CYP 1st Div Matchday 25 Recap: Aris relegated, Big wins for AEK, Apollon & Anorthosis
 

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 25

AGONAsport's Marios Antoniou and Andreas Mantzas bring you a full recap of Matchday 25 in the Cypriot First Division. Full standings and schedule can be found here. Highlights for each match can be found here.

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Apollon recorded a 5:1 home victory over Alki Oroklinis and stayed within two points of the leaders APOEL. Apollon came into the game looking for an early goal, however Dhiakite shocked the hosts in the 19th minutes with his headed effort giving Alki the lead. Apollon managed to find the equalizer In a crucial moment of the game, as Sardinero provided an easy goal to Anton Maglica in the 41st minute. Things were much easier for the home side in the second half as their superiority was transformed into four goals from Papoulis, Yuste, Jakolis and Jander for a comfortable 5:1 victory. 

AEL visited the Ammochostos Stadium and left with a 0:3 victory over Salamina. Just 9 minutes into the game, Teixeira opened the scoring for the visitors before Marco Soares doubled AEL’s lead in the 34th minute. Salamina looked for a response, but AEL controlled the pace of the game and an early second half goal from Gabionetta put the game out of reach. AEL took advantage of Omonoia’s defeat to APOEL and increased their distance to four points over sixth place Omonoia. 

It was a morale boosting away performance from AEK Larnakas against already relegated Ethnikos as they netted a half dozen goals in a 6:1 rampage at the Dasaki Stadium. AEK dominated the game early on and took a three goal lead into halftime thanks to goals from Larena, Joan Tomas, and Trickovski. Tomas and Trickovski each scored a second after the restart as Maloku netted AEK’s sixth goal of the night. Antreas Elia was on the mark for Ethnikos with a late consolation goal deep into the game to form the final scoreline. AEK continue to sit in fourth place just a point behind third placed Anorthosis. 

Speaking of Anorthosis, they hosted Ermis Aradippou in Larnaca. Early on, Ruben Rayos fired a low strike past the goalkeeper to get the hosts off to the right start. After a couple of important saves by Ariel Harush, Anorthosis would turn to their offense again, and just before the halftime whistle, Michal Duris took the pass on a through ball, dribble around Ermis keeper Giannis Arabatzis, and tucked the ball into the net for a 2:0 halftime lead. In the second half, Anorthosis came knocking again, and Duris was there to finish off a rebound which had come off the post, putting the hosts ahead 3:0. Rayos would add a second goal for himself late on as Anorthosis celebrated a comfortable 4:0 victory. Anorthosis remain in 3rd while Ermis remain in 8th.

At the Makario Stadio in Nicosia, Doxa Katokopias and Pafos FC played to a 1:1 draw. The visitors struck first, as Kevin Berigaud’s low shot found its way past Evagoras Hadjifragkiskou, who got a touch on the ball, but could not keep it out. Doxa salvaged the draw, as a corner was headed in by Henri Eninful just after the halftime break. Neither side would be able to break the stalemate with the match ending in a 1-1 draw. Doxa remain 7th in the league, Pafos remain in 9th.

In the Wednesday game in Limassol, Aris Limassol hosted Olympiakos Nicosia. The first half was fairly tentative, and neither side could produce any real threats on goal, with the scores remaining goalless at the break. The home side had a good chance early in the second half, but Nikos Englezou missed the net despite having ample space and time to find the target. Soon after, Olympiakos would break the deadlock, as Romeu Torres latched onto a through ball and with a well-placed, low strike beat Edin Nuredinoski at the near post. Aris would get one more chance to leave with a point, but Alexandru Ionita’s shot on goal was well saved by Isli Hidi as the visitors held on for the 1:0 win. It was an Important win for Olympiakos as they remain in 12th, but gained some ground on the teams in front. Conversely, this was a fatal blow for 13th placed Aris, who have mathematically been relegated to the second division.

APOEL edged Omonoia in the big derby at the GSP Stadium, 2:1. You can find more on that match here.
 

by: Marios Antoniou & Andreas Mantzas

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