Uefa Cup Report: PSG Close To Progress After Victory In Athens
PSG put behind their poor domestic form and with two goals, one at the end of each half, clinched a priceless 2-0 victory over AEK at the Olympic Stadium of Athens that virtually sends them to the next round of UEFA Cup.
In the injury time of the first half Sammy Traore rose unchallenged and headed home to put Le Guen’s side ahead and two minutes from time Bernard Mendy ran down from the right wing and with a powerful right-footed shot dispatched the ball at the top left corner of AEK’s custodian Stefano Sorrentino goal to make it 2-0.
Despite starting off with better potentials and with the advantage of the hosting side, it was PSG who claimed the first big chance of the game when Christian Rodriguez headed goalwards only to see his attempt rattle AEK’s Sorrentino crossbar six minutes after the starting whistle.
Eight minutes later though it was AEK’s time to reply. Julio Cesar was fed inside the box but from close range he failed to open the scoring as Micheell Landreau quickly run onto him to stop the ball with his body.
The hosts had a couple of worthwhile efforts during the next ten minutes but they never got the chance to attempt a decent finishing. On the other hand, for another time PSG proved to be dangerous in counter attacks when they found some uncovered space. In such a case, Diane Amara, who returned to UEFA Cup after serving his card ban, dribbled past four of AEK’s defender but in front of Sorrentino produced a weak shot that the keeper of the home-side managed to parry the ball away rather easily. Bonaventure Kalou, who was following, took the rebound but having his eye-sight for goal blocked failed to find the net.
Nine minutes before the end of the first part, Julio Cesar came close again to an opener but his well-balanced shot from the edge of the area hit Landreau’s crossbar and four minutes later it was Daniel Tozser’s turn to experience some bad luck as his drive almost from the height of the spot was saved by the keeper of the French club.
And while everything pointed that the 0-0 would be the score of the interval, defender Traore came from behind to dispatch the ball into the net with his header from a swinging corner by David Hellebuck.
AEK returned onto the pitch after the recess with Pantelis Kafes in the place of Elias Kiriakidis. Later Panagiotis Kone and Nikos Georgeas were introduced instead of Vassilis Lakis and Vassilis Pliatsikas, respectively, but the hosts could hardly find the pace they needed in order to score an equalizer.
Although, for half an hour after the restart AEK were still better, few things happened to deserve a goal. PSG with a solid defense display looked like having locked up all the ways toward their goal turning into fruitless “nothing” Pantelis Kapetanos and Julio Cesar efforts.
Mendy’s goal on 88 simply sealed the victory and the progress for PSG.
|
, which by the way annoys me a lot. That means we are most likely out of the UEFA cup but we might still have a chance.
Linear Mode
