Ermis relegated after loss to Anorthosis
CYPRIOT 1st DIV: RELEGATION PLAYOFFS
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Apr-19 | Doxa Katokopias | 2 - 2 | Paralimni |
| 13-Apr-19 | Alki Oroklini | 2 - 3 | Pafos |
| 15-Apr-19 | Anorthosis | 3 - 2 | Ermis Aradippou |
Pafos FC won 3:2 away to Alki Oroklini, Doxa Katokopias and Enosis Neon Paralimni played to a 2:2 draw, while Anorthosis earned a 3:2 win at home to Ermis Aradippou, who were officially relegated.
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Alki Oroklini hosted Pafos FC at Stadio Ammochostos in Larnaca. Alki couldn’t have asked for a better start. In just the 12th minute, a long ball released Ivan Carlos, and for some reason Joel Mall raced way out of his box. Carlos rounded him and scored with ease, making it 1:0 for Alki. Otherwise, the gameplay and chances were fairly even, and the 1:0 scoreline made it to halftime.
In the second half, Adam Nemec looked to level the score, but his header was weak and the result was an easy save for Urko Pardo. Pafos continued to bombard the Alki net, and finally they broke down the door, when Andreas Panayiotou Filiotis crossed in for Federico Rasic, who header beat Pardo and in the 75th minute, it was 1:1. This deadlock was short lived as Bryan Angulo released Nemec down the wing, and with a light touch he beat Pardo, making it 2:1 for Pafos in the 80th minute. Alki had their response ready, as Matija Spoljaric set up Rafael Acosta, he beats Mall low and it was 2:2 in the 85th minute. In stoppage time, Marios Ilia had a chance to win it for Alki, but Mall made the save. Ilia and Alki would regret that heavily. On the final play of the match, Angulo served in a cross intended for Rasic, who got a touch, which kept it alive for Aleksandr Dovbnya who rammed it past Pardo for the game winner, the last kick of the match delivers a 3:2 away win for Pafos FC over Alki Oroklini. Pafos move into 8th place, while Alki remain in 10th, only one point clear of the drop zone.
Doxa Katokopias hosted Enosis Neon Paralimni at the Makario Stadio in Nicosia. The teams traded chances, but the match really got going when Hovhannes Hambardzumyan got sent off, giving Doxa a man advantage. Despite that, it was Enosis who drew first blood. Gonzalo Zarate took a shot from distance, Armin Gremsl made the save, but Sito Riera got to the rebound, rounded Gremsl and scored, Enosis had the lead in the 36th minute. Doxa responded in the 42nd minute, when Vladimir Boljevic’s cross found Luis Carlos, who headed it past Konstantinos Petrou, making the score 1:1 at the half.
Enosis restored their lead in the 56th minute through Ioannis Pittas who did well to throw off the angle and create an opening to shoot past Gremsl. Once again, it didn’t last, as Vasilis Papafotis crossed in for Paul Batin, who has been hot lately, he heads it past Petrou, and in the 61st minute, it was 2:2. Later, Boljevic looked for a winner as he struck a free kick, but he was denied by the crossbar. At the other end, Chigozie Udoji had a free kick from a similar position saved by Gremsl. In the end, nothing to choose between the two teams, Doxa and Enosis played to a 2:2 draw. Doxa fall to 9th place, Enosis are still in the danger zone, but move a point closer to safety in 11th place.
Anorthosis hosted Ermis Aradippou at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca. Ermis actually struck first, as a Wilson DeMelo header eluded Dimitris Demetriou in the 24th minute. Anorthosis responded in the 35th minute with a header of their own, Nicolas Stefanelli connected on a Vincent Bessat cross and he beats Giannis Firinidis to make it 1:1, which was also the halftime score.
In the 54th minute, Danijel Pranjic played in a free kick that found Gordon Schildenfeld who placed a strike off the inside of the post and past Firinidis, and Anorthosis had their first lead, 2:1. Stefanelli drew a penalty via handball and 72nd minute penalty by Michal Duris served as an insurance marker, making it 3:1 for the visitors. Kike Boula earned a penalty of his own at the other end, and finished the play himself, but the 80th minute penalty was the last goal of the match. Anorthosis hung on for the 3:2 win over Ermis Aradippou. Anorthosis remain atop the relegation group in 7th place, while Ermis were officially relegated. They currently sit in 12th and last place trailing 10th placed Alki Oroklini by 13 points, a deficit that cannot be overturned in the final four matches. Tenth place is the final safety spot as the bottom two teams from the relegation group are demoted to the second division.
