Friday, July 29, 2011
Greek away victories in Europa League
PAOK and Olympiakos Volou grabbed away wins for the Europa League's third qualifying round on Thursday to take a clear lead for reaching the playoffs of the competition.
PAOK scored a 2-0 away triumph at Valerenga through second-half strikes by Adelino Vieirinha and Pablo Garcia.
Playing in front of practically empty stands at Oslo, PAOK played a clever game with caution at the back, particularly in the first half, and with new signing Costin Lazar creating problems to the Norwegian defence.
After a couple of good chances PAOK missed in the first half, the opening goal came at the 71st minute through a solo effort by Vieirinha who toyed with the Valerenga defenders before chipping the ball into the net.
The hosts put some pressure thereafter but without creating major chances, before PAOK doubled their lead at the last minute of regular time.
Stefanos Athanasiadis earned a free-kick from the left that skipper Garcia took and sent the ball in before rushing to celebrate with the 100 PAOK fans at the stands of Ullevaal stadium.
Olympiakos Volou shook off the bad news of the club's relegation to the second division in Greece due to match-fixing, to see off Differdange 3-0 in Luxembourg.
The Volos side had a rather quiet first half but managed to hit the target twice within five minutes in the second.
First it was Maltese midfielder Andre Schembri who gave the visitors the lead at the 66th minute as he sealed his individual effort from the left with a lovely chip, and then it was Noe Acosta who got the ball just inside the box and shot successfully past the Differdange keeper at the 71st.
One minute from the end substitute Ilias Solakis added the third after a cross by Vicente Monje for Olympiakos Volou's second victory in Europe in its history.
Both ties' return leg games are in Greece on August 4.
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