Charlton - AEK

[The2ndMouse]

[Cerigo]

Here is the report of the match from Charltion Athletic's own website (sorry, I could not get a link up). AEK sounded very impressive in beating an English Premiership team away in London (which is more than can be said for Olympiakos - those perennial underachievers away from home.

Charlton 1 AEK Athens 3

In less than a week's time Alan Curbishley and his troops will be up and running in the new Premiership season.

And they will travel to the Stadium of Light with plenty to ponder after suffering their first pre-season defeat in their final fixture.

Hardly a Greek tragedy, but the Addicks boss might be a little concerned about just how his side were comprehensively outplayed in all departments on a rather flat afternoon in SE7.

A spot-kick from skipper Nikos Liberopoulos gave an impressive Athens outfit the lead and although Dennis Rommedahl's delicious chip drew the hosts level, two more goals from the visitors in the second-half - and a missed penalty from Francis Jeffers - gave them a deserved win.

Whether irony is a word in Greek diction is unknown, but it was a former Crystal Palace man who possibly had the broadest smile at The Valley on Saturday.

Vasilis Lakis, a man who hardly set the Premiership alight in his stint with the Eagles last term, spun to crack home a glorious goal early in the second-half.

Greek football is perhaps branded with a brush of negativity following the international minnows' shock victory at Euro 2004, but the Valley visitors on Saturday were refreshing and full of zest, providing a stern test for the home side.

The most notable team news from the home camp saw the name of Gonzalo Sorondo in the starting XI for first team for the first time since his loan move from Internazionale.

He partnered Chris Perry in the centre of defence with Hermann Hreidarsson reverting across to left-back.

Curbishley also plumped for a 4-4-2 formation with free-scoring duo Francis Jeffers and Darren Bent leading the line.

Darren Ambrose and Dennis Rommedahl occupied the wide berths with Danny Murphy and Alexei Smertin in the middle.

Less than 10 seconds were on the clock when Bent rose majestically to nod back a hoisted clearance and Jeffers volleyed just over from the edge of the box.

A vocal visiting contingent, complete with drummer were clearly at The Valley to enjoy themselves and it was their heroes who almost nabbed the lead in the eighth minute.

After some neat approach work, winger Lakis clipped the ball in from the left for striker Oleg Venhlinskyy, who had ghosted into space in the box. But the Ukrainian could only stab a volley over the bar when he might have done better.

Unlike Dutch side Feyenoord, Athens offered an attacking spark and Stephan Andersen, his bright yellow goalkeeper's shirt making him look like Lance Armstrong, had to turn a skidding 25-yarder from skipper Liberopoulos round the post.

Murphy curled a free-kick well wide before Ambrose shifted neatly into space on the edge of the box but his curling effort was comfortably fielded by Sakis Hiotis.

Generally, though, it was Athens who offered more threat as they took the game to their Premiership hosts and only some terrific last-ditch defending denied them an opening goal on 18 minutes.

Liberopoulos weaved his way into the box - beating Perry on two separate occasions - before a combination of Sorondo and Luke Young eventually blocked his path.

That wasn't the end of the threat, however, although the home defence switched off for some reason in the immediate aftermath. The ball looped up for Venhilinskyy who had the freedom of SE7 to head goalwards only for the agile Andersen to produce a goal-saving tip-over.

The reprieve was only alight, however, as the Greeks deservedly took the lead two minutes later.

Lakis was clearly enjoying his return to London and skipped past a clutch of home defenders in a mazy dribble which was ended by Hreidarsson's trip in the box.

Referee Steve Bennett had little hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and although Andersen guessed right - well left actually - he couldn't keep out Liberopoulos's accurate low spot-kick.

The home side were a lick of paint away from levelling midway through the half as Sorondo headed Murphy's curling free-kick from the right against the post and a fine run and cross from Rommedahl moments later was agonisingly too high for Ambrose.

This was better from the Addicks and they were back on terms in the 33rd minute.

Russian midfielder Smertin was the architect, driving forward from midfield before releasing Rommedahl in plenty of space on the right. The Dane checked inside and sent a sublime chip over Hiotis and inside the left hand post.

Miltos Sapanis was twice well wide from range for the visitors before Bennett handed Hreidarsson a lecture following his tussle with Lakis.

Athens came again in the closing stages of the half and a fine ball from Nikos Georgeas picked out the exotically-named Julio Cezar Da Silva E Souza but his sliced shot into the side-netting was less than flamboyant, especially with two black-shirted teammates screaming for the ball in the middle.

The same player then saw his well-struck free-kick parried, juggled and then turned away by Andersen, who was enjoying a far more productive work-out than in midweek when he was virtually redundant.

Giorgos Alexopoulos, never short of putting his two penn'orth in to Bennett when any decision went against his side, was at it again on the stroke of half-time.

