Ethnikos humiliate Anorthosis, Pafos defeat APOEL
CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 21
| Date | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23-Feb-20 | Ethnikos Achnas | 5 - 0 | Anorthosis |
| 23-Feb-20 | Pafos | 2 - 0 | APOEL |
| 23-Feb-20 | AEK Larnaca | 0 - 0 | Nea Salamina |
| 23-Feb-20 | Ol. Nicosia | 1 - 1 | AEL Limassol |
Matchday 21 in the Cypriot First Division housed many surprises as Anorthosis where humiliated by Ethnikos Achnas and APOEL fell to Pafos on the road.
Watch LIVE GREEK TV including full GREEK SPORTS coverage from Go Greek TV!
In an exciting Matchday 21, the Cypriot First Division leaders Anorthosis Ammochostou were defeated by Ethnikos Achnas by a humiliating 5:0 scoreline on the road while APOEL visited Pafos FC and returned to Nicosia with a 2:0 defeat. Olympiakos Nicosia and AEL Limassol shared the points in a 1:1 draw, as AEK Larnaca and Nea Salamina Ammochostou also drew with neither side finding the back of the net. As it stands now, the last week of the regular season will be full of drama and surprises in what looks to be the most exciting season in years.
Anorthosis visited Dasaki Achnas to face Ethnikos as clear favourites to win the match, however, the local side had different plans. The game was open from the beginning, with the ball going up and down the pitch, but neither team created a big scoring chance early on. In the 28th minute, Ibrahim Koneh was brought down by Gordon Schildenfeld, and a penalty was awarded for Ethnikos. Igor Khudobyak found the net from the spot to give the hosts the lead. Anorthosis failed to respond to the goal, and in the 41st minute, Koneh went on the counter from outside his penalty area, sprinted past every opponent, and beat Giorgi Loria to give the hosts a 2:0 lead. Two minutes later, Marios Ilia put more salt in the wound as he received the ball in the heart of Anorthosis’ defense and beat Loria to send his team with a shocking three-goal lead into half-time.
Ilia struck again in the 57th minute, as he stole a poor back pass by Ruben Rayos and beat Loria for his second goal of the night. Ethnikos easily controlled the game with their defense, and Martin Bogatinov stopped any Anorthosis effort to get back into the game. In the 84th minute, they added icing to the cake when Miguelito sent a cross from the right side, and Jovan Kostovski forced Loria to pick the ball out of his net for the fifth time. It was a stellar performance by Ethnikos against the league leaders, and they are now tenth place, a point clear of Paralimni. Despite the humiliating loss, Anorthosis are still in first, but Omonoia are now just a point behind.
Pafos FC hosted APOEL at the Stelios Kyriakides in Paphos, after the Nicosia side were defeated by FC Basel 0:3 on Thursday in the Europa League. The visitors started stronger and just six minutes into the game, Tomas De Vincenti sent the corner kick, Vujadin Savic had the effort, but the left post denied him an early goal. The pace of the game, though, slowed down with neither team creating any goal scoring opportunities. In the 41st minute, Pafos touched the goal from a counterattack, but Vladimiro “Va” Felix’s effort grazed the post. A solo effort from Musa Al-Taamari one minute later was denied by Artur Rudko, who kept the game goalless at half-time.
In the 57th minute, Jerson Cabral was brought down by Dragan Mihajlovic, and a penalty was controversially awarded. Onni Valakari took the penalty kick and beat Vid Belec from the spot to give Pafos the lead. Valakari struck again twelve minutes later, as he unleashed a rocket from the penalty area that Belece could not stop. APOEL were unable to react after the second goal, while the hosts kept threatening with counterattacks. Pafos held their 2:0 advantage and celebrated a big win against the defending champions.
They are now just a point behind sixth-placed AEL, hoping the Limassol side will lose points against Ethnikos on the final matchday, while they face last-placed Doxa Katokopias. APOEL once again failed to take advantage of Anorthosis’ slip up. They head into the eternal derby against second-placed Omonoia following another disappointing performance. They remained third, five, and four points behind Anorthosis and Omonoia, respectively.
AEK hosted Nea Salamina at the Giorgos Karapatakis AEK Arena in Larnaca in a game that both teams had a lot at stake. The home side started strong testing Tasos Kissas on two occasions early on. He first denied a free kick by Ivan Trickovski and then a close header by Joan Truyols. Charles Eloundou came close to the opener in the 18th minute for Salamina, however, his effort was stopped by Tono Ramirez’s right post. Four minutes later, Jose San Roman had a close shot, but Tono denied him. Salamina had more energy in the first half, however, the teams went into half-time goalless.
The second half delivered a fast-paced game with AEK holding control and looking continuously to penetrate Salamina’s defense. Despite the open game, though, neither team managed to create a big goal-scoring opportunity, with the match ending goalless.
AEK locked fifth place and their presence in the first playoff group while Salamina, on the other hand, are eighth and will be playing in the second group.
AEL visited Nicosia and the Makareio Stadium looking to secure their place in the first playoff group, while Olympiakos wanted to stay clear from the danger zone. Nine minutes into the game, after a free-kick, the ball reached Boris Godal, who from close range beat Markos Vellidis to give AEL the lead. Olympiakos went forward for the equalizer, however, AEL defended their lead well and took a one-goal lead into halftime.
Both teams produced tight gameplay in the second half. In the 67th minute, Nanissio Mendes sent a free-kick from the right side, and Panagiotis Zachariou’s strong header beat Vozinha for the equalizer. Olympiakos looked to turn the game around and almost did in the 89th minute when Dylan Duventru’s header shaved Vozinha’s left post.
AEL settled for the draw and failed to secure their place in the first playoff group and will look to do so against Ethnikos next week. Pafos are in seventh trailing AEL by just a point. Olympiakos are now five points clear of the danger zone.
