Blanco breaks Thracian hearts as AEK moves on

Banking on a 2-1 aggregate lead to guide them to the semi-finals, Skoda Xanthi was left in utter disappointment when a header from Ismael Blanco cancelled out the Thracians’ advantage, and allowed for Dusan Bajevic’s AEK to be the first club to qualify for the final four of the Greek Cup.

After Libor Dosek gave Xanthi a slim advantage last week, the replay in Athens featured a pressured AEK looking to overturn a deficit in order to progress to the next round.

While the objective was clear for the hosts, it wasn’t until a late header from Blanco that AEK realized their dreams. El Hadji Diouf provided a cross for Edinho, but the latter headed in the direction of Blanco who sheekily fooled Xanthi ‘keeper Michael Gspurning to turn in a crucial goal for AEK.

There were no late heroics for the ‘Queen of Thrace’ as AEK held on to deny Xanthi of extending their Greek Cup plans.

With the win AEK became the first club to reach the next round of the Greek Cup, and now await the winner of the tie between Panathinaikos and Panserraikos.

That tie remains level after a 0-0 draw in Serres, but the replay is scheduled for March 4^th at the OAKA Spyros Louis Stadium in Athens.

On the same day Asteras Tripolis will plan to pad their 1-0 aggregate lead on Panionios in Tripoli, while Olympiacos aims to overturn a 1-0 deficit to PAOK at the Giorgos Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus.

Category: AEK Athens FC, Greek Cup, Skoda Xanthi

Tags: AEK Athens, AEK Athens FC, Greece, Greek Cup, Skoda Xanthi

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