CYP 1st Div. Matchday 18 Recap: APOEL, AEK & Omonoia begin 2018 with Wins
 

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 18

Marios Antoniou from AGONAsport.com brings you a full recap of Matchday 18 in the Cypriot 1st First Division. Full standings and schedule can be found here. Highlights for each match can be found here.

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Anorthosis failed to start the new year with a win as the Famagusta side were held to a goalless draw on the road by Doxa. Anorthosis’ superiority throughout the match could not be translated into a goal, while Doxa looked to strike on the counterattack, without having any luck. The dropped points keep Anorthosis in 2nd, but fell back to three points behind 1st placed AEK. Doxa sit in 6th place only one point ahead of 7th placed Omonoia. 

Ethnikos and Ermis were unable to score in a game were both teams desired a win desperately. The need for the three points helped in producing a fast paced match, however both goalkeepers were on top of their game to record clean sheets. Ethnikos, who have been bottom of the table for some time now, look the first favorites to drop at the end of the season as Ermis remain a mere four points clear of relegation. 

Omonoia welcomed 2018 with a good performance and a 3-0 away win over Alki. The visitors opened the score with Derbyshire in the 16th minute before Omonoia doubled their lead with Kante four minutes before the halftime whistle. Alki produced good chances to score in either half, but it was not their night as Omonoia sealed the victory with Rafa Lopez in the 74th minute, despite playing with ten men from the 58th minute. Omonoia are on a two game winning streak and are just a point behind 6th placed Doxa, while Alki sit back in 9th.

After a shaky first half in Nicosia, APOEL managed to defeat Aris 5-2 at the GSP stadium. It was an entertaining first half as APOEL managed to take the lead on two occasions with Morais and De Camargo, but Aris responded on both occasions with Ngolok and Ionita. APOEL’s offensive superiority did not produce more goals with the frontline wasting many efforts, while a shaky defencive performance in the back allowed Aris to crawl back in the first half (2-2). The hosts put together a much improved display in the second half and scored three goals with De Camargo, Morais and Ebecilio to give the Galazokitrini an important win and start to the new year. APOEL are 3rd, four points behind the league leader as Aris remain in the drop zone just two points ahead of the bottom dwellers Ethnikos. 

Olympiakos stole an important point on the road in a 1-1 draw with Pafos. The hosts were the better side in the 90 minutes of play, but waited until the 72nd minute to open the scoring with Goulon, a goal which looked to be the match winner. However, three minutes before the end, Olympiakos denied the hosts the three points as Pouyioukkas netted home the equzliser. With the result, Pafos lose ground in their effort to chase the 6th and 7th place, while Olympiakos are five points clear of 12th place Salamina. 

The league leaders, AEK Larnaca, recorded an easy 2-0 home win over lowly Nea Salamina. Goals from Tomas in the 28th minute and Acoran in the 53rd minute gave the Larnaka side all three points and are now three points clear of second placed Anorthosis. Salamina are stuck in 12th place, four points behind Ermis.
 

by: Marios Antoniou

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