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Djebbour Goal Gives AEK Impressive Derby Win Over PAOK

It was their best performance of the season during one of their most important matches: Raffik Djebbour's fine headed finish gave AEK another much-needed victory over rivals PAOK on Sunday...

Jan 11, 2009 8:12:46 PM

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Greek Super League: AEK - PAOK (INTIME)

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AEK Athens produced an impressive performance to grab a 1-0 derby victory over rivals PAOK at the OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium on Sunday evening.

A fine headed finish from Raffik Djebbour on the stroke of half-time maintained manager Dusan Bajevic's unbeaten record since taking over earlier in the season, as PAOK centre-back Pablo Contreras was shown a straight red card for kicking out at the Algerian striker in an off-the-ball incident.

It was a refreshingly entertaining clash between two of Greek football's traditional rivals however, during a season where such clashes have often been characterized as tense, dull affairs.

First Half

Both sides made unspectacular starts to the match in the Greek capital, with the first discernible attempt on goal arriving after 28 minutes, Ismael Blanco forcing an awkward save from Chalkias from close-range.

Up until that point, Fernando Santos’ men had stifled their opponents but failed to present themselves as an attacking threat, in-form striker Zlatan Muslimovic starved of service in a lone striker’s role.

Dusan Bajevic’s AEK lined up in a 4-3-3 shape, meanwhile and overcame a slow start to gradually find their attacking rhythm.

Edinho was the first to draw a sharp save from Konstantinos Chalkias after 34 minutes, the Portuguese striker’s recent exploits as a substitute earning him a starting place.

His flicked header towards the near post from a Pantelis Kafes free-kick forced the Greece international to push the ball around the post, before PAOK responded three minutes later through former AEK man Vladimir Ivic, who forced Sebastian Saja into a similarly sharp save with a volley from outside the box.

Combative centre-back Sotiris Kyrgiakos was typically an aerial threat from set pieces and came closest to giving the Athenians the lead on 42 minutes.

The Greece defender climbed in the penalty area to head Pantelis Kafes’ corner towards goal, only to see the ball cleared off the line by Miroslaw Sznaucner.

There was to be no such escape for the visitors three minutes later however, as Algerian striker Rafik Djebbour gave AEK the lead.

The former Panionios man – like Kyrgiakos before him – timed his jump well and directed a superb header into the far side of the net from a Nikos Georgeas cross, past the outstretched Chalkias, whose immediate reaction suggested disappointment in himself at not having reached the ball.

However, it was a lead that fairly reflected AEK’s eventual dominance of the affair up until that point, PAOK paying the price for their lack of adventure and rather predictable decision to defend deep in their own half.

They were almost given a reprieve by the effervescent Muslimovic immediately afterwards however, the Bosnia and Herzegovina international seeing his rasping long-range drive flash past the right post on the stroke of half-time.

Second Half

AEK should have immediately doubled their lead at the beginning of the second half, the elusive Djebbour managing to break free down the left flank before squaring for Edinho, who stretched but skied the bouncing ball over an empty net.

Despite their increased efforts, PAOK were finding it particularly difficult to break down an organized AEK back-line marshalled superbly by central defensive duo Daniel Majstorovic and Sotiris Kyrgiakos.

It appeared as though the visitors had found a way through on 64 minutes though, captain Pantelis Kosntantinidis getting in-behind the AEK defence with an intelligent run in the box.

With only Saja to beat, the 33-year-old shaped to shoot but was robbed of the ball courtesy of a superb last-ditch challenge by Majstorovic.

Minutes later and his teammates suddenly found themselves down to ten men following a moment of madness by Chilean centre-back Pablo Contreras.

The veteran defender was shown a straight red card after kicking Rafik Djebbour with play having already stopped, reacting to the Algerian – who himself received a yellow card - after he had prevented the international from taking a free-kick.

His South American teammate Pablo Garcia – no stranger to off-the-ball incidents following his infamous punch on Olympiakos’ Diogo earlier in the season – almost gave his side an unlikely equalizer in the 70th minute though, his curled free-kick missing a cluster of bodies in the penalty area and agonizingly past Saja’s right post.

Now forced to commit bodies forward in search of an equalizer, an undermanned PAOK were almost caught out on the break on 76 minutes, Pantelis Kafes leading an AEK counter-attack that lead to a Djebbour strike swerving past the left post.

The midfielder almost turned from architect to finisher moments later, Pelletieri and Djebbour combining in the best move of the game by either side, Kafes’ finish from inside the penalty area contrastingly poor.

It was then Djebbour’s chance to win the game with five mintes remaining, though he was denied by the Chalkias, who came well off his line to palm away the striker’s delicate effort from inside the area.

AEK held on however to record a victory over their historic rivals, a result deserving of what was arguably their best performance of the season thus far.

PAOK, meanwhile, are now nine points behind Olympiakos in equal second place.

AEK Athens 1 (Djebbour 45’)
PAOK 0

Line-ups:

AEK Athens: Saja, Majstorovic, Kyrgiakos, Juanfran, Georgas, Nsaliwa, Pelletieri, Kafes (90+1’ Hetemaj), Djebbour, Edinho (81’ Pliatsikas), Blanco (90+1’ Pavlis)

PAOK: Chalkias, Darlas, Sznaucner, Marcos Antonio, Conteraras, Garcia, Veron, Ivic (57’ Bakayoko), Lakis (24’ Vieirinha, 68’ Malezas), Konstantinidis, Muslimovic

Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com

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