PAOK have secured a first win of the Europa League group stage by shocking Borussia Dortmund with a 1-0 victory which sees the already-qualified German side slip to second in Group C.
The home side had plenty of the ball in the early stages of the half and saw early chances from Shinji Kagawa and Pascal Stenzel, while Adnan Januzaj attempted to make the most of a rare start on the wing.
© Getty Images
Dortmund were dominating the attacking play and should have taken the lead midway through the first half when Matthias Ginter was found in the six-yard box but could not get his effort on target.
However, PAOK began to grow into the game, and minutes after they thought that they had taken the lead only to see Georgios Tzavellas's strike disallowed for an offside against Robert Mak in the build-up, they did go in front against the run of play.
Dimitrios Konstantinidis found Mak in the penalty area, and the Slovakian winger slotted home from close range to shock the home fans and give the Greek side something to hold on to for the remaining 55 minutes of the match.
Dortmund responded well to falling behind but Januzaj and Marco Reus could not make the most of chances before the whistle, before half-time substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan was denied by good work from Panagiotis Glykos moments after the restart after Adrian Ramos's neat dummy.
The home side looked doubly determined to find a route back into the match after the break, and only a fine reaction stop from Glykos prevented Kagawa's header from restoring parity.
PAOK's defence was holding firm, but they came within inches of losing their lead when substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang crashed a header against the post with 14 minutes remaining.
Mkhitaryan could only head straight at the goalkeeper from a good position late on as Dortmund pressed to salvage a draw, but PAOK held on to record a first victory of the group campaign and deal Dortmund a second consecutive European defeat as the German side had to settle for second in Group C.
Tom Nightingale
