PAOK comes from behind to beat AEK as play-offs start
PAOK was the net gainer of the first round of the Super League play-offs that started on Wednesday, as it came from behind to beat AEK at home, while mini-league leader Panathinaikos escaped with a draw from Panionios.
PAOK beat AEK 2-1 in front of empty stands as the Thessaloniki club served its penultimate game of the stadium ban for the riots during the Cup game against Olympiakos.
Its goalkeeper Panayiotis Glykos gave away a cheap goal losing grip of the ball to allow AEK Jakob Johansson to open the score in the first half, but goals by Garry Rodrigues and Yiannis Mystakidis in the second halfgave the host a precious home win.
The match was marred by fights between the two sets of players after the final whistle.
At Nea Smyrni, Panionios also capitalized on a goalkeeping error, by Panathinaikos’s Luke Steele, with Karim Ansarifard opening the score, but Sebastian Leto responded with a shot from outside the area for the final 1-1 score.
Panathinaikos and PAOK are on three points and will meet this weekend in Athens, AEK is on two points and Panionios on one. AEK will host Panionios next.
