Ex-Arsenal Striker Akpom Nets Maiden Champions League Goal For PAOK, Esiti Debuts

Published: August 06, 2019

Arsenal Academy product Chuba Akpom netted his maiden Champions League goal as Greek champions PAOK were held to a 2-2 draw by Ajax Amsterdam in the third qualifying round on Tuesday evening.

Nigeria international Anderson Esiti was named in the starting line-up for his competitive debut for PAOK and went the distance along with Akpom.

Having impressed in last season's Champions League, Ajax were going to be difficult opponents for PAOK and took the lead through Hakim Ziyech in the tenth minute but Akpom equalised for the home team on 32 minutes.

Léo Matos made it 2-1 in the 39th minute before Klaas Jan Huntelaar leveled with his 55th European goal in the 57th minute.

Ajax looked the stronger side in the closing minutes of the game but could not get a win to take to the second leg in Amsterdam on August 13.

Akpom played two games for PAOK in the qualifying round of the Champions League last season after ending a 16-year stint at Arsenal where he began his career.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : paokfc.gr