Alki and Pafos record important wins
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-Apr-19 | Pafos | 3 - 2 | Doxa Katokopias |
| 20-Apr-19 | Ermis Aradippou | 1 - 2 | Alki Oroklini |
| 21-Apr-19 | Paralimni | 2 - 2 | Anorthosis |
Matchday 7 in the second group of the Cypriot First Division saw Alki Oroklini and Pafos FC record important wins against Ermis Aradippou and Doxa Katokopias, respectively. Enosis Neon Paralimniou were just shy of a win as they were held to a draw by group leaders Anorthosis Ammochostou.
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Pafos are now eight points clear of fifth placed Paralimni and ready to lock their presence in next year’s First Division. Doxa and Alki are both three points clear of relegation with the last three games to be decisive on who will go down.
Relegated Ermis hosted thirsty for points Alki at the Ammochostos Stadium. In the 29th minute, Alki wasted a big chance to open the scoring, first the post denied Yoann Tribeau, Matija Spoljaric took the rebound, but Ioannis Firinidis came up with a big save. In the 39th minute, Loizos Pounnas saw a second yellow card for a hard foul on Ivan Carlos leaving Ermis with ten men. From that free kick, Franco Flores had a shot on goal, however Firinidis was up to the task and the first half ended goalless.
In the 52nd minute, Alki drew first blood. After a beautiful, patient build up around Ermis’ penalty area, Stavrinos Konstantinou received the ball and found the roof of Firinidis’ net to give his side a 1:0 lead. Ermis, though, did not back down and after multiple attempts in front of Urko Pardo’s posts, Gerasimos Fylaktou managed to level things up as his shot squeaked under the Ermis goalkeeper. As a result, Alki went on the attack to grab a winner. First, Carlos’ header was impressively denied by Firinidis, but in the 86th minute, Dushko Trajchevski was on target to give his team a vital 2:1 win.
At the Stelios Kyriakidis Stadium in Paphos, Pafos FC hosted Doxa in a match with plenty at stake for both teams. Doxa struck first as a long shot from Vasilis Papafotis put the visitors in front within just 16 minutes of play. The lead lasted only two minutes as Jens Cools beat Armin Gremsl with a headed effort that found the back of the net. In the 28th minute, Pafos completed the turn around when Cools struck from close effort to double his goals and put his side in front at 2:1. In the 33rd minute, a superb free kick by Bogdan Mitrea was denied by Joel Mall’s crossbar and Pafos took their advantage into half time.
Similar to the first half, Doxa found the back of the net first with yet another long shot by Vladimir Boljevic, who surprised Mall from distance in the 65th minute to bring the score at 2:2. However the scoring did not end there and in the 76th minute, the hosts regained their lead as Adam Nemec was able to push the ball into the net after a double effort by Lulinha. Pafos held off the pressure and celebrated what could be their most important win of the season.
At the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni, the local side knew that only a win would do against group leaders Anorthosis. The hosts started strong, but young goalkeeper Dimitris Dimitriou was unafraid by the early pressure, giving Anorthosis the chance to strike first, which they did in the 10th minute. Michal Duris provided the assist to Ruben Rayos, who beat Boris Klaiman to give Anorthosis the early lead. Paralimni increase their attacking play at the end of the half with Dimitriou denying Chigozie Udoji before Paralimni’s patience paid off in stoppage time when Ioannis Pittas managed to beat Dimitriou and tie the game at 1:1.
The hosts kept the momentum going in the second half and Pittas struck again just eight minutes after the restart. The young Cypriot player saw his first shot stopped by Dimitriou, but he took the rebound, dribbled past the Anorthosis keeper and doubled his team’s lead. Pittas touched the hat-trick in the 66th minute, but Dimitriou impressively denied his effort. Six minutes later, Dimitriou stopped another effort, this time a header from Sokratis Fytanidis to keep his side in the game. As Paralimni failed to take advantage of their opportunities, Anorthosis punished them in the 84th minute as Michalis Ioannou stole the ball from Angelis Angeli, Beka Mikeltadze found Rayos in a perfect spot and he formed the final 2:2 scoreline.
