Passing from Stockholm as a European

Panathinaikos realized the “heavy” task which his European history dictates by defeating AIK Stockholm 0-2 in Tele2Arena. This result brought automatically the qualification to the last qualifying round of the Europa League competition.

The first half went without any threat for the “Shamrock”, but also without threatening AIK´s goalposts. The instructions given by Andrea Stramaccioni in the half time brought a total transformation and a direct effect. In the very first seconds of the second half Lod passed the ball to Berg outside the box, the Swedish ace saw Ibarbo entering the area and passed him the ball into the free space, the Colombian striker shoot leaving no chance to the opponent keeper to react.

The early goal in the second half “released” the feet of Panathinaikos players, while forcing AIK to leave its defensive way of playing. The “Greens” found free spaces but lost great chances to score for a second time. In the 53rd minute Lod dribbled three opponents in a very narrow space getting in front of Carlgren, but the Swedish goalkeeper cleared the shoot off. In the 59th minute Ledesma found a space passing to Berg but again Carlgren reacted keeping the score still 0-1.

The reaction of AIK was a shoot to the crossbar after a foul executed by Ishizaki in the 66th minute. Whatever the home team couldn’t do was achieved by Panathinaikos. In the 73rd minute a mistaken shoot by Johansson gave the opportunity to Wakaso to get the ball and to counterattack. He passed the ball to Berg, in the right moment and the latter scored the second goal by a perfect shoot, making the score 0-2, which was the final score of the match.

The qualification and the victory were already granted and the last minutes were just part of the procedure.

AIK STOCKHOLM: Carlgren, Hauksson, Karlsson, Johansson, Sundgren, Ofori, Ishizaki (78 ‘Saletros) Blomberg (61’ Yassin), Affane (61 ‘Avdic) Markkanen, Hooiveld.

PANATHINAIKOS: Steele, Mesto, Koutroumbis, Moledo, Ivanov, Wakaso, Ledesma (67 ‘Nano), Zeca, Lod (84’ Villiafanes) Ibarbo (70 ‘Leto).