AEK Pay The Penalty

By: Chris Paraskevas | November 30th, 2008

In cooperation with Goal.com:

Three posts, a missed penalty and some Montenegro magic condemned AEK to their fourth Greek Super League match in a row without victory.

AEK Athens manager Dusan Bajevic was denied his first win in his third stint as manager of the Greek giants by a superb performance by Montenegrin goalkeeper Srda Blazic.

The Levadiakos man saved an injury-time Angelos Basinas penalty in a flawless performance, allowing his side to survive an attacking onslaught by the visitors during an enthralling second-half in Levadia.

First Half

A particularly uneventful first half of football was devoid of any clear goal-scoring opportunities for either side, as Levadiakos’ defensive organization was enough to ease them into a comfortable start against a characteristically uncreative AEK outfit.

The visitors laboured in midfield but the absence of anyone resembling a capable midfielder play-maker was conspicuous during an opening forty five minutes where Momcilo Vukotic’s side were not once broken down by their more illustrious rivals.

AEK’s performance was so ineffective that manager Dusan Bajevic made a purely tactical substitution after just 36 minutes of play, replacing central-midfielder Agustin Pelletieri with striker Raffik Djebbour.

The move did little to alter the complexion of an increasingly dull affair, though the sheer energy of midfielder Tamandani Nsaliwa gave the Athenians two half-chances before the break.

The first arrived through an Angelos Basinas corner on 41 minutes, after some good work by Nsaliwa on the right touch-line.

Former Panionios star Djebbour managed to get his head to the ball from around the centre of the penalty area but saw his effort saved low to the right of Levadiakos ‘keeper Srdan Blazic before Nsaliwa then stung the palms Montenegro shot-stopper with a rasping drive from outside the box on the stroke of half-time.

Second Half

The Canada international was at the heart of the action immediately at the start of the second half, meeting Panagiotis Lagos’ cross from the left-hand side with a header back across Blazic that hit the upright.

From the rebound, Rafik Djebbour initially reacted well from close-range but somehow contrived to direct his header back onto the post, wasting a glorious chance for his side in a match where goal-scoring opportunities were looking particularly rare.

Levadiakos almost took the lead against the run of play just moments later, as Patrick Dimbala raced onto a lofted ball over the AEK defence to find himself through on goal.

However, Argentine goalkeeper Sebastian Saja produced the first of two wonderful stops to deny the home side, rushing out to meet the Belgian striker and block his effort well outside of his penalty area.

His second save was similarly impressive, arriving in the 56th minute after the Dimbala beat Pliatsikas with ease on the left side of the penalty area before hitting the by-line and squaring the ball across for the unmarked Kostas Kiassos at the far post, whose first-time effort drew a sharp save from the ‘keeper.

The fact that more chances had been created within the opening few minutes of the second period than the entire forty five of the first was a reflection of the manner in which the match had suddenly opened up, with both sides’ increased sense of adventure contributing to a more noticeable flow of attacking football.

They began to enjoy the inevitable space being offered, with Rafik Djebbour forcing a low save from Blazic before the ‘keeper made a wonderful one-handed stop from a powerful Kyrgiakos header off a Basinas corner.

The left upright then denied AEK the lead for the third time in the match on 77 minutes, as Bajevic’s side pressed for a late winner.

Again it was Djebbour who was the victim of the woodwork, his stunning first-time drive from outside the area rattling the post before Nacho Scocco could only head the ball over the crossbar with Blazic stranded.

Despite their concerted attacking pressure and vastly improved second-half display, it appeared as though AEK were heading for their fourth league draw in a row.

That was until the determined Djebbour won his side a contentious last-gasp penalty, though even the taking of the set-piece was not a simple task for the visitors.

Substitute Manduca saw his penalty saved by the imperious Blazic before seeing the rebound smashed in by Djebbour, only to have referee Datis order it to be retaken.

Greece captain Angelos Basinas this time shouldered the responsibility, though his weak effort was comfortably saved by the Montenogro ‘keeper, who fittingly ended a sensational evening during which he single-handedly denied Dusan Bajevic his first victory as AEK manager.

Levadiakos 0
AEK Athens 0

Line-ups:

Levadiakos: Blazic, Emeran, Tzorbatzakis, Triposteris, Zisopoulos, Kiassos (87’ Pastos), Georgiev (65’ Leonardo), Andralas, Bassala, Bushi, Basala

AEK Athens: Saja, Kyrgiakos, Majstorovic, Pliatsikas, Kafes, Nsawila (64’ Manduca), Pelletieri (36’ Djebbour), Basinas, Scocco, Blanco (80’ Edinho), Lagos