Melbourne Club PAOK Inc.

21-02-2010 Super League Round: 23

PAOK Thessaloniki

2 - 1

Panathinaikos Athens

PAOK are only 2 points behind the leader Panathinaikos after a huge win against them at a packed Toumba Stadium after recording a 2-1 victory in an electric atmosphere.
In the 3rd minute of the match PAOK created the first attack of the match when Vierihna cut inside the penalty area and from a good position his shot missed the target. In the 25th minute a let off for PAOK when from a direct free kick a Karagounis pile driver rattled the post and the danger was cleared. In the 36th minute Karagounis was all alone on the right hand side and he cut the ball back for Vyntra but his shot narrowly missed the target.
In the 2nd half it was PAOK who created the first chance of the half when a Ivic header was parried away for a corner by Tzorvas from a Pablo Garcia corner. In the 60th minute what was to happen next was unbelievable. PAOK won a free kick near the corner flag. From the resulted free kick Pablo Garcia scored when his shot cross went over Tzorvas head into the back of the net to give PAOK a 1-0 lead. The PAOK fans went wild as did Pablo Garcia who kicked the advertising board as it was party time. That lead was to last 4 minutes as Panathinaikos equalised when Vyntra found Salpiggidis who's low cross was put into the back of the net by Cisse. In the 68th minute PAOK regained the lead when a long ball by Lino found Muslimovic who got behind the Panathinaikos defence and slotted the ball into the back of the net to give PAOK a 2-1 lead and didn't he celebrate in style. In the 82nd minute PAOK survived a late scare when Salpiggidis cut the ball back for Ninis and his shot just went over the crossbar. In the end a huge win by PAOK in a party style atmosphere. The top is near and could this be the year when the championship comes to Thessaloniki.

PAOK COACH FERNANDO SANTOS PRESS CONFERENCE: This was a good game with both teams playing with passion to win. In the first half the match was even and we in a rush to score. We scored first and then we conceded a quick equaliser. Fortunately we regained the lead again. We held on to the lead and recorded a crucial win.

PABLO GARCIA: We got a victory today which we all wanted. I dedicate the goal I scored today to my mother, my family and all the fans who packed Toumba Stadium today. My mum from up in heaven pushed the ball into the back of the net today.

Match Details

Daloukas

Toumba, Thessaloniki

30000

Coach: Fernando Santos	Coach: Noplias
Chalkias Contreras Edinho 53' Muslimovic Fotakis Garcia Ivic Lino Malezas Sorlin 88' Cristiano Sznaucner Vieirinha 90' Cirillo	Tzorvas Vintra Kante Sarriegi Spiropoulos Leto 76' Ninis Simao Karagounis Katsouranis 70' Christodoulopoulos Cisse Salpingidis

Top