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Vieirinha sinks Yellow Submarine |
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Villarreal dropped from first place to third in Europa League Group D after a 1-0 defeat to PAOK in Greece.
Vieirinha scored the game's only goal, a header from the 5ft 8in Portuguese winger in the 70th minute, as PAOK edged out opponents who beat them 1-0 in Spain in the last round of matches.
Former Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal now face a battle to reach the knock-out stages, trailing top two Dinamo Zagreb and PAOK by a point with two rounds of games to play.
Villarreal, who made the trip to Greece on the back of a 10-match unbeaten run spanning all competitions, had the first chance in the first minute.
Jozy Altidore was fouled by Lefteris Sakellariou and Borja Valero rifled in the free-kick from the right flank which defender Angel Lopez headed over the bar from six yards.
PAOK responded and posed a threat to the Villarreal goal 10 minutes later when Vladimir Ivic nodded wide from close range.
Villarreal's Ruben Cani had a 20-yard strike tipped wide by PAOK goalkeeper Dario Kresic in the 20th minute, but swiftly at the other end PAOK caused menace - only for Diego Lopez to make a safe catch to thwart Giorgos Fotakis.
The visitors were being tested but troubled PAOK again after 24 minutes when a corner from Valero reached Ruben Cani, only for his 20-yard strike to sail too high.
PAOK were swiftly on the attack in the second half, although Nabil El Zhar could not hit the target with his 20-yard effort.
Nilmar, at the other end, was then wayward with his finishing too.
After the trading of efforts on goal in the opening 50 minutes, PAOK began to dominate and had three decent chances in a 10-minute spell.
Fotakis sent a shot wide of the left post before Vierinho drew a save from Lopez with a 20-yard effort. El Zhar then forced the goalkeeper into another stop.
Villarreal were not out of the game and almost scored in the 66th minute when Cani's strike was blocked by defender Pablo Contreras.
But the hosts were the team to finally make a chance count.
Zlatan Muslimovic paved the way for the opening goal when his shot had to be touched wide for a corner by Lopez.
Pablo Garcia curled the ball in left-footed from the right and Vierinha at the near post glanced the ball across goal and past Lopez, who judging by his unconvincing attempt to save the effort may have been unsighted.
Villarreal poured forward in the closing stages and forced several corners as they hunted an equaliser which proved beyond them.
The final chance fell in stoppage time to Joan Capdevila, but the defender's shot cleared the bar.
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