Former Super Eagles of Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong scored the winner for PAOK in a dramatic 3-2 win over Borac in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League second qualifying match at the Stadio Toumbas on Wednesday night.
Troost-Ekong’s defensive partner Kostas Koulierakis got PAOK ahead after 17 minutes and restored the Greek side’s lead in the 39th minute after Sebastien Herrera got the visitors back on level terms in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot.
PAOK’s lead both times were short-lived as it took less than 10 minutes again for Borac to equalise, this time through Enver Kulasin scored in the third minute of first half stoppage time.
But PAOK sealed the win six minutes into second half thanks to Troost-Ekong in what was the defender’s first competitive start since February.
In another match, Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce got their 2024/25 UEFA Champions League campaign underway with a pulsating 4-3 win away at Lugano of Switzerland.
Former Manchester City and AS Roma striker Edin Dzeko scored a hattrick at the Stockhorn Arena to inspire the Yellow Canaries to the win although there’s still work to be done before reaching the next round of the competition.
Elsewhere, Malmo got a 4-1 win at home to Klaksvíkar Ítróttarfelag, Sparta Prague came away from Ireland with a 2-0 win over Shamrock Rovers while Ferencvaros thumped The New Saints 5-0 in another encounter.