AEK Frustrated By Struggling Panserraikos
By: Chris Paraskevas | November 16th, 2008In cooperation with Goal.com:
The pressure has been heaped back on AEK Athens manager Giorgios Donis after his side were held to a scoreless home draw by lowly Panserraikos.
Giannis Papakostas’ side produced an organized display at the OAKA Spiros Louis Stadium and were rewarded with a crucial and unprecedented point that takes them five clear of last-placed Thrasyvoulos.
AEK, meanwhile, are five points away from league leaders Olympiakos and their uninspiring display brings to end what has been another turbulent week for the club, following suggestions of an unsettled dressing room by sections of the Greek football media.
The future of manager Giorgios Donis, meanwhile, is no safer than it was two weeks ago, when his side produced a stunning late comeback to steal a home win against Asteras Tripolis.
First Half
It took the home side seventeen minutes of uninspiring football to register their first attempt on goal, albeit from a free-kick on the edge of the area.
Greece international Angelos Basinas – whose future at the club has already been at the centre of rather controversial media speculation – almost silenced his critics with a deflected effort that was palmed away superbly by Dimitrios Kottaras.
There was little the Panserraikos ‘keeper would have been able to do about Pantelis Kafes’ 21st minute header, when the AEK captain found himself unmarked inside the six-yard box.
Meeting Nacho Scocco’s corner after some intelligent movement, the former Olympiakos midfielder wasted his side’s best chance of the match when his powerful effort flew over the crossbar.
The fact that his attempt was the last of the half reflected what was an opening forty-five minutes devoid of any discernible rhythm, with both side’s lacking cohesion and invention.
Second Half
In what has become something of a trademark tactical move during his tenure so far at AEK, manager Giorgios Donis made two half-time substitutions in an attempt to galvanize his conspicuously disjointed side.
Though the introduction of both Agustin Pelletieri and Vassilios Plitasikas did not yield an immediate, tangible result, it did contribute to the opening up of the game slightly at the start of the second half.
AEK’s first genuine incision into the Panserraikos penalty area came on 61 minutes, when Nacho Scocco skipped away from his marker on the left side of the box and appeared to have a clear opportunity to shoot at goal from a narrow angle, only to attempt to square the ball across and have it hacked away for a corner.
Despite their improved second-half display, it took AEK another twenty minutes to register only their second attempt on target; another set-piece attempt, which Nacho Scocco curled straight into the arms of Kottaras.
Moments later, his fellow countryman Ismael Blanco found some rare space in the penalty area but was unable to divert his teammates low cross towards goal.
It was the last genuine chance for an AEK side seemingly devoid of attacking ideas, becoming increasingly reliant on hopeful long balls into the penalty area – which their opposition dealt with relatively comfortably until the final whistle.
AEK Athens 0
Panserraikos 0
AEK Athens: Saja, Koutroumanos (46′ Pliatsikas), Majstorovic, Alexopoulos, Juanfran (Pelletieri 46′), Kafes, Basinas, Lagos, Scocco, Pavlis, Blanco
Panserraikos: Kottaras, Kalimanis, Voskopoulos, Galanopoulos, Abubakari, Pipinis, Kali, Zoundi (80′ Badea), Georgiadis, Tadic (70′ Baykara, 87′ Manousiaridis), Colin
Category: AEK Athens Team News
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