Aris reaches Greek Cup final after 33 years
Aris soccer club secured its first cup final place since 1970, when it eventually went on to win the competition, with a scoreless home draw against Aegaleo. The Thessaloniki side’s solitary away goal in the semifinal’s first leg, for a 1-1 draw, counted double to give it a favorable aggregate score. But the Thessaloniki side will need to wait until May 7 to find out who its fellow finalist will be. The other semifinals pair, AEK and PAOK, played a delayed first leg last night in Athens, which PAOK won 1-0. Their first game, which coincided with last week’s accession treaty meeting of 25 leaders in Athens, was postponed after local police ruled out the possibility of undertaking both assignments at once. PAOK’s Cypriot signing Giasemakis Giasemi scored the encounter’s only goal, which gives the Thessaloniki team a significant advantage ahead of the return leg, and heightens the prospect of an all-Thessaloniki Greek Cup final. Despite its failure to score or win last night, Aris dominated proceedings, keeping Aegaleo locked in defensive play for the encounter’s greater part. Occasional counterattacks by the visitor never seriously threatened. The Greek Cup final is scheduled for May 17 at Thessaloniki’s Toumba stadium, PAOK’s home ground. The venue had been predetermined irrespective of PAOK’s course in the competition.
