Varga double seals 3-2 AEK comeback win at Zwolle

AEK Athens needed a late Barnabas Varga brace to see off PEC Zwolle 3-2 on Saturday, remaining unbeaten in their summer friendly programme. Manager Nikolic's side controlled much of the first half but found themselves behind early in the second period before Varga's aerial power settled the contest.

Early control and a deflected opener

AEK started with Brignoli in goal and a back four of Rota, Moukoudi, Relvas and Pilios. The first real threat came in the 24th minute when Jovic rose for a header from a corner, only for Zwolle keeper De Graaf to collect. Zwolle's best chance of the first half arrived three minutes later, Thomas shooting after a neat move but seeing his effort deflected behind for a corner. AEK broke through in the 32nd minute. Koita cut inside from the left and fired from outside the box; the ball took a heavy touch off a defender and looped past De Graaf. Brignoli was untroubled until he comfortably held an Oosting free kick just before the interval, preserving a 1-0 lead.

Zwolle's rapid turnaround

Nikolic sent out the same eleven after the break but the Dutch side needed only 12 minutes to flip the scoreline. In the 51st minute, Van der Haar struck a free kick from roughly 40 metres that clipped Zubkov in the wall and wrong-footed Brignoli to make it 1-1. Five minutes later, Zwolle were ahead. A quick combination released Castons, who drew Moukoudi out of position and fed Reiziger; the forward's low finish put the hosts 2-1 up. AEK looked rattled and struggled to create until Marin began to find space on the right.

Varga's aerial response

Marin delivered a right-wing cross in the 68th minute and Varga, climbing unmarked, powered a header past De Graaf to level at 2-2. The introduction of Zini and Mandalos injected energy into AEK's play, and the Greek side began to push for a winner. Jovic had a shot blocked on the hour mark and Moukoudi headed a Marin corner over the bar in the 65th minute as the pressure built.

The deciding header

With four minutes of normal time remaining, the winner came from an almost identical pattern. Mandalos shifted the ball wide to Rota, whose cross from the right found Varga once again. The Hungarian forward steered his second header of the match into the net, completing the turnaround and sealing a 3-2 victory. AEK have now won all four of their pre-season friendlies and next face Turkish side Samsunspor on Wednesday 29 July at 18:00.

What the match revealed

AEK showed defensive vulnerability during Zwolle's two-goal burst, conceding twice in quick succession from a set-piece and a transition moment that exposed the back line. Nikolic will have noted the improvement after the changes, with Mandalos adding composure in midfield and Varga underlining his threat in the air. For Zwolle, the friendly offered a reminder of their counter-attacking threat despite ultimately fading late on.