AEK, AS Roma create, waste goal chances
AEK had its second consecutive scoreless draw in the Champions League Wednesday night, while AS Roma won its first point of any kind this season at Nea Philadelphia’s Nikos Goumas Stadium. While AEK dominated most of the match and had a number of scoring opportunities, it was Roma which nearly stole the points in the dying seconds of the match. A blistering free kick from just outside the penalty box by Italian international defender Christian Panucci in the last action of the match whizzed by AEK goalkeeper Dionysis Chiotis and smacked the left post. It was the best chance that Roma had of scoring in the match as AEK controlled most of the play in the very humid weather that drained the energy of both sides. AEK’s best scoring opportunity came in the 56th minute, when striker Demis Nikolaidis pounced on a long, through ball and shot just wide of Francesco Antonioli’s left post. In the 69th minute, Vassilis Lakis was tripped up by Antonioli inside the penalty box after he stole the ball from a defender but, instead of the expected penalty, British referee Graham Barber showed a yellow card to Lakis for diving. «We had some bad luck and missed chances especially in the 92nd minute when (we) hit the post,» Roma coach Fabio Capello said. In the group’s other match, Real Madrid defeated Genk 6-0. (AFP, Reuters)
