PAOK’s Under-19 team will need a minor miracle on October 20 in Slovakia in the second leg match of their tie if theu are to overturn things. The Slovaks produced an ideal away performance at the Kaftanzogleio to claim a great victory.

The way the match started – at a frenetic pace – hinted that this would be an open match with a fast tempo. And so it proved to be the case. The visitors had the first sight of goal in the very first minute thanks to a long ball from the goalkeeper, but then PAOK scored from their first attack in the fifth minute when Gustavo Varela tapped home the rebound after Koulouris’ shot was blocked.

The Double-headed Eagle then missed a great opportunity to double their lead with Varela again the center of attention, but he was denied from point-blank range by the Slovak goalkeeper. It was to prove a costly miss, as the visitors pulled level in the 27th minute courtesy of Kapralik.

PAOK tried to respond, playing the ball around with confidence, but in the final phase of play of the first half the visitors scored again to get themselves in front through Sauer.

The second half started just as the first ended, with the visitors on top. Zilina scored twice up to the 63-minute mark through Jambor to make the score 4-1 in their favor.

No matter how hard they tried, PAOK just could not find a response and the visitors completed a fine win for them in added time with Kapralik on the scoresheet once more to make it 5-1.

PAOK lineup:

Balomenos, Aventisian (73′ Kitsakis), Zilo, Kastidis, Tsopouroglou, Koutentakis, Koulouris (79′ Kedikoglou), Tsikos, Smyrlis, Darelas (46′ Spyrakos), Varela (67′ Roumniatsev).