Maribor claim first group win

Maribor claimed their maiden Europa League group stage victory after downing Panathinaikos in impressive fashion.

Maribor claimed their maiden Europa League group stage victory after downing Panathinaikos in impressive fashion. The Slovenian champions, who last season only managed one point from their six group matches after reaching this stage for the first time, took a first-half lead through Robert Beric and his strike partner Agim Ibraimi made it 2-0 just after the hour. Marcos Tavares, who played a part in both those goals, then added a third from the penalty spot in the 88th minute to seal the victory and leave Maribor at the top of Group J above heavyweights Tottenham and Lazio. In an encounter between two teams who were knocked out of the Champions League play-offs, in-form Maribor were quickly on the attack with Dejan Mezga shooting over in the first minute and Ibraimi testing visiting goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis soon after. Maribor, who are unbeaten in their domestic league with seven wins from nine matches, then comfortably survived a couple of Panathinaikos forays forward before taking the lead in the 25th minute. Tavares created the chance with a clever pass through to Beric, who took a touch before thumping his shot past Karnezis. The hosts sought to build on their lead before the break but efforts from distance from Tavares, Ibraimi and Beric failed to seriously trouble Karnezis. Karnezis was called into action again in the 53rd minute following another shot from Ibraimi before his Maribor counterpart Jasmin Handanovic was finally tested a minute later with a Lazaros Christodoulopoulos shot that he parried. The danger was not cleared though and Jose Carlos Zeca might have drawn the Greek side level only to see his shot go wide. Five minutes after that incident Maribor had doubled their lead. Tavares' cross was blocked but Ibraimi was on hand to fire a shot inside the far post as Karnezis was beaten for a second time. There was no way back for Pana after that and Maribor had chances to increase their lead with Tavares heading wide from six yards before Nejc Potokar was denied by Karnezis. Brazilian Tavares did get on the scoresheet before the end though, slotting home from the spot after he had been fouled inside the area by Ibrahim Sissoko, while a miserable night for Pana was made complete when Nikos Spyropoulos was dismissed for a second bookable offence right at the end.