The football players of Banja Luka’s Borac were defeated by PAOK 3-2 in the first match of the second round of Champions League qualifiers in Thessaloniki. Borac played excellently against the favored rival.
Borac did not succumb to pressure and ultimately secured a result that gives them hope of achieving a miracle in the return match in Banja Luka and advancing further in the competition.
PAOK took the lead in the 17th minute with a goal by Koulierakis. Five minutes later, Herera equalized from the penalty spot. In the 39th minute, it was 2-1 for PAOK with another goal by Koulierakis.
However, in the second minute of stoppage time, Vuković assisted Kulašin, who equalized to make it 2-2. In the second half, Borac defended organizedly, but PAOK secured the final 3-2 in the 52nd minute when Ekong capitalized on a poor judgment by goalkeeper Šiškovski.
The return match is scheduled for seven days in Banja Luka.
Match Highlights:
Trost-Ekong’s goal in the 51st minute gave PAOK a 3-2 lead.
In the first 45 minutes, four goals were scored, two on each side. The hosts took the lead in the 17th minute with a goal by Koulierakis, but the red-blues equalized four minutes later. Herera was precise from the penalty spot.
PAOK took the lead again in the 39th minute, but the Banja Luka team did not give up, equalizing in the last minute of the first half. This time, Kulašin found the net for PAOK.
The winner of the tie between Borac and PAOK will face the better team from the duel between Malmo and KI Klaksvik in the third round of Champions League qualifiers, while the losers of these ties will compete in the third round of Europa League qualifiers.
Source: RTRS
