Fiorentina - PAOK ( EL - Group Stage - Matchday 5 / 24 Nov 2016, 20:00 EET )

[Antaeus7]

Oh my God, I never thought PAOK would win in Italy! 
MASSIVE RESULT!!!!! 

[Dutch Eagle]

Great goal GMR

[PAOKSWEDEN]

NAAAAAI VREEE PAOKARA 

[Antaeus7]

All PAOK needs is a win at home against Liberec and Quarabag to either draw or lose against Fiorentina and they will go to the round of 32. 

[paokarag4]

amazing end to the game! watching the second half cant say we didnt deserve it. We had some chances on the break and for the most part defended well, kept shape and were disicplined 

the win is huge because it means no matter what the result between qarabag-fiorentina, a win against liberc puts us through. If qarabag were to win (however unlikely it is) we would get fiorentina on the head to head (assuming we win of course which is a must) 
bravo re paokara, mas trelanis

[Dutch Eagle]

Great win. Just need a win against Slovan and Fiorentina to draw in Azerbeidzjan to progress. 

A win for Fiorentina would make it easier: a draw would be enough. 

[Yiankos]

Dutch Eagle το πιο καλό θα είναι να χάσει η Φιορεντίνα και να περάσουμε εμείς και οι Αζέροι. Εκεί θα έχει πολύ γέλιο!

[Dutch Eagle]

No paokarag4. If Qarabag wins we are out. Because of head to head rule. 

[Yiankos]

Oh, you are right! F*** the two losses from Qarabag!!

[Dutch Eagle]

@Yiankos:

Qarabag must win 4-0 or more then as they lost 5-1 in Italy. 

[paokarag4]

we would have 10 points as would fiorentina right? we have beaten and drawn with them therefore wouldnt we trump the italians on our head to head? but if qarabag dont win 5-0 (which they wont) then what happens in a 3 way tie? all 3 of us could have 10 points 
with us having a better head to against fioretenina but qarabag over us

[Yiankos]

Τουλάχιστον χαρήκαμε το πρώτο διπλό στην Ιταλία. Ωραίες στιγμές. Μπράβο στην ομάδα.

PS: Η Φιορεντίνα μπορεί να φωνάζει γιατί η μπάλα πέρασε τη γραμμή και έχω την εντύπωση ότι ο Ροντρίγκεζ ξεκινάει από θέση οφσάιντ στη φάση του τελευταίου λεπτού. Δεν ξανά είδα ριπλέι, αλλά νομίζω ήταν οφσάιντ.

[Original Sydney]

Huge win after almost bombing it, now get the job done at home!!!!!

[Dutch Eagle]

 

[Tzatziki]

Palikarissia nikh stin Italia! Bravo mangkes!

[BostonThanatos]

Now, let's go lose 1-0 to Atromitos in true PAOK fashion!

Edited November 25, 2016 by BostonThanatos

[Bananas]

55 minutes ago, BostonThanatos said:

Now, let's go lose 1-0 to Atromitos in true PAOK fashion!

Even better.  Let's lose to Slovan.  At least we broke our hoodoo in Italy.  And got some sorely needed points for Greece although we need more.

Last year I said I'd be amazed if no one made an offer for Mak.  Same applies now for Rodrigues.

[pash]

Just finished watching this on demand (damn Thanksgiving). Accidentally clicked into this thread right at half time, saw we were up 2-1, and was dead certain we'd end up losing.

Going into today, I was so sure that the end result wouldn't matter, since Liberec couldn't possibly win...right? I guess that shows what I know. We were a mess this whole game, but made Fiorentina (and their godawful goalkeeper) pay for their mistakes.

Good poached goal by Shakhov, followed by a very calm and composed Campos goal. I hope this gives them both the boost they'll need to pick up their level of quality in the SL. Both hugely outshined by a wonderful individual effort by Rodrigues, who was WAY overdue for a goal in this tournament.

The ref was garbage.

Anyway, regarding scenarios for the next match day (because I think you guys are making this way more complicated than need be):

Assuming Qarabag beats Fiorentina, they will be level on 10 points, but it is extremely unlikely that they'll overcome their goal difference - which will put them in second place.

If PAOK wins and Qarabag wins, we will stay in third place, on 10 points.

If Qarabag loses, a draw will be enough for us to get through.

If Qarabag draws, we need a win.

We are in EXCELLENT position to progress. I can't see Qarabag winning against Fiorentina, who will also want to keep themselves in first place for seeding purposes.

