http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/se ... index.htmlC Rubin Kazan 2-2 PAOK FC
Giorgos Fotakis's goal nine minutes from time earned the Greek side a share of the Group A spoils after Rubin had overturned an initial deficit.
PAOK FC earned a share of the Group A spoils as FC Rubin Kazan were made to regret not going for the jugular.
A second win from as many UEFA Europa League outings looked there for the taking for the hosts after goals from Bebras Natcho and Vladimir Dyadyun overturned Stefanos Athanasiadis's first-half opener. Yet rather than push for a third they eased off and Giorgos Fotakis punished them with nine minutes remaining, rising at the far post to head in after Vladimir Ivić and Etto combined to good effect down the right.
PAOK came into the game on the back of an impressive 3-0 victory over AEK Athens FC but for much of a first half they had a watching brief as Rubin hogged possession. Kurban Berdyev's charges switched the ball one way and then the other but it was all toothless, lacking penetration: a commitment to grinding the visitors down rather than prise them open.
It was 16 minutes before Alan Kasaev mustered their first shot in anger, lashing an awkward bouncing effort from distance that Dario Krešić pushed away unconvincingly. And then they were behind. PAOK broke with pace and Fotakis's ball to Giorgos Georgiadis prised the back line open. Goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov was coaxed from his line to cover, giving Athanasiadis a simple finish as the ball was squared to him.
It was all too familiar for Rubin, who have had more possession than any other side in the Russian Premier-Liga but have been haemorrhaging points and goals. Yet they emerged for the second period a force renewed. Gökdeniz Karadeniz and Natcho had efforts cleared off the line and Kasaev grazed the crossbar with a volley before the pressure told, Natcho darting into a crowded area and firing in a low effort that deflected in off Stelios Malezas.
Rubin were rampant, and forged ahead midway through the second period when left-back Oleg Kuzmin cut inside his marker and fired in a shot. Krešić was equal to it, but his parry hit Dyadyun and landed at the feet of the striker who bundled in. Ahead for the first time, Rubin eased off and were duly punished when.