Anorthosis win match but lose appeal, Pafos take down Doxa
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - ROUND 22
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-Feb-19 | Pafos | 1 - 0 | Doxa Katokopias |
| 23-Feb-19 | Ermis | 2 - 3 | Anorthosis |
Anorthosis recorded a 3:2 away win over Ermis Aradippou, but with Omonoia’s derby win, it doesn’t save them as the 9 point penalty sends them to the relegation group. Also, Pafos FC won 1:0 at home to Doxa Katokopias.
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Ermis Aradippou hosted Anorthosis at the Stadio Ammochostos in Larnaca. Anorthosis lost their appeal to the Cyprus Football Association earlier in the day for the Francis Uzoho scandal, and needed a win to have any chance of finishing in the top 6. Anorthosis drew first blood as Nika Kacharava found Ricardo Laborde in the 12th minute, and Laborde beat Giannis Arabatzis low for the goal. Another long ball found Kacharava, but Arabatzis cut down the angle. Scary moments for Anorthosis as Dimitris Demetriou got caught well outside his box, and Giorgos Katsiati put the ball on goal, but Andraz Struna was there to the rescue as he headed it off the line. Katsiati would have his revenge on the half hour mark, as a free kick hit the wall, but Katsiati was there to put the rebound past Demetriou, to make it 1:1. That score stood up at halftime.
In the second half, the sides traded chances, but in the 62nd minute, it was Didac Devesa with a bullet that beat Demetriou and now Ermis had their first lead of the match. At the other end, Kacharava made a nifty move and managed to draw a penalty. Nicolas Stefanelli stepped up to take the penalty, and didn’t take it particularly well, but it snuck through Arabatzis, who let out an audible scream in disgust, and in the 83rd minute the match was level. Yiannis Mavrou tried to win it for Ermis late, his strike hit the post, he got his own rebound, but Gordon Schildenfeld blocked the shot before it made it to Demetriou. Still not out of danger, Devesa found the ball and Demetriou made the save, ending the onslaught. However, Ermis came again, Tasos Lagos forced a save from Demetriou, and Mavrou hit the woodwork on the rebound. In stoppage time, still 2:2, Devesa looked for a winner, but Schildenfeld slid out to prevent him from pulling the trigger. Finally Anorthosis got the ball to the Ermis end, and a simple play from Laborde to Kacharava created just enough daylight under Arabatzis for Anorthosis to pull out a late winner. Anorthosis won the thriller 3:2 away to Ermis Aradippou. Since Omonoia won, with the 9 point deduction, Anorthosis finish 7th, they otherwise could have finished as high as 4th, and they will be in the relegation group. Ermis finish the regular season in last place, and will need to perform extremely well to avoid relegation.
Pafos FC hosted Doxa Katokopias at the Stelios Kyriakides Stadium in Paphos. The home side brought all the early pressure, but had trouble hitting the target. Adam Nemec and Federico Rasic both missed the net multiple times, and Nils Zatl hit the post at the other end for Doxa. Luis Carlos dribbled along the goal line, and kept the ball in play but Joel Mall was strong on his post to make the save. Neither side could break the ice in the first half and the stalemate persisted.
In the 58th minute, the breakthrough came as Rasic found Bryan Angulo who beat Armin Gremsl, and gave Pafos the lead. Zatl came knocking at the other end, and Mall made a big save. Otherwise, Pafos kept Doxa at bay, and hung on for the 1:0 win. Pafos finish the regular season in 8th place, Doxa finish 9th, both are headed for the relegation group as well.
