An incredible, sweeping, spirited PAOK got an epic qualification over Dinamo Zagreb as with 5-1 they overturned the score of the first match and flew to the “8” of the Conference League.
A PAOKara… ready to reach the final of the Conference League appeared on Thursday night in Tuba where they beat Dinamo Zagreb 5-1, overturned the score of the first match and qualified for the “8” of the Conference League and on Friday (15/3) at noon he will learn his next opponent and all his opponents until the final of the match.
With a great protagonist Koulierakis who scored two goals and had an assist, in the first goal of the home team, and without anyone lagging behind as everyone gave something extra on the pitch, it reached an epic turnaround which Loucescu and his players believed and the showed during the match.
With a sensational game from the first to the last minute, the footballers of the Thessaloniki team were superior, they did not allow Dinamo any right to enter the game and they managed to put a “fire” in Toumba who was asking for a European trophy at the end of the match.
In the first half, PAOK threatened the Croatian goal every four minutes and managed to find a qualification score from the first 45 minutes. Baba was the one who opened the scoring after an assist from Koulierakis in the 27th minute.
The Greek defender doubled the goals of the Thessaloniki team with a shot from outside the area to equalize the score of the first match in the 33rd minute.
While PAOK found a third goal, a qualifying score, with Brandon Thomas in the 42nd minute after a great assist from Tyson.
Dinamo managed to reduce in the second half as they entered the pitch better, threatened and scored to make it 3-1 with Hoxha in the 49th minute.
PAOK, however, after Loucheskou’s changes, took the reins of the match again and found another goal, in the 72nd minute with Koulierakis, to reach a qualification score again.
While PAOK’s victory took on the dimensions of a triumph in the 88th minute with Andrija Zivkovic hitting a penalty kick won by Despodov in the 88th minute.
Lucescu’s plan
Lucescu lined up PAOK with two changes compared to the first game in Croatia, while also surprising with the presence of Vieirania in the starting lineup, while the second change had to do with the use of Schwab instead of Ozdoev.
Under the goalposts was Kotarski with Vieirinia starting on the right end and Baba playing on the left while Kenziora, Koulierakis fought in the center of the defense. In the midfield, Schwab and Meite played as a duo and the trio in front of them consisted of Zivkovic on the right, Tyson on the left and Constantelia behind the promoted Brandon Thomas.
Lucescu’s players entered the field better and tried from the first minutes to circulate the ball correctly, to pressure their opponents and to find a goal that would put “fire” in Toumba and give “wings” to the PAOK players.
The home team could have taken the lead in the 15th minute when, following a Živkovic foul at the second post, Koulierakis headed home and Nevistić made a save with his body to drive the ball into the corner.
Four minutes later PAOK players combined beautifully from the right with the ball going into the area to Zivkovic who dribbled and shot which went over the goal.
The double-header threatened again in the 23rd minute, again with Koulierakis. Živkovic crossed at the far post with the Greek defender getting a header and sending the ball just wide of the right post.
PAOK scored two goals in six minutes
In the 27th minute of the match, PAOK found the goal they were looking for with Baba. Živkovic on the left took the corner at the front post with Koulierakis taking the header-pass at the first post to the second where Baba again headed the ball into the net.
Six minutes later, in the 33rd minute, Lucescu’s team found a second goal. Koulierakis had stayed ahead in the phase and had found himself in a right wing position. He received the ball, brought it inside and attempted the shot with his left, the ball found Susic, changed a bit and ended up in Nevistic’s goal for PAOK 2-0 which equalized the score of the first match.
The visitors threatened for the first time in the 37th minute with Petkovic receiving the ball on the left, he made the spot with Kotarski clearing with one hand.
Qualification score in the 42nd minute for the doubleheader
PAOK reached a qualifying score in the 42nd minute of the match when the ball reached Tyson on the left. He raised his head, saw Brandon Thomas at the far post, sent him a sweet cross and the Spaniard with a fishy head sent the ball into the net for 3-0 to the home team.
This was the score with which the two teams went to the Toumba locker room after the first 45+3 minutes of the match. The two teams after the break entered Toumba for the second part of the match without changes.
Dinamo reduced in the 49th minute with Hoxha
Dinamo Zagreb entered the second half better and managed to reduce the score in the 49th minute with Hoxha. Petkovic tried to pass Kenziora, who cleared the ball to the Croatian winger who fired a cross to beat Kotarski and temporarily give the visitors hope.
The Croatians tried to take advantage of the momentum they had with the score down but Kotarski was there when needed. In the 56th minute, Spikić, after a nice move, found himself one-on-one with the Croatian goalkeeper, he made the shot, but the PAOK goalkeeper stretched out his right leg and cleared the ball away.
While in the 64th minute, the scorer of Dinamo was again in the area, he made a nice effort and the shot on the left side with Kotarski striking the ball away.
Koulierakis with… the heart the fourth goal of PAOK
In the 72nd minute of the match, PAOK reached the qualification score again with the fourth goal by Koulierakis. Despontov took the corner from the right, Schwab nipped the ball in and Koulierakis with… heart pushed the ball into the net to make it 4-2.
PAOK could have scored a fifth goal in the 83′ when he combined beautifully from the left with Despodov turning to Murg who from the height of the penalty shot made the shot with the ball going just over the Dinamo goal.
The visitors found another good moment, in the 85th minute, with Misic shooting outside the area and Kotarski impressively clearing the ball.
What didn’t happen in 83′ but happened in 88′. Samata played a deep ball to Despontov who entered the area, chipped the ball past Misic, who brought him down and PAOK won a penalty.
Živković was the one who took over the execution, defeated Nevistić and wrote 5-1 which was also the final score and gave dimensions of triumph to PAOK’s victory.
PAOK: Kotarski, Vieirinia (78′ Otto), Kenziora, Koulierakis, Baba, Schwab (82′ Ozdoev), Meite, Zivkovic, Tyson (67′ Despodov), Constantelias (78′ Murg), Brandon (78′ Samata).
Dinamo Zagreb: Nevistic, Ristovski, Bernauer, Teofil-Katrin, Perkovic (80′ Ogiwara), Misic, Susic (80′ Kulenovic), Spikic (74′ Kaneko), Hoxha (80′ Vidovic), Baturina, Petkovic.
On Thursday’s Game Night, Pantelis Vlachopoulos together with Pantelis Diamantopoulos and Themis Kaisaris analyze the super derby Olympiacos – Panathinaikos in the EuroLeague and the European rematches of the Greek teams in the Europa Conference League. Spyros Kavalieratos and Vassilis Skoundis report from SEF.