Panionios and PAOK advance
Thessaloniki soccer club PAOK advanced to the second round of the UEFA Cup last night after trouncing Norwegian team Lyn 3-0 in Oslo thanks to an explosive seven-minute scoring spree early in the second for all three goals. The Greek team rebounded from a 1-0 home defeat in the tie’s first leg. Panionios, also playing last night, advanced after eliminating Danish club FC Nordsjaelland with a 3-1 aggregate score. The Athens club registered a 1-0 away victory after winning 2-1 at home a fortnight earlier. PAOK, eager to compensate for its home defeat in the first leg, began last night’s match slowly and did not score its first of three goals until early in the second half. Lyn’s resistance crumbled from that point on, allowing the Thessaloniki side to quickly add a further two goals. Following a poor showing by the Greek side in the first half, striker Giasemakis Giasemi opened the scoring for PAOK in the 52nd minute with a cracking shot from inside the box. Defender Koutsis added a second three minutes later when an anemic shot from outside the area slipped through the Norwegian goalie’s hands and into the nets. PAOK’s scoring spree continued five minutes later, in the 60th minute, when another defender, Leonidas Vokolos connected with a cross from close range. Greece’s third UEFA Cup representative, Aris, was due to play Moldova club Zimbru at home later last night. Aris drew 1-1 in the first leg.