[Original Sydney]

PAOK has to win and they are through regardless of the other result. H2H against Fiorentina gives them the edge, Oly are in the same position they have qualified already due to H2H with Young Boys, m*****a if you ask me GD should be first then it should be H2H

[paokarag4]

i dont mind head to head tbh. As you are ranking 2 teams, as to who is better than the other. What better way then to look at the games between the teams in question and see who came off better. 

Just watched the first half on replay, We started well, the first 10-15 or so scored a goal had another 2 chances with Rodrigues. after that We were very lucky to weather the storm, twice they hit the bar (we hit it once to be fair) but they had us a pinned back. Second half was more balanced. They had a lot of possesion but didnt create as much as they did in the first. fiorentina took there foot off the pedal a touch after making it 2-2. 

Edited November 25, 2016 by paokarag4

[pash]

I agree with that - the first few minutes were probably our best, and the second half was generally better than the back 30 minutes of the first half. Our counterattacks towards the end were exciting, I could just feel another goal was coming. This is not to say that the match was in any way even - we were thoroughly outplayed for large stretches. Still, a win is a win.

 

Some more detail here regarding scenarios for passing/not passing: http://inpaok.com/328797

[pash]

Press conference:

 

Sideline camera:

 

[italosPAOK4]

bravo re PAOKARA mono emeis tetoia trela ! 

[Bananas]

Finally got to watch the game in full.  Overall, I think we played very "correct".  There is no way we were ever going to go to Italy and play Fiorentina off the park.  Fiorentina are a stronger side, and when you know this, you have to play accordingly.  Try and limit your opponents opportunities, apply pressure as much as possible, be clinical with your counter attacks ... and hope for the best.  Fiorentina are quite a physical team, and there were times when they bumped our boys off the ball like they were kids.  At the same time, they were cynical with their fouls quite a few times and with another referee they could have had more yellow cards.

We created multiple opportunities.  5 or 6 very good ones.  The 1st goal by Shakhov to be fair his finish was kind of weak, but the team did the "right things".  Campos had the ball outside the box and Fiorentina didn't apply pressure.  Sin 101 in football allowing the opposition to shoot freely outside your box.  Campos as he should hit the shot.  Keeper parried and Shakhov, as he should, was already in the box.  If you do the right things, goals can happen.  Same again with the post by Rodrigues when it was 1-0.  This was due to 3 players pressing high and forcing the turn over.  Rodrigues had a sitter as well from 6 yards out which he really should have scored.  The 2nd goal again was good work.  Good cross by Rodrigues and Djalma did the right thing by reading the play and running hard to get into position to give an option in the box.  If you do the right things.  The 3rd goal was just Rodrigues being a one man army.  Kind of similar to the one he missed in Thessaloniki at the end of that game.  Ultimately, Rodrigues was awesome and I'm afraid to think how much weaker we'll be without him.

Regarding Fiorentina they had their chances too.  The shot outside the box that hit the cross bar and post.  The shot that crashed off the cross bar.  Their 1st goal was good play and they definitely deserved a goal by that stage.  What about that Babacar!  I'd give my left nut to have a player like that at PAOK.  He's a monster.  Fiorentina were just bombing the ball to him and he'd control it, layoff, like Crespo weighed 10 kilos.  His goal was a real striker's goal.  The 1st goal came from his work as well.  Fiorentina had lots of other "half" chances and were definitely threatening with Chiesa on the right flank but that's soccer for you. 

In general we played very deep and compact.  Once we lost possession we'd become very compact at the back and even Matos and Leovac would tuck in towards the middle.  Ivic had obviously instructed the team to defend this way and I guess he didn't want the Fiorentina wingers getting in behind the defence.

My only disappointment was that we couldn't retain the ball a bit better.  When you're 2-0 up that's when you should be able to start playing a bit of keepings off with the opposition but it just goes to show the class difference between the GSL and Serie A.  We definitely don't have the midfield to do this.

It's odd that Brkic was selected for this match (was Glykos injured ?) but he did well.  Can't really fault him for the goals.  Matos and Leovac did all right.  Both played very defensively.  Varela and Crespo did well.  Crespo struggled with Babacar but to be fair Babacar is an animal physically.  Crespo overall has been an excellent signing for us.  Canas and Cimirot ran a lot in the middle and did good work applying pressure.  Shakhov did all right.  Up front Djalma made himself available and took some pressure off, did all right.  Rodrigues was man of the match.  Koulouris actually did quite well.  Ran a lot and tried to apply pressure when possible.

Edited November 27, 2016 by Bananas

[Bananas]

On 11/19/2016 at 10:30 AM, RED SHERIFF said:

PAOK will get smashed.....sadly...