Omonoia put pressure on Anorthosis, Apollon edge Doxa
 

CYPRIOT FIRST DIVISION - MATCHDAY 21

Omonoia stayed hot on Anorthosis’ tail with a 3-0 win at home to Enosis Neon Paralimni. Apollon had a tougher time, but ultimately dispatched Doxa Katokopias by a 3-2 margin.

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Omonoia hosted Enosis Neon Paralimni at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. Omonoia had an early free kick, Eric Bautheac struck it well, but curled it over the bar. Nonetheless, they didn’t have to wait long for the payoff. In the sixth minute, Babajide David Akintola sped down the wing and centered it for Matt Derbyshire, and it was all too easy for the newly minted Omonoia Captain to tap it in past a flustered Boris Klaiman. 

A bad turnover nearly gave the goal right back, but Costel Pantilimon bailed his defense out making a big save on the ensuing header by Ernest Agyiri. Michael Luftner had a shot saved by Klaiman, the rebound came right to Akintola, but he rang it off the post. Bautheac found Thiago in space, but Klaiman denied him, and Omonoia took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break. 

Omonoia didn’t want to let up at all in the second half. Thiago had a try from a sharp angle, and Klaiman took care of it. Chigozie Udoji looked for an equalizer, but Pantilimon did well to reject that opportunity. Jan Lecjaks also tested Klaiman from a bad angle, and again the keeper from Israel came out on top. 

Klaiman held up well and kept his side in it, but finally Omonoia broke down the door in the 82nd minute. Bautheac took a free kick, Klaiman made the save, but Ioannis Kousoulos pounced on the rebound and doubled the Omonoia advantage, making it 2-0.

Then in the final minute of regulation time, Omonoia put a special exclamation point on this one as 16-year-old Loizos Loizou was able to beat Klaiman from outside the box for his first career goal. Loizou dribbled around three Enosis defenders and then uncorked a strike inside the near post as the Omonoia bench celebrated exuberantly. Omonoia’s final home match of the regular season was a memorable 3-0 win over Enosis Neon Paralimni. Omonoia remain in second place, but now are just one point behind Anorthosis. Enosis are still in the safety of 10th place, but only two points clear of the drop zone.

Apollon hosted Doxa Katokopias at the Tsirion Stadio in Limassol. Apollon got off to a dream start. It was only the second minute when Fotis Papoulis had a shot blocked in front by Martinos Christofi, only for Charlison Benschop to find the loose ball first and fire past a helpless Thierry Graca. 

Doxa responded just six minutes later on a similar play. Lukas Brambilla had a shot blocked by Joao Pedro, but Vasilis Papafotis blasted the loose ball past a surprised Dimitris Demetriou, and it was 1-1.

Doxa had a great chance to go up 2-1, and Demetriou made a great save on an unimpeded Jorginho to keep the match level. He came up large again when Ze Valente set up a chance for Brambilla that again forced a tough save. 

Apollon regained the lead in the 27th minute as Benschop had his second goal of the match after redirecting a pass from Papoulis past Graca to make it 2-1 for Apollon. 

In the 40th minute, Apollon made it 3-1 when Giannis Gianniotas outmuscled a Doxa defender and crossed in for Papoulis. Papoulis got the shot off, Graca made the save, but he got his own rebound and buried it to give Apollon a 3-1 lead at halftime.

Doxa got back into the match in the second half when Papafotis got his second goal of the match. Just three minutes into the second half he snuck a shot through traffic and past Demetriou, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Graca kept hope alive when he turned aside a point-blank chance for Papoulis to get the hat trick. Carlitos powered his way through the Apollon defense and earned a free kick. Papafotis took it, the wall did its job, but it came back to Vladimir Boljevic who got a shot on goal, but merely a routine save for Demetriou. Italo thought he drew a penalty for Doxa. Not only did he not get the ball, but as Apollon countered, Carlitos fouled Papoulis and got sent off. It was the final nail in the coffin, and Apollon hung on for a 3-2 win at home to Doxa. Apollon remain in fourth place. Doxa remain in 12th and last place, inching closer to relegation.

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