Pafos upset AEK Larnaca, Wins for Apollon and Omonoia

Pafos upset AEK Larnaca, Wins for Apollon and Omonoia


Date Home Team Score Away Team
8-Dec-18 Paralimni 0 - 2 Apollon Limassol
8-Dec-18 Alki Oroklini 0 - 2 Omonia
8-Dec-18 Pafos 1 - 0 AEK Larnaca

Pafos FC earned a shock 1:0 win over AEK Larnaca, Apollon see off Enosis Neon Paralimni 2:0, while Omonoia end their bad run with a win over Alki Oroklini.

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Pafos FC hosted AEK Larnaca at the Stelios Kyriakidis Stadium in Paphos. Early on, Hector Hevel played in a low free kick, which Ivan Trickovski was able to back heel on goal, but Joel Mall was able to get down and make the save. Jander had a go, but Tono Ramirez was able to knock it down. In the 45th minute, Jander sent in a ball that Federico Rasic headed and Adam Nemec was able to finish the play off by sliding it past Ramirez. On that bombshell, the halftime score was 1:0 for the home side.

Confident, the hosts came again, and Bryan Angulo found a way to create space for himself, but Ramirez made the save to keep AEK in it. AEK thought they had the lifeline they needed when Tete passed for Apostolos Giannou, but the pass never got to him as he was fouled in the box for a penalty. Jorge Larena stepped up to take the penalty, but Mall went the right way and knocked it aside! Last chance for AEK and Onisiforos Roushias had a point blank chance, but one more time, Mall was there to make the save. Mall made Nemec’s goal stand up, and Pafos pulled the upset, 1:0 over AEK Larnaca. AEK remain in 4th place, and Pafos improve to 9th.

From the west coast of Cyprus to the east coast, to the Tasos Markou Municipal Stadium in Paralimni, as Enosis Neon Paralimni hosted Apollon. Apollon wasted no time pressing for a goal, Sasa Markovic had a free kick that Boris Klaiman did well to save. Enosis weren’t as lucky the next time Apollon came knocking, as Andre Schembri headed past Klaiman for a 16th minute opener. Lightning struck twice just 3 minutes later as Adrian Sardinero centered the ball to Facundo Pereyra, and just like that, it was 2:0 for the visitors. The hosts tried to respond as Antonis Koumis played in a corner, but Duncan Rasmussen’s header hit the woodwork and stayed out. Apollon took a 2:0 lead into the halftime break.

Apollon played it conservatively in the second half, but the hosts didn’t have an attempt on target until Sito Riera took in a pass from Gonzalo Zarate, but Tasos Kissas made the save to preserve the clean sheet, and Apollon took home a 2:0 away win over Enosis Neon Paralimni. Apollon remain tied for the league lead with Tsirion mates AEL Limassol, Apollon lead the league on goal differential. Enosis fall to 10th place.

In Larnaca, Alki Oroklini hosted Omonoia at Stadio Ammochostos. Omonoia have lost some ground in the last couple weeks. Alki actually had the early jump, but had trouble hitting the target. Against the run of play, it was Omonoia who struck first as Jordi Gomez blasted a free kick past Urko Pardo in the 29th minute. With an amazing individual effort, Matija Spoljaric made a run down the line, sneaking past Ioannis Kousoulos and then rounding Loukas Vyntra, but when he pulled the trigger his final obstacle was Konstantinos Panagi, the starting goalkeeper of the Cypriot national team, who only now was making his first start of the season for Omonoia. Panagi made the save and kept Omonoia ahead 1:0 at the half.

Undaunted, Alki sought the equalizer as El Hedi Belameiri had a go from a difficult angle, but Panagi took care of it. Alex Soares tried to double the Omonoia advantage, but Pardo had other ideas and flew across to make the save. Then the hosts came knocking again as Spoljaric hit the post, the rebound came to Andreas Stavrou, and Panagi once again was there. Spoljaric hit the post yet again soon after. Everything but the finish for Matija Spoljaric. Kostas Charlambous was whistled for a handball for an Omonoia penalty. Gomez took it, Pardo went the right way, but nobody was stopping this one, a laser into the top corner, and Omonoia were 2:0 winners over Alki Oroklini. Omonoia improve to 7th place, still outside the top 6 required for a playoff spot. Alki remain in last place.


by Andreas Mantzas
