AEK slipped to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of OFI Crete on Saturday as the Kitrinomavri’s recent malaise continued.

Nikos Kostenoglou’s team put in another sub-par display in Heraklion at the Theodoros Vardinogiannis stadium, and Lisandro Semedo’s solitary goal seven minutes into the second half proved enough to clinch all three points for the Cretans.

Marko Livaja narrowly failed to convert a Petros Mantalos cross just after the hour mark, and that was just about the best AEK had to offer in attack, in what was another disjointed display by the Athens club.

As a result, OFI leapfrog AEK into third place with 19 points, one point clear of the Kitrinomavri, who drop to fourth along with Larissa.

THE MATCH

AEK came into this match desperately needing a win after picking up just one point from their last two matches, and an air of negativity beginning to take over in the corridors of the club’s offices and training center.

But if last week’s 1-1 home draw with Aris was a damp squib for many AEK fans, then the first half at the Yedi Kule, as the stadium is also known, did little to improve on that. Both teams struggled to get their passing game going and chances were few and far between.

OFI, having lost two matches in a row, were cautious and unadventurous going forward. AEK, on the other hand, played with plenty of passion but their play was littered with errors. Captain Petros Mantalos was the main culprit, have an uncharacteristic off day with his passing.

The second half saw things liven up, but unfortunately for AEK it was at the wrong end of the pitch with Semedo making it 1-0 after 52 minutes and taking on a pass from Juan Neira.

AEK huffed and puffed in an effort to try and push for an equaliser, but they never looked like doing so against a well-marshalled OFI defence, with the Cretans proving they are a force to be reckoned with this season.

AEK’s miserable night was compounded on 88 minutes by the sending off of Bosnia central defender Ognen Vranjes, who lashed out at OFI defender Nikos Marinakis and was shown a straight red card.

STARTING LINEUPS

OFI: 32 Sotiriou (GK), 18 Giannoulis, 34 Korovesis, 16 Marinakis, 47 Braun, 4 Sakor, 8 Neira, 11 Semedo, 10 Nabi, 19 Tsilianidis, 9 Manos

AEK: 1 Barkas (GK), 3 Lopes, 4 Economou, 21 Vranjes, 2 Bakakis, 25 Galanopoulos, 6 Krsticic, 20 Mandalos, 10 Livaja, 27 Paulinho, 18 Oliveira

credits: www.agonasport.com