The Austrian Beckham Sinks AEK Athens

You just knew something like this would happen. After AEK was “stripped” of its title unjustly because the worst team in the league fielded an ineligible player against big, bad Olympiacos, they were forced into a European spot playoff (much like the one the KNVB just scrapped). So they had the first leg today against Panathinaikos, who finished 3rd in the league. And they got absolutely crushed, of course. 4-1, with the only consolation being a late goal from Rivaldo. The daggers, through the 3rd and 4th goals, came from Andreas Ivanschitz, the Austrian NT captain with a left foot that rivals David Beckham’s right (as you can see), half the reason for his nickname. The other half being that he is wildly popular back in Austria.

Absolute genius from Andreas, but you’ve got to feel bad for AEK. Luckily it’s a two-legged affair in a fairly complicated system and they’ll have the opportunity to taste some Champions League football. Still, they should be in the CL without this roadblock. Murphy and his damn laws.

(Full highlights after the jump, with Ivanschitz’s second.)

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Category: World Football