PAOK, lacking the necessary intensity and creative spark, suffered a 3-2 defeat to Twente, marking its first loss of the season in preseason friendlies.

After an excellent 3-0 record in their previous friendlies, the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” faced a particularly tough opponent, with the Dutch side preventing them from continuing their winning streak. Although Geremye’s header in the 87th minute tied the match and led everyone to believe the game would end in a draw, Hlinson had other ideas, scoring in the 90+3rd minute to seal a 3-2 victory for Twente.

PAOK came out determined to apply pressure from the very first minutes of the friendly match against Twente and created its first notable chance as early as the 3rd minute. Kenny crossed the ball from the right to Tyson; the Brazilian controlled it and tried to link up with Konstantelia, but the Dutch defense managed to clear the danger.

Three minutes later, Konstantelias made an excellent individual run on the counterattack, leaving everyone in his path behind before trying his luck from long range. Twente’s goalkeeper, however, reacted with difficulty but effectively, preventing the goal.

The Dutch responded immediately, with Hesseling attempting a shot on the move in the 7th minute, forcing Pavlenka into a superb save, with the Czech goalkeeper demonstrating his quick reflexes.

PAOK managed to take the lead in the 10th minute in an unexpected way. A serious defensive error by Twente and poor communication between Noistad and his goalkeeper resulted in the ball ending up in the net, with the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” taking the lead without really having to do much in the play.

Twente tried to respond, and in the 20th minute, Hlinson attempted a shot from an angle, which Pavlenka blocked without much difficulty. The Dutch continued to threaten, and in the 32nd minute they came close to equalizing when a dangerous through ball found Hlinson, but his shot was deflected and went out for a corner.

Finally, Twente’s pressure paid off in the 36th minute. Orgiaster made an excellent individual run, entered the box, expertly evaded his marker, and with a flawless finish sent the ball off the crossbar and into the net, tying the score at 1-1.

In stoppage time of the first half, PAOK came close to regaining the lead when Tyson took a shot from inside Twente’s box, but the ball went just wide, leaving the score at 1-1 until halftime.

After the first-half equalizer, Twente came out stronger in the second half and managed to take the lead in the 57th minute. After some beautiful ball movement and quick passing exchanges inside PAOK’s penalty area, the ball reached Hesselink, who, from a prime position, had no trouble sending it into the net to make it 2-1 for the Dutch side.

At the same time, the “Double-Headed Eagle of the North” was facing significant problems in the creative department, unable to consistently threaten Twente’s goal. In contrast, the Dutch were more effective and made the most of the chances they created, which allowed them to maintain their lead.

In the 63rd minute, Tsiftsis kept PAOK in the game, making a superb save on Heselink’s shot from a wide angle and preventing Twente’s third goal.

Against the run of play, PAOK found a way to get back into the game in the 87th minute. Kenny sent in an excellent cross into the heart of the box, where Yeremeyev darted toward the ball and beat the opposing goalkeeper with a close-range header, tying the match at 2-2.

However, the Dutch had the last word. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, following a prolonged attack and PAOK’s defense failing to clear the danger, Hlinson found himself in the right spot and sent the ball into the net, sealing the final 3-2 victory for Twente.

PAOK’s starting lineup: Pavlenka (46’ Tsiftsis), Elustondo (45+1’ Bataoulas), Kenny, Michailidis (57’ Kosidis), Taylor, Zafeiris (78′ Tsopouroglu), Kamara (57′ Gomes), Konstantelias (78′ Pelkas), Zivkovic (78′ Berdos), Tyson (57′ Balde), Mythou (78′ Geremeyev)

*photo source: PAOK FC / PAOK FC