AEK returned to winning form on Sunday with a 1-0 home success against OFI Crete at the Olympic Stadium.

Following last week’s 1-1 draw with PAOK and the departure of former coach Marinos Ouzoundis, who resigned to pave the way for Jimenez’s return to the dugout for a third spell, the home side were in need of a three points haul to get back into the winning groove.

And despite a lackluster opening 45 minutes in which it seemed that AEK could not get out of second gear, a moment of brilliance from Christos Albanis helped them break the deadlock after 37 minutes.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who came on after 13 minutes to replace the injured Niklas Hult, skipped past a couple of challenges from OFI defenders down the left, and crossed perfectly for the lurking Livaja to score easily from close range.

There were half chances for Viktor Klonaridis, Petros Mantalos and Albanis for a second AEK goal just before half-time, but poor finishing meant the score remained at 1-0 to the home side as the players disappeared into the dressing rooms.

The slow tempo of the game continued into the second half with OFI struggling to create any threat to the home goal. There was one moment when the visitors managed to get close to AEK’s penalty area, but Pavlos Kyriakidis blazed over the bar with a long range effort.

Livaja, who had been relatively quiet since scoring the goal, then had another chance right at the end to make it 2-0 but his shot was saved well by OFI goalkeeper Giorgos Strezos.

AEK: 1 Barkas (GK), 2 Bakakis, 23 Hult, 4 Oikonomou, 15 Cosic, 12 Galos, 20 Mantalos, 8 Simoes, 31 Boye, 17 Klonaridis, 10 Livaja

OFI: 12 Strezos (GK), 34 Korovesis, 16 Mihojević, 24 Papazoglou, 22 Deligiannis, 6 Nastos, 11 Kyriakidis, 55 Neira, 30 Nabi, 21 Vaz, 10 Giakoumakis

credits: www.agonasport.com