Wednesday, May 12, 2010

PAOK Salonika seal Champions League berth

Published>Thu, May 13 10 12:27 AM

PAOK Salonika secured Greece's second spot in the Champions League after a 1-0 win over Olympiakos gave them an unassailable lead in the play-off mini-league table.

Vladan Ivic's close-range strike after 33 minutes proved the difference at a sun-drenched Georgios Karaiskakis stadium as the northern club sealed a second 1-0 play-off victory in succession over the Reds.

AEK Athens were the only team who could have overhauled PAOK after that result, but Dusan Bajevic's side were held to a 1-1 draw at Aris in the evening match and sealed PAOK's place in the qualifying rounds of Europe's elite competition.

Sakis Prittas celebrated his inclusion in Greece's provisional World Cup squad by putting Aris ahead in the 47th minute.

However, Leonardo came off the bench to equalize for AEK in added time of a closely contested match at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium.

PAOK have never played in the Champions League group stage and it is only the second time they have reached the qualifying round.

Panathinaikos captured the first Champions League spot after winning the Greek title.


Source: Web Search

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