Asteras beats APOEL to keep hope alive, as PAOK loses in Russia
Asteras Tripolis kept its flickering hope of qualifying to the knock-put stages of the Europa League alive with a 2-0 win over APOEL at home, while PAOK is all but eliminated after going down 2-1 at Krasnodar on Thursday.
Facundo Bertoglio at the start of the game and Apostolos Giannou just before half-time scored for the Tripoli side in what was arguably its best game so far this season. The Super League team could have added to its tally in the second half but could not find the target against a below-par Cypriot champion.
The match was interrupted for 14 minutes in the second half due to flare hurling onto the pitch by the APOEL supporters.
The result took Asteras to four points, one ahead of APOEL and two behind second-placed Sparta Prague that it is visiting next.
PAOK had another disappointing game after its loss at Asteras Tripolis for the league, losing to a superior Krasnodar in Russia.
Ari opened the score for the host on the 33rd minute and Joaozinho made it 2-0 on the 67th, before PAOK scored a consolation goal through Robert Mak in injury time.
PAOK is on three points from four games, four points behind second-placed Krasnodar and two ahead its next opponent in Thessaloniki, Qabala of Azerbaijan.
