AEK Anderlecht 2-2 AEK earns UEFA Cup spot

[Beckhams]

AEK departs for Brussels
04 Dec 2006
AEK wants to build on their previous five Champions League games and come away with a win on Wednesday against Belgian champions Anderlecht. A win will give AEK the points necessary to move to the next round of the Champions League, while anything less would leave their fate to be decided at the match being played at the Meazza stadium in Italy.

During the team's departurre from Spata's interantional airport Serra Ferrer had to say the following: "It is great to be playing such an important match in such an important competition. It is a great challenge for us and we must face it positively and come away with a win."

When asked about Dellas's injury Ferrer said: "Dellas not being there with us is certainly a big loss in a game of such importance but we must overcome it and make sure that our team covers his absence."

Finally, when asked if AEK would be paying attention to the game between AC Milan and Lille Ferrer answered: "We do not care, and we must not care as to what will happen at the game between AC Milan and Lille. We must concentrate in our game and not theirs. We must do what it takes to win and not wait for others to bring gifts to us."



06 Dec 2006
AEK came very close to advancing to the Champions League stage of 16 but a 2-2 draw against Anderlecht in Brussels has forced the Athens club to a UEFA Cup spot. AEK went down 2-0 in the game but staged a great comeback which only fell short of a miracle as AC Milan lost 2-0 to Lille at home. Final standings: AC Milan 10, Lille 9, AEK 8, Anderlecht 4.

Stadium: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium - Brussels

38' Borre - A goalmouth scramble leads to Anderlecht breaking the deadlock as Anthony Vanden Borre gets the final touch to send the ball trickling into the net.
63' Frutos - Anderlecht double their advantage and are on track for their first victory in the group stage after Nicolas Frutos turns in a rebound with a powerful strike following Stefano Sorrentino's fine save from a Mohamed Tchite shot on the turn.
75' Lakis - AEK have renewed hope of making it through yet after an unmarked Vassilios Lakis heads in at the far post from Nikolaos Georgeas' deep cross from the left.
81' Cirillo - Remarkably AEK have pulled themselves level after the ball drops kindly for Bruno Cirillo to spectacularly volley in from a header into his path.

Anderlecht (Vercauteren): 1 Zνtka, 3 Deschacht, 5 Biglia, 7 Tchite, 10 Ahmed (11 Boussoufa 65'), 14 Goor, 23 Juhαsz, 26 Pareja, 29 Frutos (36 Legear 79') 31 De Man, 37 Borre

AEK (Ferrer): 28 Sorrentino, 5 Cirillo, 7 Kiriakidis (23 Lakis 51'), 11 Manduca (9 Deliba�iζ 58'), 13 Pautasso, 15 Papastathopoulos, 16 Zikos, 31 Georgeas, 33 Liberopoulos, 88 Tυzsιr, 99 Cιsar (56 Hetemaj 58')

Referee: Peter Frφjdfeldt (Sweden)
Assistant referees: Fredrik Nilsson (Sweden), Stefan Wittberg (Sweden)
Fourth official: Martin Ingvarsson (Sweden)

[Panathenian_fan]

AEK deserved something more in this game. This year in general. Much talent but lack of experience. AEK fans have to be optimistic however since your current team has bright future.