Apollon earn key win, Stalemate in Paralimni

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 21

Apollon earned an important 3:1 away win over Alki Oroklini while Enosis Neon Paralimni and Pafos FC played to a 1:1 draw.

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Alki Oroklini hosted Apollon at the Stadio Ammochostos in Larnaca. Early on, Emilio Zelaya dribbled into the box and tripped over Orlin Starokin. Zelaya sold it well enough to get a penalty. Zelaya took the penalty himself and sent Urko Pardo the wrong way, and in the 8th minute, Apollon had their 1:0 lead. Alki sought a quick answer and Andreas Stavrou set up Rafael Acosta from in tight, but Bruno Vale came up strong and made the save. Then Vale charged out of his box to prevent El Hedi Belameiri from getting a breakaway. Alki woke up after conceding, but Vale kept Apollon ahead 1:0 at the half.

Apollon refocused at the half and took control of the match. Pardo had to deny Fotis Papoulis to keep them at bay, keeping his side in it. The match then turned on an unlikely equalizer, as Stavrou dribbled along the goal line, centered it in front for Aikel Charrad, and his shot deflected off Ivan Carlos who got credit for the goal, and it was all level in the 65th minute. However, this was a shortlived feeling. In the 69th minute, Kevin Bru beat Pardo low on a free kick to put Apollon back ahead. An Andre Schembri header just two minutes later served as the knockout punch, and Apollon earned a 3:1 win over Alki Oroklini. Apollon move into 2nd place, 4 points behind APOEL for the league lead, and tied with AEL who have a game in hand. Alki fall into 11th place.

Enosis Neon Paralimni hosted Pafos FC at the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni. Bryan Angulo played in a free kick that found Andreas Karo, but he could only head it wide. Angulo had a go himself, but that shot also went wide. Enosis did better with their early opportunity as Sito Riera’s free kick found its way to Chigozie Udoji, who beat Joel Mall giving the hosts the lead in the 27th minute. Enosis took this 1:0 lead into the halftime break.

Pafos answered early in the second half, as Angulo hit the wall, but the ball came right to Adam Nemec who has been red-hot of late, and Nemec got the ball through the maze of players and past Konstantinos Petrou for the equalizer. Ioannis Pittas tried to put Enosis back ahead, but could only shoot straight at Mall. Mall then came up large knocking aside an effort off the boot of Gonzalo Zarate. Pafos tried to steal a winner, and the setup was there for Lulinha, but he missed the target and the final score was a 1:1 draw between Enosis Neon Paralimni and Pafos FC. Enosis improve to 10th place, earning a valuable point to tie them with Alki. Pafos remain in 9th.

by Andreas Mantzas

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