Hajduk Split 1-3 AEK Athens: Match Report

01 December 2010 21:33
AEK sink Split Second-half goals by Nacho Scocco, Kostantinos Manolas and Ismael Blanco guided AEK Athens to a 3-1 victory over Hajduk Split to leave the Greek side three points clear in second place in Group G of the Europa League. Scocco put AEK ahead in the 50th minute with a penalty after a foul by Mario Maloca on Nathan Burns with Manolas doubling the lead a little more than 10 minutes later. Blanco then rounded off the win when he slotted home with six minutes to go and although Jurica Buljat pulled one back in the final minute it was nothing more than a consolation for Hajduk who are bottom of the table with just one win. Both sides were desperate for victory as Zenit St Petersburg continue to storm clear at the top of the group with a 100% record after five games and they came into the game with just one point separating them. The hosts threatened first, a shot by Anas Sharbini hitting the post in the third minute. Nikos Liberopoulos had AEK's first shot of note but his attempt went over the bar with clear-cut openings hard to come by in the opening stages. Marin Tomasov's shot was blocked by Manolas and the same player had an effort gathered by AEK keeper Diego Sebastian Saja. There was little attacking of note at the end of an increasingly scrappy first half but just five minutes after the break the visitors were ahead. Maloca fouled Burns and the resulting spot-kick was sent into the bottom left-hand corner by Scocco. The same player then turned provider in the 61st minute, his inswinging corner from the right was met by Manolas who headed home into the top-right corner of the goal to give the Greeks a commanding lead. AEK then rounded off victory when Sahel Jahic passed from the right and Blanco sent home a right-footed shot into the bottom right of the goal. The hosts pulled one back in the 90th minute when Buljat swept home from Senijad Ibricic's cross from the left but it was nothing more than a consolation. The result leaves AEK three points clear of Anderlecht who were beaten by Zenit St Petersburg.

Hajduk Split 1-3 AEK Athens: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.

Source: DSG