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AEK came mighty close to a historic comeback in its Conference League tie with Rayo Vallecano on Thursday, as it temporarily matched its three-goal defeat in the first leg, but eventually succumbed to the Spaniards 4-3 on aggregate.<\/p>\n
AEK won 3-1 at the Allwyn Arena in Nea Filadelfia and bowed out of Europe at the quarterfinals of the tournament, after what might have been an epic night for the Greek league leader.<\/p>\n
The Yellows had lost 3-0 at Vallecas, in Madrid, a week earlier, and needed an early goal to put pressure on the visitors. It found that from the 13th<\/sup>\u00a0minute, with Zini scoring with a left-foot volley.<\/p>\n Some 20 minutes later AEK earned a penalty that Razvan Marin converted to make it 2-0 on the 36th<\/sup>\u00a0minute.<\/p>\n The Yellows came out for the second half with their foot firmly on the gas pedal. The third goal came soon enough, with Zini making the most of a Dereck Kutesa cross, heading the ball over the Rayo keeper on the 51st<\/sup>\u00a0minute.<\/p>\n That left AEK with 40 minutes to get the goal that would send it through to the semifinals, but the huge effort of the first hour took its toll. Rayo\u2019s players took advantage of the increasingly heavy legs of the Greek team and grabbed the goal that saw them qualify to their ever European cup semifinal: Isaac Palazon got to sneak into the AEK box and scored with Rayo\u2019s first meaningful attack in the second half.<\/p>\n After the visitors\u2019 goal, man-of-the-match Zini had two more chances for another goal, but could not complete his hat-trick, to send the game into extra time.<\/p>\n AEK\u2019s fans acknowledged the huge effort of the players and gave them a standing ovation after the final whistle. Even the Rayo players applauded their hosts.<\/p>\n The Greek title fight resumes for AEK on Sunday against PAOK, and the five-point lead AEK maintains at the top has its final goal for the season within reach.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n