PAOK all but confirms Europa League entry after smashing Shamrock Rovers
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The Thessaloniki giants have all but secured themselves of a Europa League spot following a dominant win over Shamrock Rovers.
PAOK earned a 4-0 success against the Irish side at “Toumba” Stadium on Friday morning (AEST), giving them a healthy advantage in their play-offs tie that will almost certainly be too great to overturn.
The reigning Greek champions broke the deadlock just before the break via an own goal by defender Daniel Cleary, though it was in the second half that everything turned in their favour.
Playmaker Taison struck in the 47th minute to double their lead before a red card to defender Joshua Honohan (52′) put the Irish club at an even greater disadvantage.
Youngster Giannis Konstantelias grabbed PAOK’s next goal in the 67th minute before left back Baba Rahman put the game and, most likely, the tie to bed with a final strike on the stroke of full time (90+4′).
Panathinaikos is on the verge of crashing out of Europe after a disappointing 2-1 away loss to RC Lens in the first leg of their Europa Conference League (ECL) play-offs tie.
The Greens were put immediately on the back foot as the hosts went ahead in just the fourth minute of the contest via wing back Przemyslav Frankowski.
The French side then suffered a major blow as defender Facundo Medina was sent off after a VAR check for a challenge on playmaker Anastasios Bakasetas (22′), though they managed to score again through striker Wesley Said (34′).
Panathinaikos captain and striker Fotis Ioannidis gave the Greens something to celebrate with a fantastic solo effort that saw him dribble into the box and put the ball into the back of the net (53′).
Despite the extra player advantage, the “Trifylli” was not able to equalise and will now have to achieve a fantastic result in the second leg to book a ticket to Europe.
APOEL fell 2-1 to FK RFS in their Europa League clash, setting up a very tense second leg in Cyprus next week.
The Latvian side went in front 31 minutes into the game through striker Cedric Kouadio, and they managed to find a second when midfielder Janis Ikaunieks converted his penalty (45+1′).
Former Olympiacos striker Youssef El-Arabi gave the Cypriot team a glimmer of hope with a goal in the 51st minute, halving the deficit as they now prepare for the second leg.
Omonia has essentially sealed their place in the ECL group stage with a 6-0 drubbing at home of Zira.
The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute through left back Amine Khammas and it was soon doubled by winger Willy Semedo from the penalty spot (34′).
Striker Mariusz Stepinski closed the first half with a goal (45+1′) and he followed it up with another after the break (54′).
Midfielder Ewandro made it five on the hour mark and Semedo added one final goal in the 70th minute to polish off a perfect performance for Omonia.
Pafos suffered a 1-0 away defeat to CFR Cluj that has put their ECL aspirations in doubt, with winger Meriton Korenica’s 16th minute strike enough to secure their win even with the Romanian side copping a red card to Ciprian Deac (40′).
Pafos will now have to muster all their strength next week to overcome their opponents and win the tie.
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
