APOEL return to winning ways, AEL and Paralimni share the points
 

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 13

Matchday 13 in the Cypriot First Division concluded on Monday with APOEL prevailing 2:0 over Ethnikos Achnas while on Sunday, AEL Limassol were held to a 2:2 draw away to Paralimni. 

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Under the interim guidance of Loukas Hadjiloukas, APOEL made it two out of two and kept the momentum going after last Thursday’s win against Sevilla. Ethnikos visited the GSP Stadium in Nicosia, hoping to upset their opponents like Olympiakos did the week before, but APOEL came out strong despite the absences. 

In the 18th minute, Tomas De Vincenti expertly delivered the corner kick, with Lucas Souza beating Kyriakos Stratilatis for APOEL’s 4,000th goal in official games. APOEL kept pressing and dominated the gameplay, however, they failed to create real threats towards the Ethnikos net, settling for their one-goal lead at halftime. 

Three minutes into the second half, Ethnikos came close to the equalizer as Christoforos Christofi forced Boy Waterman to a big save with a free-kick. APOEL continued their first-half momentum, having possession, reaching the Ethnikos penalty area, but once again failed to turn their efforts into real chances. 

The game was finally sealed in the 89th minute as Musa Al-Taamari exchanged the ball with Linus Hallenius, whose shot was too strong for Stratilatis to stop, forming the final 2:0. 

APOEL are now in fourth, seven points behind leaders Omonoia, but with three games in hand. Despite their Cinderella start to the season, Ethnikos have not tasted victory for almost two months and sit in ninth just above the danger zone. 

Enosis Neon Paralimni hosted AEL Limassol at the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni, in a game where both teams were thirsty for points. Seven minutes into the match, the hosts drew first blood with Chigozie Udoji heading home a ball from Dimitris Theodorou. 

The visitors answered back with Ruben Jurado in the 16th minute when Andreas Avraam sent the ball from the left, Giannis Gerolemou shifted it to Jurado, who beat Boris Kleyman with a double effort. 

In the 38th minute, Jurado struck again for the visitors. The Spaniard was brought down in the box by Orlin Starokin, and he converted the penalty kick to turn the game around for AEL. 

Paralimni looked for a response in the early parts of the second half; however, AEL were the ones that touched a third goal, but Kleyman showed his class to come up with a big save. In the 78th minute, Avraam tried to chip the ball over him, but Kleyman was ready for it. 

Five minutes later, from a Paralimni corner kick, Risto Mitrevski took a shot that deflected, went over everyone, and rested into Vozinha’s net to level the game. 

In the 89th minute, Kleyman kept the point for his side as he produced a fantastic double save. First, Ryan Mmaee tested him before the ball reached Avraam, who sent an effort towards the net, but Kleyman took off and parried it over the crossbar. 

AEL are now fifth, two points behind their upcoming opponents APOEL while Paralimni are still in the danger zone, just two points clear of last-placed Doxa and four away from 10th-placed Pafos. 

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