Swansea City fell at the first hurdle in the Champions League, after losing 2-0 to PAOK in Greece.
In the basking Katerini sun, the Swans were not at it; second to every ball and rather lethargic in their buildup play, and their Greek opponents punished them, with two well-taken goals from their American striker, Eva Vlassopoulous.
Ceri Phillips’ side will now play in the third-placed play-off in their group which could earn coefficient points and a bigger financial reward if they win before they head home for their Adran Premier campaign to start on September 4.
The hosts started the game well. Moving the ball about the dry pitch and stretching the Swansea defence.
They fired their first warning shot in the 14th minute. A cross from Vasileia Giannaka found Nikoleta Kalesi at the far post, but her shot was blocked by Shaunna Jenkins. The ball fell back to Kalesi but her effort was blocked again, and when that block fell to Thomai Vardali on the edge of the area, there were more Swansea bodies in the way.
It really was a backs to the wall job for the Swans, but three minutes later they undid all their good work by conceding a sloppy goal.
Some passes around the back between Jenkins and Alicia Powe was intercepted by Kalesi, and she squared it to Eva Vlassopoulos, who passed it into the net, to put PAOK ahead.
Swansea really struggled to get anything going from an attacking standpoint. Their first and only shot came on the half-hour mark. Some good play in the middle of the park from Stacey John-Davies released Ellie Lake on goal, but her effort was well wide.
There were more nerves for the Swans in the first half of added time. Firstly, Claire Skinner was called into action and made a brilliant save to deny Vlassopoulous from range.
Then from the resulting corner, Kalesi was again lurking around the back post, but her shot was blocked, and the reigning Adran Premier champions went into the break one goal behind.
The second half started slightly more brightly for the Swans. You could see in their shape there was an intent to attack, but PAOK defensively sat in well and were more than capable to counter.
One of those counters ended in Vlassopoulous using her strength to shrug off defenders and get a shot away, but Skinner got down well to save.
PAOK were on top but didn’t have anything to show for their second half performance, until the 70th minute where they put the game beyond doubt.
From a PAOK corner, the ball was cleared to Maria Mitkou, and she carried the ball to the edge of the box and floated in a cross that was begging to be attacked. Vlassopoulous obliged and produced a powerful header to put the home team two to the good.
PAOK’s number nine should’ve had her hat trick three minutes towards the end. Giannaka bullied her way through the Swans defence and into the box and squared it to her striker, but Vlassopoulous somehow blazed her effort over the bar from six yards out.
Georgia Chalatsogianni had a chance to make it three in the final minute, but once again Skinner was on hand to keep the deficit down to two, and that’s how it ended.
Player of the Match: Claire Skinner
Skinner did keep the score respectable, and will of course be key to their title challenge this season.
From a PAOK perspective, Eva Vlassopoulous and Vasileia Giannaka were absolutely outstanding today.
Swansea City
Claire Skinner (GK), Lucy Finch, Alicia Powe ©, Shaunna Jenkins, Ellie Lake, Laura Davies (Jessica Williams, 71’), Kelly Adams (Gwenan Horgan, 78’), Sarah Adams (Nia Rees, 61’), Emma Beynon (Monet Legall, 78’), Stacey John-Davies, Katy Hosford
Unused Subs: Chelsea Herbert (GK), Nieve Jenkins, Chloe Tiley, Emily Freeman, Phoebe Ware
Yellow Cards: Laura Davies (35’), Katy Hosford (39’)
PAOK
Giota Chatzicharistou (GK), Vasileia Giannaka, Maria Gkouni Papaioannou (Jessika Pedersen, 88’), Fani Doiranli, Maria Mitkou, Anna Gornela, Esse Akida, Georgia Chalatsogianni , Thomai Vardali © (Maria Basouri 79’), Nikoleta Kalesi, Eva Vlassopoulos
Unused Subs: Rebecca Gartner (GK), Christina Bourtouni (GK), Ifigeneia Makra, Anastasia Sidiropoulou, Dunja Štokan, Natalia Giovani, Elpida Katsanou, Maria Mavridou-Karapatsa, Dimitra Savvidou, Iliana-Maria Bouzinou
Goals: Eva Vlassopoulos (17’, 70’)
Yellow Cards: Georgia Chalatsogianni (42’), Vasileia Giannaka (57’)
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