page_title: AEK Athens F.C. in European football
section_title: 1976–77 UEFA Cup semi-finals campaign
hierarchical_section_title: AEK Athens F.C. in European football / Notable European Campaigns / 1976–77 UEFA Cup semi-finals campaign
caption_attribution_description: English: František Fadrhonc in 1974.
context_page_description: AEK Athens F.C. history and statistics in the UEFA competitions.
context_section_description: The club's most memorable moment in European competitions was the campaign to the semi-final of the UEFA Cup during the 1976–77 season under František Fadrhonc's management. In the way to the semi-final Athens AEK managed to eliminate four clubs. In the first round they faced Soviet champions Dynamo Moscow. In Athens, AEK won 2–0 with goals by Takis Nikoloudis and Mimis Papaioannou. In Moscow, Dynamo paid them back by winning 2–0 and leading the match to extra time. In the last minute of extra time, AEK managed to score thanks to a penalty kick by Tasos Konstantinou and proceeded to the second round. They were drawn against English 4th placed side Derby County. In Athens, a goal by Walter Wagner and an own goal by Rod Thomas gave AEK the 2-0 win. At Derby, AEK found themselves behind in the score line but responded scoring three times with Takis Nikoloudis, Tasos Konstantinou and Walter Wagner. Derby Country only managed to score a consolation goal and the match ended in a 2-3 win for AEK. In the third round AEK had to oppose Yugoslav giants Red Star Belgrade. In Athens, AEK was once again victorious by winning 2-0. Mimis Papaioannou and Thomas Mavros were the goal-scorers. In Belgrade Red Star took the lead with a goal by Petar Baralić but Walter Wagner quickly equalised. The two additional goals scored by Zoran Filipović and Dušan Savić were not enough and AEK won on away goals. In the quarter-final AEK faced their greatest challenge to that moment, English league's runners-up QPR. The first leg was played in London. The two penalty kick goals in the first ten minutes scored by Gerry Francis and another one scored by Stan Bowles gave QPR the 3–0 win and what looked like a certain qualification. Nevertheless, AEK made the impossible possible. With two goals by Thomas Mavros and ano more by Mimis Papaioannou AEK sent the match to extra time and eventually to a penalty shootout. Three minutes before the final whistle, František Fadrhonc had Nikos Christidis substitute Lakis Stergioudas, the team's regular goalkeeper. His move proved vital as Nikos Christidis saved two penalties and gave AEK a 7-6 win. In the semi-finals draw, AEK were to play either Italian league's runner-up side Juventus or Spanish league's third placed side Athletic Bilbao. Ultimately AEK had to face the Italians. In Turin, Juventus scored first with Antonello Cuccureddu but AEK responded with a goal by Lefteris Papadopoulos. Two goals by Roberto Bettega and one by Franco Causio followed, giving Juventus a 4-1 victory. Juventus also won in Nikos Goumas Stadium thanks to a goal scored by Roberto Boninsegna end went on to win their first European title.
caption: With František Fadrhonc as head coach, AEK reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup in 1977.
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