PAOK show belief to get back to winning ways
Despite once again making life difficult for themselves, PAOK found a way to come from behind and beat Lamia 2-1 thanks to goals from Andrija Zivkovic and Tarik Tissoudali to earn three vital points which keeps them in second place, just one point off top spot. More than that, it also gives the team a confidence boost ahead of the tough series of games ahead.
PAOK, as expected, started the game with a lot of changes compared to the cup match in Athens against Aigaleo, with Baba and Taison returning to the starting lineup.
The visitors started the match well, dominated and during the first half-hour of the 90 minutes they were the only team posing a goal threat. In the third minute Despodov crossed for Brandon , but the forward did not have time to get a shot away, while in the 20th minute a similar opportunity also went begging. In the 28th minute, Brandon threatened again after PAOK won possession high up the pitch due to their pressing game, but he failed to score from a good position.
Against the run of the game, however, Lamia then opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Furtado. The home team’s goal unsettled the PAOK players’ confidence and as a result Lamia went on to create two more great opportunities, with Kotarski reacting superbly in a one-on-one against Vlachomitros and a header from Ring shortly afterwards.
The 1-0 scoreline didn’t change until the half-time break, with PAOK having it all to do in the second half. Thankfully, PAOK came our in clearly more determined mood and with more composure. Razvan Lucescu was also quick to make his first three changes and one of them provided the solution.
Despodov took a corner, the home defence tried to clear teh ball but it ended up at the feet of Andrija Zivkovic and the Serb made it 1-1 with an unstoppable shot in the 59th minute.
From that moment on, PAOK never looked back. They pressed effectively, created chances, got the energy they needed and eventually found a winning goal. Initially, in the 65th minute, Ozdoev hit the post with an impressive header, before redemption came from Tissoudali in the 75th minute.
Taison produced a great piece of play from the left, surged into the penalty area, and crossed the ball across the box. Saramandas tried to clear it, but he could only sent the ball onto the post and Tissoudali was there to head home the rebound.
The Double-headed Eagle had more opportunities to extend their winning margin, with Chalov coming off the bench and being particularly lively, but the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Lucescu’s side are back on winning form and now turn their attention to their 2024-25 UEFA Europa League game against Manchester United in England.
Team lineups:
Lamia: Kostic, Cornezos, Giannoutsos, Siovas (Gotzamanidis 37′), Radonja, Saramandas (Enriques 78′), Nunez, Doiranlis (Pikov 78′), Furtado, Vlahomitros (Lake 65′), Ring.
PAOK: Kotarski, Baba, Lovren, Kedziora, Otto, Schwab (Ozdoev 56′), Kamara, Taison (Shoretire 88′), Murg (A.Zivkovic 56′), Despodov (Chalov 81′), Brandon (Tissoudali 56′) .
