Omonoia and Anorthosis play to stalemate
CYPRIOT 1st DIVISION - (MATCHDAY 11)
| Omonia | 1 - 1 | Anorthosis |
|---|---|---|
| Ramirez 18' | Douglao 45'+1' |
Omonoia and Anorthosis canceled each other out in this week’s derby, playing to a 1:1 draw that leaves both sides wanting more.
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Omonoia hosted Anorthosis at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Both sides are accustomed to being among the finest clubs in Cyprus, but both are struggling and barely treading water this season thus far.
Early on, Alex Soares had a go from outside the box, but it was straight at Dimitris Demetriou and the save was made with relative ease. Omonoia continued their good start and it paid off in the form of a corner. The corner came in and was headed past Demetriou by David Ramirez, and the Costa Rican put Omonoia ahead in the 18th minute.
This seemed to awaken Anorthosis and they started taking over the match. Michal Duris found himself in space, but teed up a shot that went over the net. Ricardo Laborde and Andraz Struna also missed the target. In stoppage time of the first half, they too got their payoff as a failed clearance only got as far as Douglao, who unleashed a stunningly accurate, low shot from well outside the box that snuck just inside the post and past Tomas Mejias. The halftime score was a fitting 1:1.
The second half saw both teams going for a desperately needed 3 points, Matt Derbyshire had a strike from distance that Demetriou saw all the way. Nikos Englezou curled a strike just under the bar, and Mejias did very well to tip it over the net. Derbyshire had a go from nearly the same position as he had a few minutes earlier with an even better shot, but Demetriou was up to the task with an even better save. A Ramirez header from in tight was also stopped by Demetriou. Sekou Cisse tried to beat Mejias from a bad angle, Mejias made the save, but the rebound fell to Duris who rushed the shot and put it over the net. In stoppage time, the last chance fell to Ioannis Kousoulos, but he couldn’t hit the net either, and that was the way it was going to be.
Omonoia and Anorthosis played to a 1:1 draw that doesn’t particularly help either side. Both teams have 13 points in the standings, Anorthosis are in 6th, their even goal difference is better than the -4 goal different Omonoia are currently sporting, which leaves Omonoia in 7th place. With the surprise success of Nea Salamina, one of these sides could find themselves in the relegation group at the end of the regular season.
HIGHLIGHTS: OMONIA - ANORTHOSIS
by Andreas Mantzas
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