Chalov made his debut for PAOK, and immediately in the Champions League! But now he won’t be playing there anytime soon.
Georgy Ilyushchenko August 13, 2024, 23:34 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
In the thriller, Malmö turned out to be stronger.
PAOK Magomed Ozdoev and now Fedor Chalov love to attack, but at the same time they are not ideal in defence. This is demonstrated by the playoffs of the previous Greek championship (goal difference 21:13 in 10 matches) and the current qualification for the Champions League: 4:2 after two games against the modest Bosnian Borac and 2:2 in the first match against the Swedish “Malmo”. The second match became even more effective.
Chalov recently moved to PAOK and was left on the bench for the third time in a row, but today he still made his debut. Ozdoev, as usual, came into the starting eleven. And from the most comfortable position I saw two quick and fun goals:
In the 10th minute, Janssen played excellently in the second level and transformed a throw-in into a pre-goal pass, firing the ball in at the far post. His header was pushed towards the Greek goal by Nanasi; in the 21st minute, Taison (yes, the same former Shakhtar player) from the corner of the box, instead of taking it out, skillfully turned the ball into the far corner. The 37-year-old Dahlin (you may remember this goalkeeper from the Swedish national team) should have reacted, but he stood still, waiting for the finish.
The spot from which Taison scored against Malmo
Photo: Screenshot of the broadcast.
But the most epic, of course, happened in the last half. From the 43rd minute onwards, the teams scored three times! And how beautiful! Bend your fingers:
20-year-old central defender Coulierakis (the scorer of Boratsu’s brace) imagined he was Roberto Carlos and fired straight into the far corner from 35 metres. 2:1! We’re waiting for this kid at Europe’s top club. But Dalin didn’t have to jump; in the retaliatory attack, Nanasi distinguished himself again! I caught a long diagonal shot and struck it accurately. Questions are still pending for PAOK’s Croatian goalkeeper Kotarski; former Benfica midfielder, Serbian Zivkovic, put the ball low to his left, spun the opponent around and fired into the bottom corner. Arjen Robben, is that you?
3:2 in just one half! And 5:4 for three! It is clear that Chalov will not be bored in Greece. All that remains is to get fit and get used to the new team, in which Ozdoev, of course, helps him.
How was the first match against the Swedes?
Ozdoev helped PAOK win the most important match of the Champions League. Now there are excellent chances of progressing.
But then the rain of goals ended. Although even without him, PAOK was much closer to scoring a goal: Koulierakis hit the post, but Konstantelias missed from an advantageous position. And in the 73rd minute, during a double substitution, Chalov came off the bench. It’s a pity that Ozdoev left the field at the same moment. Fedor helped the team to press, but he was not really remembered for anything. And it would be strange to immediately expect feats from him.
The Greek defence firmly covered the heroic Nanasi and all his teammates. What prevented you from doing this earlier? Mystery. Everything changed in the 90+6 minute. The Greeks pressed close to their goal and paid for it: Larsen set-piece, confusion in the box, two saves by Kotarski, Kamara’s clearance straight to Zetterström, rebound, goal. We couldn’t stand it one bit! Some kind of madness.
Malmo celebrates the third goal against PAOK 13/08/24
Photo by: FC Melme
PAOK had to play extra time, and the inspired Swedes came into their own. In the 99th minute, Zetterström added an assist, creating a one-on-one for Christiansen. Another similar run, only from Ali, eliminated Kotarski. Johnsen hit the crossbar. But the Greeks, having suffered a slump at the end of regulation time, never recovered. Chalov hardly ever received the ball.
Malmö have made it to the decisive qualifying round of the Champions League. PAOK have made it to a similar stage in the Europa League: in the group stage of the second European Cup, they will still have to overcome Slovenian side Celje or Irish side Shamrock. In the first, Russia will be represented only by Alexander Golovin and, possibly, Nikita Khaikin; their Bodø-Glimt, unlike PAOK, went further.
