Big wins for AEK & Apollon, Surprise stalemate in Paralimni
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - ROUND 6
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-Oct-18 | AEK Larnaca | 3 - 0 | Doxa Katokopias |
| 20-Oct-18 | Apollon Limassol | 5 - 0 | Ermis Aradippou |
| 20-Oct-18 | Paralimni | 1 - 1 | Anorthosis |
AEK Larnaca took a 3:0 decision at home to Doxa Katokopias while Apollon won big at home to Ermis Aradippou, 5:0. Meanwhile, Enosis Neon Paralimni and Anorthosis played to a 1:1 draw.
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AEK Larnaca hosted Doxa Katokopias at the Giorgos Karapatakis AEK Arena in Larnaca. AEK had all the early jump in this one, Ivan Trickovski was able to put a header on net, but it lacked power and made for an easy save for Giorgos Loizou. Borja Freire had a go for Doxa, but Tono Ramirez saw it all the way, and stopped it easily. Trickovski ended up with another great chance before halftime, but Loizou showed tremendous reflexes and made a great save, resulting in a scoreless first half.
Loizou continued to stymie AEK, but a great individual effort turned this match. Apostolos Giannou was able to steal the ball from Stefanos Mouchtaris along the goal line, and dribble into the box to force Doxa to take a penalty. Jorge Larena took the penalty, and as good as Loizou was, he froze and Larena beat him easily. Giannou continued to create as he spotted Tete up the pitch cutting to the net. Giannou’s long stretch pass connected and Tete fired past Loizou to make it 2:0. Hector Hevel tacked one on in stoppage time, and AEK had themselves a 3:0 win. AEK are now 3rd in the league, leapfrogging the very Doxa team they beat, as Doxa fall to 4th.
Meanwhile at the Tsirion Stadio in Limassol, Apollon hosted Ermis Aradippou. Ermis had the first chance, as Indio had a shot on target, but it was caught and held by Bruno Vale. With some hustle, Apollon earned their advantage, as Emilio Zelaya muscled through the box, and drew a penalty from David Kuagica. Kuagica was also sent off. Zelaya was given the chance to finish off his own play, and he did with a 10th minute penalty past Giorgos Papadopoulos. Just two minutes later, Anton Maglica banked it off Paris Psaltis and into the air past Papadopoulos. An own goal was charged to Psaltis and it was 2:0. With momentum and an extra man, the bloodbath was on. Papadopoulos was under constant fire and made some big saves, but in the 34th minute he was beaten again by Facundo Pereyra. Five minutes later, Andre Schembri received a headed pass, juggled and volleyed the ball past an exasperated Papadopoulos. Mercifully, the first half had to end eventually for Ermis, but they were on the wrong end of a 4:0 scoreline.
Apollon continued to rain down on Ermis in the second half, but were mostly kept at bay, until the 87th minute when Maglica scored a goal that this time was credited to him and Apollon won big, 5:0. Apollon have won all five of their matches this season, and lead the league standings, including a tiebreaker via goal differential on their cotenants, AEL Limassol. Ermis remain in 10th, they’ve only won one of their six matches thus far.
From the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni, Enosis Neon Paralimni hosted Anorthosis. Irakli Maisuradze had a powerful strike from distance early, which Anorthosis keeper Ivan Vargic kicked aside, almost as though he was surprised, but even unorthodox saves keep the ball out of the net. The hosts came again, and this time got what they came for, as Sito Riera served a ball in for Chigozie Udoji, who headed the ball past Vargic for a 19th minute goal. Anorthosis didn’t look like favorites, and they deservingly trailed 1:0 at the half.
The visitors found their bearings in the second half, and hit paydirt as Nika Kacharava and Michal Duris worked an impressive give and go, which Duris finished, beating Boris Klaiman low for the equalizer in the 73rd minute. They failed to build from that, however, and if anything Ioannis Pittas had a solid chance to win it for the hosts, but Vargic made the timely save. Nonetheless, it was a 1:1 draw that Enosis Neon Paralimni can be proud of, the point keeps them in 9th place. Anorthosis will be disappointed in themselves for failing to beat a newly promoted side, they are in 7th with a chance to fall further when Omonoia plays at Nea Salamina.
