Three goals and… into the Play Offs
It was another extremely tough 95-minute battle. And in the final reckoning, it was PAOK who were the big winners and the team that got a ticket to the Play Offs of the UEFA Europa Conference League. Razvan Lucescu’s team beat Hajduk Split 3-0 at an electric Toumba Stadium and the Double-headed Eagle will face Hearts to fight for a place in the group stage.
Hajduk came to the Toumba to fight for every ball and blade of grass on the pitch, and especially in the first half they gave the home side a hard time. However, PAOK managed the game correctly in all its phases, found the goals at the key points that they needed, and celebrated qualification with the supporters at the final whistle.
The Croatians came on strong from the kick-off and had two very good chances in just the first two minutes of the match. while in the ninth minute, Koulierakis made a great tackle to put the ball out for a corner when it seemed a goal was imminent.
Then, after that initial threat from the visitors, in the 13th minute, PAOK took the lead. Konstantelias cut his way through the opposing defense, moved into the penalty area and Ofoe fouled him, resulting in a penalty. Stefan Schwab stepped up and kept his cool to make it it 1-0.
Lucescu’s side could have taken a two-goal lead shortly afterwards, but Koulierakis‘ effort was blocked by Lucic’s crossbar in the 21st minute. Hajduk tried to respond, but the home defenders and Dominik Kotarski in goal were in impeccable form and the score remained 1-0 at the half-time break.
In the second half, Hajduk again tried to surprise the hosts, but PAOK stood firm and as time passed by they took control of the match once more. Everything could have been decided in the 53rd minute when Konstantelias , from an excellent position, shot at Lucic, but the visiting shot-stopper saved his effort.
The next minutes passed without many notable phases, before another breakthrough came in the 79th minute. Brandon pressed high and stole posession just a minute after coming off the bench, and he served up a good pass to Andrija Živkovic who made it 2-0 from close range.
The icing on the cake was applied again by the Serb. Ozdoev won a free-kick in a good position and Zile made it 3-0 with a well-executed effort to complete the triumph for the Double-headed Eagle.
Team lineups:
PAOK: Kotarski, Baba, Koulierakis, Ekong, Kedziora, Tsingaras (Filipe Soares 61′, Ozdoev 73′), Schwab, Konstantelias, A.Zivkovic, Narey (Taison 61′), Samatta (Brandon 78′)
Hajduk: Lucic, Melniak, Diallo, Sarlia, Moufi (Mikanovic 82′), Sigur, Krovinovic (Bernau 58′), Sahiti (Dolcek 58′), Ofoe (Cvic 82′), Mlakar (Dazaku 73′), Livaja.
