The center backs (Relvas, Mukundi)… stepped up, secured AEK’s victory over OFI (3-0), and… sent them off to London worry-free for this season’s second matchup against the “stars” and Shakhtar. The “icing on the cake” was the third goal by Gacinović in stoppage time. Aitor was sent off for the Cretans.
Two set pieces from corner kicks and two headers by the… defensive towers, Relvas and Mukundi, were what did the job for AEK against OFI, with Gatsinovic sealing the 3-0 victory in the closing minutes, again off a corner kick. AEK dominated completely and secured an easy victory that brings them within one point of league-leading Panathinaikos, as they await the eternal derby and now set their sights on the Champions League match against Shakhtar in London. The Cretans finished the match with ten players due to Aitor’s ejection in the 66th minute; a goal by Koutesa was disallowed in the first half.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
AEK – OFI: How the Match Began
Marco Nikolić started AEK with two… little surprises, as he brought Kairinen back into the starting lineup and also gave Koutesa a starting spot. Brignoli was in goal, with Pilios, Relvas, Mukundi, and Rota forming the back four, Marin and Kairinen in the center of the midfield, with Koutesa on the left, Mayer on the right, and Koita and Jovic up front. For OFI, Christos Kontis selected Christogeorgos in goal, with Krizmanic, Pougoura, and Kostoulas as the defensive trio, with Athanasiou on the left and Dikman on the right. Androutsos and Bouhalakis formed the central midfield duo, with Aitor and Fountas on the wings and Kontros leading the attack.
AEK dominated and took the lead with a header by Relvas
The lack of match sharpness was evident in the opening minutes, with AEK patiently trying to build from the back, while OFI crowded the midfield, looking to strike on the counter with Fountas and Aitor. AEK threatened in the 10th minute with a curling shot by Jović that Christogeorgos easily blocked, as AEK, as the minutes ticked by, began to move the ball more effectively, dominate the midfield with Kairinen and Marin, and launch fresh attacks off recoveries while looking for the right finishing touch. A shot by Marin in the 19th minute from outside the box was saved by Christogeorgos, with the yellow-and-blacks completely dominating, though they lacked sound decision-making in the final third.
A mistake by OFI’s goalkeeper in the 27th minute nearly cost OFI dearly, but Koita rushed his shot, and the ball sailed high over the crossbar. Three minutes later, PAOK found the back of the net when Meyer played a deep ball; Koutesa beat Kostoulas to the ball and scored with a shot, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul by the Swiss winger on the Greek center back, which sparked protests from the yellow-and-blacks.
It was a set piece that gave AEK the breakthrough in the 41st minute to open the scoring. Mayer took the corner, and Relvas scored with a powerful header to make it 1-0 for AEK, which had consistently held the upper hand, limiting OFI to a passive role. The Cretans’ first real chance came in the 45th minute with a one-touch shot by Dickman that went wide, while Enosis sought a second goal in stoppage time with two headers by Jović, though to no avail.
AEK sealed the victory with a goal by Mukundi; Gacinović also scored, and Aitor was sent off
AEK came out strong in the second half, but once again lacked precision in the final pass, having a huge chance for a second goal in the 56th minute. The energetic Koutesa played a nice pass to Mayer, who set up Koita, but the latter’s shot went just wide of the post. Nikolić, realizing his team needed a second goal, brought on Zini for Kairinen, with Koita moving out wide and Meyer coming into the center. In the 66th minute, the balance of play shifted when Aitor lost track of Koita, fouled him from behind, and received his second yellow card, leaving OFI with ten players.
Nikolić brought on João Mário for Koutesa, with AEK continuing to penetrate OFI’s box with ease but squandering their opportunities with poor decision-making. This happened yet again in the 77th minute with João Mário’s brilliant pass to Zini, who entered the box and shot high. Kontis, for his part, had brought on Nous, Apostolakis, and Hatzigiovani, seeing his team constantly on the back foot. AEK sealed the victory in the 83rd minute with another corner kick. Marin delivered the ball into the heart of OFI’s box, and Mukundi headed it in to make it 2-0.
In stoppage time, after Georgiev, Vitalis, and Gacinovic had entered the match in the final minutes, the latter made it 3-0 in the 93rd minute. Koita forced Christogeorgos to dive to his near post and tip the ball out for a corner, and on the ensuing corner kick, Gatsinovich scored with a close-range shot, setting the final score.
AEK (Marko Nikolić): Brignoli, Pilios, Relvas, Mukundi, Rota (87′ Georgiev), Marin, Kairinen (62′ Zini), Koutesa (67′ João Mário), Mayer (87′ Vitalis), Koïta, Jović (87′ Gacinović)
OFI (Christos Kontis): Christogeorgos, Krizmanic, Pougouras, Kostoulas (78′ Borja González), Athanasiou, Dikman, Androutsos (91′ Karachalios), Bouhalakis (71′ Apostolakis), Aitor, Fountas (71′ Nous), Kontro (78′ Hatzigiovanis)
Photo source: KYPE
