30 on Friday (27.08) in Istanbul.

Team lineups:

Rijeka (Goran Tomic): Prskalo, Tomecak (81′ Busnja), Joao Escoval, Kresic, Galovic (71′ Vuckic), Vukcevic (46′ Cerin), Pavicic, Lepinjica (46′ Selahi), Issah, Ampem, Dermic (84′ Obregon)

PAOK (Razvan Lucescu): Paschalakis, Taylor, Varela, Crespo, Vieirinha, Kurtic (76′ Esiti), Schwab (93′ Augusto), A. Zivkovic, Biseswar (76′ Kagawa), El Kaddouri (67′ Murg), Swiderski.