Guingamp progress at PAOK's expense
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Article summary
PAOK FC 1-2 EA Guingamp
Claudio Beauvue scored both goals for the visitors to secure progress to the round of 32 at the expense of their Greek hosts.
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• Claudio Beauvue double secures Guingamp progress to round of 32
• Midfielder heads visitors ahead; Stefanos Athanasiadis penalty brings it level
• Both sides hit woodwork before Beauvue smashes in late winner
• Guingamp reach knockout phase for first time in club's history
• Round of 32 draw takes place in Nyon at 13.00CET on 15 December
A brilliant Claudio Beauvue double secured a win for EA Guingamp at PAOK FC and ensured progress out of Group K at the hosts' expense.
With ACF Fiorentina guaranteed top spot and these two sides coming into matchday six with seven points apiece, it was a shootout to see who would follow the Viola through. After a matchday two victory in France, the advantage lay with Guingamp – only needing a draw to progress – and that advantage was enhanced courtesy of a thumping header seven minutes in from Beauvue.
Knowing a win was their only option, the hosts roared back and Ergys Kaçe stung the gloves of Jonas Lössl, before Stefanos Athanasiadis's cross struck the arm of Lars Jacobsen in the area and the forward powered home the resulting spot kick. Răzvan Raţ just failed to get a touch on a ball over the top as he attempted to put the hosts ahead, while Beauvue was the go-to man for the French visitors, seeing a deflected shot come back off the post before guiding a flicked header a fraction over the bar from Thibault Giresse's free-kick.
As the second half got under way, the Greek league leaders almost got their noses ahead as a flicked-on corner from the right was headed against the bar by Athanasiadis, who then thumped another effort into the goalkeeper's arms as the ball dropped. Panagiotis Glykos kept the hosts in contention with a good low save from Thibault Giresse's powerful effort, before Athanasiadis volleyed just over on the turn as PAOK chased the crucial goal.
However, with seven minutes remaining Guingamp caught them on the break, and Beauvue smashed a shot into the top corner to put the club into the knockout phase for the first time in their history.