Unless Ambrose had developed eyes in the back of his head he wouldn't have seen Georgeas crumple in a heap in the centre circle, and the midfielder drove forward before shooting into the arms of Hiotis.

No sooner had the keeper hurled the ball out of play, then Ambrose found himself surrounded by black shirts with ring-leader Alexopoulos continuously shoving him in the chest.

Thankfully it all ended with a hand-shake as the players headed back to the dressing room all square.

When they emerged for the second period there was no Bent as Jeffers was left to lead the line. Smertin was also replaced by Bryan Hughes and Ambrose tucked inside into a central triumvirate.

Athens also made changes and it was one of their newcomers, Alexandre Soares, who played a big part in them restoring their lead within two minutes of the restart.

He all too easily breezed past England international Young and pulled the ball back to Lakis. The chance looked to have disappeared as the winger produced a heavy first touch but his second was simply superb as he spun to lash a volley past Andersen.

The lively Soares then shot wide on the run before yet another chapter in the Addicks amazing pre-season penalty saga on 62 minutes.

Referee Bennett again had little hesitation in pointing to the spot as Hreidarsson was cynically tugged back at a Murphy corner. Bruno Cirillo was booked for his protests as Jeffers picked up the ball but the striker was denied by half-time goalkeeping replacement Stefano Sorrentino before steering the rebound over the bar.

Hughes saw his tame effort float wide as the action died down a little but Curbishley made his way pitchside to bark out instructions to Thomas as Lloyd Sam entered the fray with 14 minutes left.

A Hughes free-kick was headed over by Hreidarsson but in all honesty Athens were scarcely troubled at the back

And they wrapped up the win two minutes into stoppage time as Christos Bourbos's deflected cross was inadvertently put on a silver platter by back-tracking sub Barry Fuller for Simons Krassas to turn in from close range.

So, plenty to think about for Curbishley and co in the next seven days as all roads now lead to the North East. Roll on the new season...

Charlton: Andersen, Young, Hreidarsson, Sorondo, Perry, Ambrose (Sam 74), Murphy (Fuller 81), Smertin (Hughes 46), Rommedahl (Johansson 59), Bent (Thomas 46), Jeffers.

Subs (not used): Randolph, Powell.

Goal: Rommedahl 33.

AEK Athens: Hiotis (Sorrentino 46), Cirillo, Alexopoulos, Sapanis, Venhlinskyy (Krassas 67), Moras (Soares 46), Lakis (Bourbos 74), Kontis (Malbasa 57), Georgeas, Liberopoulos (Komvolidis 67), Da Silva E Souza (Kiriakidis 46).

Sub (not used): Kone.

Goals: Liberopoulos 20 (pen), Lakis 47, Krassas 90.

Booking: Cirillo 61 (dissent).

Ref: S Bennett.

Att: 8,181.

[The2ndMouse]

Very nice report.

:tup:

[Irlandos]

"International minnows"? :huh:

That's an expression I would use for Malta or Luxembourg, not Greece!

[The2ndMouse]

I guess they simply dont miss a chance to stick in a negative comment do they?

It slipped my attention .... truth ia they are painting a very nice portrait for the team besides that and the other little nail on the cofin of the NT (defensive football etc ... ;) ... ignore them... bitterness is tougher for them to bare than for us to suffer :D )

[Irlandos]

They don't realise that it's an honour for a team like the Addicks to lose to us only by a 3-1 margin??? :huh:

Hmmm... :P

[Grigoris]

"International minnows" is an interesting term. If minnows are the smallest, what is the category just above that? Maybe if they had said "international lightweights" or "international underachievers." As everyone knows, we had only made two finals appearances ever prior to 2004. We have still yet to attain a point in a world cup match, let alone score a goal. I'm not positive, but I would have to guess that we did not even rank in the top 100 based on international finals' performances, prior to 2004. (Interesting research project for someone who has absolutely nothing else to do. ;) ) Also, as far as club football goes, we have still yet to lift a trophy, and it is just going to get harder. All of this puts into perspective how great our achievement was last summer.

That aside, it was a good win by AEK and, overall, the article was very complimentary regarding AEK's style of play and general performance. Let's hope they keep it up.

[chameleon65]

Syharitiria ston AEK pou kerdisanai :tup: A nice show indeed.

Best of luck in the Uefa cup and the greek league.

[drakos13]

nice win but its just a friendly...... i dont know what all the press is raving about a 3-1 win vs Charlton...... i mean wasnt this a no brainer? AEK is way better than Charlton... we knew that.

[Korisos]

international minnow, yes maybe before euro but not anymore

why was Katsouranis not playing?

[Spears]

Not fully recovered from an injury from Confederations Cup.