AEK Athens closed out their pre-season camp in the Netherlands with a 3-0 victory over Belgian side Sint-Truiden at the Mil training center, with left back Pilios scoring twice and Serbian striker Jovic adding a third in a commanding first-half display.
All three goals came before the interval. The result was described as AEK’s best pre-season performance, a sign of the improvement built up during the club’s time in the Netherlands. The squad was set to return to Athens on Sunday evening.
Pilios and Jovic put the game away before half-time
AEK took the lead in the seventh minute when Marin played a pass through to Pilios, who finished with a chip into the corner. The home side kept pressing and Pilios doubled the advantage in the 18th minute after Koita broke on the counter and squared for the left back, who chipped home his second.
Pilios went close to a hat-trick in the 37th minute, cutting in from a diagonal position inside the box, but the shot went wide. Koita also failed to convert from a good position moments later, and Jovic’s follow-up was blocked.
Jovic did get on the scoresheet in the 41st minute. Mayer found Rota, who cut the ball back for the Serbian to chip home and make it 3-0 at the break. Pilios, Rota, Marin, Koita and Mayer were all noted as standout performers in the first half.
Nikolic rotates but AEK stay in control
AEK started the second half with the same eleven and continued at a good tempo, with Mayer moving across all areas of the pitch and Marin dropping deeper to help build play from the back. By the 60th minute AEK had registered four more attempts, two from Mayer and one each from Koita and Jovic, all of which went wide.
Sint-Truiden produced their first genuine threat in the 63rd minute, drawing a difficult save from goalkeeper Strakosias.
Coach Marko Nikolic made four changes at the 65th minute, sending on Kaloskami, Zubkov, Gachinovic and Zini in place of Mayer, Koita, Jovic and Varga. Kaloskami and Zubkov took the left and right flanks respectively, with Zini and Gachinovic moving into forward positions.
Penrais and Mandalos came on for Pilios and Kairinen in the final quarter. Zini had a powerful effort in the 78th minute that missed the target. AEK eased off slightly at the back in the closing stages but kept the clean sheet, with the 3-0 scoreline holding to the final whistle.
Line-ups
AEK (Marko Nikolic): Strakosias; Pilios (77′ Penrais), Relvas, Moukoundi, Rota; Kairinen (77′ Mandalos), Marin; Mayer (65′ Zubkov), Koita (65′ Kaloskami); Jovic (65′ Gachinovic), Varga (65′ Zini).
Sint-Truiden (Frederik De Meyer): Kokoubo; Hata, So, Sisakou, Sebaoui; Merlen, Ishiwatari, Soei; Mousliu, Matsuzawa, Vanvesemail.
