70' Minute –
It began with hesitation.
Bradford, for a rare moment, turned cautious in their passing—Chapman playing sideways instead of vertical, Vélez delaying a switch. It was subtle. Barely a beat off. But in Europe, a beat is all it takes.
PAOK smelled it.
Despodov pounced, darting in from the left and picking Chapman's pocket just inside the halfway circle. One touch, two touches—he didn't look back. He fired a ball down the channel between Fletcher and Ford.
And Brandon Thomas—quiet until now—was on it.
He curved his run perfectly, just staying onside, the flag staying down.
Conor McNamara (commentator):
"They're in here—Brandon Thomas one-on-one!"
Liam Rosenior:
"This is the moment PAOK have waited for…"
Thomas surged into the box, body angled, right leg coiled to strike. Emeka didn't rush. He didn't dive early. He waited.
Three steps off his line. Then two more. Arms low, balance perfect.
