Apollon enjoy derby success over AEK

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 12

Apollon Limassol ran out comfortable 3-1 winners over AEK Larnaca in Sunday's derby in the Cypriot First Division.

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Apollon hosted AEK Larnakas at the Tsireio Stadium, in a derby between two teams that have not been at their best thus far this season. The home side suffered three injuries, but Sofronis Avgousti's team found a way to cruise past their opponents with a solid second-half performance.

Ioannis Pittas, Emilio Zelaya, and Sasa Markovic got the job done between the 52nd and 69th minute of the game, with Florian Taulemesse scoring just before the end to form the 3:1 scoreline.

Apollon, with the win, managed to move into fifth place with 17 points, two more than AEK, but ten points behind leaders Anorthosis.

THE GAME

It was an uneventful first half that did not see much action in front goal, but rather it was Apollon's medical team that was the center of attention as they escorted Serge Gakpe and Emilio Insue off the pitch before the 20th-minute mark.

The second half was a completely different story. AEK missed the first chance as a close header from Ivan Trickovski was impressively denied by Joel Mall in the 50th minute. Two minutes later, Ioannis Pittas struck on the other side of the pitch. Fotis Papoulis went on the counter, giving a perfectly timed pass to Pittas, who ran from the right-wing to execute a finish past Tono Ramirez.

A minute later, AEK touched the equalizer with Tete, who controlled a deflected ball and forced Mall to another big save. In the 58th minute, though, it was Apollon's turn again. Joao Pedro sent the corner kick right to Emilio Zelaya, who beat Tono with a header to double the hosts' lead.

Apollon kept their foot on the gas, and by the 69th minute, the score was 3:0. Sasa Markovic came from the midfield as a trailer to direct a blocked ball straight into AEK's net and sealed the fate of the game.

The extended scoreline slowed the pace as Apollon comfortably sat on their three-goal lead. In the 90th minute, Florian Taulemesse finally managed to beat Mall with a close effort, but it was too little, too late.

HIGHLIGHTS

By: Marios Antoniou

Image Source: SportFM Cyprus

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