Lifeline for Doxa, Other matches end in draws
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - RELEGATION GROUP (MATCHDAY 1)
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Mar-20 | Nea Salamina | 2 - 2 | Ethnikos Achnas |
| 7-Mar-20 | Paralimni | 1 - 1 | Ol. Nicosia |
| 9-Mar-20 | Doxa Katokopias | 2 - 0 | Pafos |
Doxa’s hopes for survival remained alive after a big 2:0 win over Pafos while Paralimini - Olympiakos Nicosia and Ethnikos Achnas - Nea Salamina played to draws in the opening matchday of the Cypriot First Division relegation playoffs.
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As long as they remain mathematically alive, there is hope for last-placed Doxa Katokopias as they defeated Pafos FC 2:0 at home in the opening round of the relegation playoffs. Despite the win, they remain nine points away from safety. Enosis Neon Paralimniou and Olympiakos Nicosia shared the points in a 1:1 draw in Paralimni, while Ethnikos Achnas salvaged a valuable point, drawing 2:2 away to Nea Salamina.
Olympiakos Nicosia visited Enosis Neon Paralimni and the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni to face the local side. Eight minutes into the game, the Nicosia club touched the goal with Justino “Azulao” Soares, whose header went just wide of Boris Kleyman’s right post. In the 20th minute, Rafael Acosta dribbled past Kleyman and was ready to score, however Diego Barboza and Gregor Balazic provided goal-saving blocks to keep the match scoreless. Olympiakos continued pressing the hosts, and Azulao missed another effort in the 33rd minute, who, under pressure, targeted the right post. A minute later, it was Azulao again in the action when he stole the ball from Kleyman, but Barboza ran first and cleared the danger. Despite the pressure, Paralimni survived the half to go into the break goalless.
Olympiakos started the second half where they left off in the first half. In the 55th minute, Azulao sent the ball from the left, but Erwin Koffi, alone with the net, headed it over the crossbar.
Nine minutes later, though, Koffi was on target, as he received a perfectly timed pass by Fabrice Kah and beat Kleyman to give Olympiakos the much-deserved lead.
However, the celebrations were cut short two minutes later when Paralimni leveled the game. Lorenzo Riera sent the corner kick, Balazic headed it to Nicolas Varela, and he beat Markos Vellidis from close range.
The game slowed down, and a good shot from Vinicius Franco in the 86th minute that deflected out for a corner marked the game’s final scoring chance. Paralimni are tenth, two points clear of Ethnikos Achnas, while Olympiakos are just two points above at ninth.
Salamina were celebrating their 72nd anniversary on Saturday and hoped to also celebrate a home win against Ethnikos Achnas at the Stadio Ammochostos in Larnaca.
The hosts got off to the start they were looking for 12 minutes into the game as Anderson Correia sent the ball from the left and Kingsley Onuegbu headed it home to make it 1:0.
Ten minutes later, Kingsley missed a great chance to double his goals when, from a perfect spot, he was denied by the left post. Despite a strong start to the game, the pace slowed down significantly, allowing Salamina to take their one-goal lead into half time.
Ethnikos started better in the second half, and just two minutes after the restart, Igor Khudobyak tested Tasos Kissas with a long shot, but Kissas made the save.
The visitors, however, managed to equalize the game in the 70th minute. Jovan Kostovski sent the cross from the right, and Ibrahim Kone beat Kissas to bring the score level at one apiece.
Salamina restored their lead in the 87th minute, and it looked like they would take all three points. Jay Simpson sent Theodosis Siathas on a fast counter-attack and, with a perfect finish, beat Martin Bogatinov for the 2:1 lead.
Ethnikos, however, did not say their last word and fought back for a second time in the game, two minutes into stoppage time. Kone sent the cross from the left, and Kostovski beat Kissas to form the final scoreline. It was a valuable point for Ethnikos, despite remaining two points from safety, while Salamina sit five points ahead of Ethnikos.
At the Makario Stadio in Nicosia, Doxa Katokopias hosted Pafos FC, wrapping up the first matchday of the relegation playoffs. The visitors were the better side in the first half, but Doxa held off their pressure, and the two teams went into half-time goalless.
Two minutes into the second half, and Doxa opened the scoring. Vasilis Papafotis delivered the corner kick from the right, and Mladen Jutric headed it into the net. In the 66th minute, Doxa almost doubled their lead, as Calo forced Artur Rudko to a big save.
Doxa, though, found the second goal seven minutes later when Konstantinos Mintikkis sent the ball into the heart of Pafos’ defense, and Papafotis was able to send it home for a 2:0 Doxa lead.
The hosts held on for the 2:0 victory and still have hopes for survival. They do, however, remain nine points adrift the safety zone while Pafos continue to lead the relegation group with 30 points.
