Europa League. Zorya found themselves last in the group after the defeat by AEK

06.11.2020 01:49

Photo by aekfc.gr

Today's rivals approached the face-to-face meeting with zero points, so their match acquired a special status and had to determine who is the main outsider of the group, and who will keep the chances of reaching the playoffs.

It was also interesting to watch two Ukrainians in the AEK - Dmytro Chygrynsky, who has been playing in Athens for the fifth year, and Yevhen Shakhov, who joined the team only this season. Both of them were in the starting lineup, and Chygrynskyi - even though he only recently returned to full training after the injury. But the head coach of the Greek club Massimo Carrera did not fly to Zaporozhye due to illness, so the yellow and black team was led by his assistant Gianluca Colonnello.

The starting minutes, during which the teams looked at each other, were better for AEK. In the 7th minute, the guests played an out, and the players of "Zorya" did not have time to disassemble the opponents in the penalty area, as a result of which Tanković opened the scoring from a short pass from Livaya.

Skrypnyk's wards did not manage to find their game in the first half. They clearly lacked speed in movement and decision-making during the transition to the attack. Despite Zorya's significant advantage in possession of the ball, there was no sharpness at the visitors' goal. Instead, AEK attacked less, but better. Shevchenko twice rescued partners, but then the home defense did not resist the counterattack. Tankovich made a pass on the move of Mantalos, and Khomchenovsky, who performed his uncharacteristic functions of a right defender, lost the race. 0: 2.

As Zorya's team game failed, there were hopes for individual action, in particular, for shots from outside the penalty area. During one of these attempts, Kochergin was close to success, but the ball passed a few inches from the rack. Before the break, Kabayev also lost a moment, throwing Tsidotas after a pass from the opposite flank, but did not hit the goal.

At the beginning of the second half, Left from Abu Hanna scored in the near corner and made the score 0: 3, actually burying any intrigue. At the end of the match Kochergin after a corner kick from outside the penalty area struck a productive shot, but the Athenians immediately organized a counterattack and regained their advantage in three goals.

Zorya lost the third match in the group stage and remains the only team in the quartet that does not have a single point.

AEK midfielder Shakhov, who received a challenge for the next collection national team of Ukraine, was replaced in the 70th minute.

Europa League. Group round. Group G

3 round

Zorya (Ukraine) - AEK (Greece) - 1: 4 (0: 2)

Goals: Kochergin (81) - Tankovich (7), Mantalos (34), Left (54, 81).

"Star": Shevchenko (k), Khomchenovsky (Favorov, 59), Vernidub, Abu Hanna, Gypsy, Ivanisenya, Yurchenko, Kochergin, Lunev (Nazarina, 46), Kabayev (Gladky, 59), Gromov (Allahyar, 46).

Substitutions: Vasily, Tsvek, Rufati, Perovich, Grin.

Trainer: Viktor Skrypnyk.

AEK: Tsidotas, Svarnas, Nedelcharu, Chygrynsky, Insua, Shakhov (Shabanadzhovich, 70), Krsticic (Galanopoulos, 85), Vasiliantonopoulos, Tankovich (Ansarifard, 75), Mantalos (k) (Botos, 85), Left.

Substitutions: Athanasiadis, Theocharis, Elder Lopez, Albanis, Laci, Khnid, Christopoulos, Mahairas.

Trainer: Gianluca Colonnello.

Referee: William Collam (Scotland).

Booked: Vernydub (66) - Mantalos (30), Ansarifard (75), Insua (87).

November 5. Zaporizhzhia. Slavutych-Arena Stadium.

Leicester (England) - Braga (Portugal) - 4: 0

Standings

4 round

26.11.2020

Braga (Portugal) - Leicester (England)

AEK (Greece) - Zorya (Ukraine)