AEK Larnaca and Apollon split points in goalless draw
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 1
AEK Larnaca and Apollon Limassol played to a scoreless draw in the sole Cypriot First Division game of the weekend.
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AEK Larnaca and Apollon Limassol played to a scoreless draw in Larnaca as neither side found to breakthrough. As a result, AEK remain in sixth place, and Apollon remain in seventh.
THE MATCH
AEK Larnaca hosted Apollon at the Giorgos Karapatakis AEK Arena in Larnaca. This was a makeup game originally scheduled to be played on Matchday 1, but was postponed to accommodate Apollon after their ultimately unsuccessful qualification campaign for European play. This is also the only league match of the weekend due to the Cyprus Super Cup.
Apollon had the better of the opening few minutes. Joao Pedro went down in the box and shouted for a penalty, but the referee Leontis Trattos let it go. Giannis Gianniotas tried to score from a bad angle, but missed to the far post. AEK finally mustered up a chance, Apostolos Giannou had a go, but Joel Mall was in position to make the save. An AEK corner found Matija Spoljaric, and Mall hung on and didn’t give up a rebound. Hector Yuste found Adrian Sardinero for a header, but Tono Ramirez did very well to sprawl out and deny him. Ivan Trickovski, always dangerous, curled a powerful strike towards goal, however the woodwork kept it out. There was nothing to choose from on either side, and there was no score at the half.
In the second half, Apollon once again seemed the more ready side, but they had trouble creating chances when it counted. Instead, AEK created a chance for Nacho Cases, who forced another save by Mall. In stoppage time, Konstantinos Anastasiou shot from in tight, Mall made the save, the rebound came to Tete who fed Trickovski on the volley, and Mall stopped that one, as well. The 90 minutes were up, and each side would only get a point for their night’s work, a 0-0 draw.
LINEUPS
AEK Larnaca(Imanol Idiakez): 25. Tono Ramirez(GK), 2. Simranjit Thandi, 4. Truyols, 7. Matija Spoljaric(‘76 14. Ivan Fiolic), 10. Ivan Trickovski(Captain), 11. Tete, 18. Mikel Gonzalez, 22. Lluis Sastre, 27. Raul(‘78 20. Konstantinos Anastasiou), 41. Nacho Cases, 99. Apostolos Giannou
Apollon(Ivan Vukomanovic): 36. Joel Mall(GK), 4. Vahid Selimovic, 5. Esteban Sachetti, 11. Emilio Zelaya(‘81 87. Serge Gakpe), 17. Joao Pedro, 18. Diego Aguirre(‘70 2. Emilio Nsue), 20. Giannis Gianniotas, 25. Chambos Kyriakou(‘73 95. Roger Tamba M’Pinda), 44. Hector Yuste, 77. Adrian Sardinero, 88. Giorgos Vasiliou(Captain)
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