AEK win builds aggregate cushion over Panserraikos

By: Peter Katsiris | March 19th, 2009

AEK Athens cruised to a 3-1 win in the first leg of their Greek Cup tie with Panserraikos at the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium on Wednesday night. A brace from Rafik Djebbour and an additional goal from Daniel Majstorovic gave AEK the win, while a goal for Panserraikos’ Marco Aurelio gives the ‘Liontaria’ some hope heading back to Serres.

The hosts went ahead on the twenty-minute mark through their Algerian ace Djebbour. Eluding his defenders enough to warrant a shot, Djebbour’s ouncing effort found its way past ‘keeper Fotis Kipouros to give AEK an early lead.

The advantage only stood for three minutes as Panserraikos levelled the score through their on-loan Brazilian Marco Aurelio. A well-placed free-kick by the midfielder clipped the upright before making its way into the AEK goal past Sebastian Saja.

AEK reclaimed their advantage on thirty-seven minutes as Majstorovic rose to the occasion when Ismael Blanco provided an accurate cross from the right flank. The Swedish defender beat all to the ball before heading home the go-ahead goal past Kipouros.

It was only a few minutes after Majstorovic’s tiebreaker that AEK extended their lead by a further goal through Djebbour. The Algerian striker pounced on a loose ball and neatly slotted it into the Panserraikos goal to send AEK well on their way to the win ahead of the interval.

The Athenians didn’t extend their lead in the second frame, but remain heavy favourites to progress to the finals by taking care of business away in Serres

AEK FC 3-1 Panserraikos FC

Djebbour 20′, 40′, Majstorovic 38′ – Aurelio 23′

AEK FC (Dusan Bajevic): Saja, Georgeas, Majstorovic, Kyrgiakos, Juanfran, Nsaliwa, Kafes, Tachtsidis (67′ Pelieteri), Scocco (76′ Edinho), Blanco (88′ Pliatsikas), Djebbour.

Panserraikos FC (Hugo Broos): Kipouros, Kallimanis, Voskopoulos, Papazoglou, Aurelio (46′ Pipinis), Baykara (72′ Konstantinidis), Milenkovic, Abubakari, Bule (72′ Zoundi), Bangoura, Anakoglou.

Referee: Nathaniel Charalambidis (Kavala)

Venue: OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium, Athens, Greece.