KOPA League
Sunday 10th 2017
First Division
New Salamis 4 Livadia 1
A lesson was taught by Last year’s Champions New Salamis on Sunday that a match is 90 minutes long and not to take their foot off the pedal.
New Salamis were 2-0 up and strolling along with their first goal from Harrison Georgiou and a penalty from Ryan Hervel when the game was turned upside down when in the 25th minute in the space of 10 minutes two Livadia players were sent off for two yellow cards each Charlie and Samir.
The game completely changed although New Salamis had more of the ball they could not break down the defence and determination of the nine Livadia players left on the park .
Livadia played 8 at the back and used Danny Coolridge as an holding centre forward for the rest of their team to feed off. This system worked well and were rewarded with a penalty goal scored by
But the biggest opportunity fell to Livadia’s Danny Coolridge when one to one with the New Salamis goalkeeper he hit the post and then a New Salamis player saved on the line from the rebound shot from Danny.
This was the turning point in the game, we ask what would have happened if Livadia had equalised any way this woke up New Salamis who responded and went onto score two goals from Ryan Hervel and Harrison Georgiou to give them a 4-1 win.
Apoel 2 Olympia 2
Newly promoted Apoel got off to a good start with a 2-2 draw with likely championship contenders Olympia.
Olympia were quick off the mark when they were awarded a penalty but the Apoel keeper pulled off a brilliant save to them a goal. Then Apoel started the ball rolling when they scored the first goal with Mike Filippou just before the half time break.
It took to the 75th minute for Olympia to equalise with Ricky Louca but it was not long five minutes later that Apoel regained the lead with Mike Filippou.
There was a grand finish both teams pushing for goal but it was Olympia who equalised in the 86th minute from a free kick outside the box scored by Tashan Bradshaw.
Pantel 0 Omonia 7
Newly promoted Pantel will want to forget about this game quickly Omonia now under the management of Danny Bailey, with the assistance of Tony Philippou and Andy Savva look solid all round..
Omonia look very promising took the lead at 2-0 and Pantel missed a penalty at this stage to make 2-1 so the first half ended 2-0 . Omonia were quick to respond after the break with two quick goals which seem to destroy Pantel’s morale and and three more goals came later.
Omonia’s goals came from Chris Philippou (2), Theo, Harris, Lorenz, Stavros & Fanos
Second Division
Panathinaikos 4 Achna 2
Panathinaikos inaugural game in the KOPA league was a good one and top of the league in their first week cant be bad.
5 mins gone and it was 1 – 0 to PAO with a really good team move with Nick putting Zak through and he calmly slotted the ball pass the oncoming keeper.
Ten minutes later. PAO made it 2 – 0 when a cross from the left allowed Anastasi to tap in at the far post.
Achna reduced the deficit on 22 minutes when a rash challenge by Andy gave away a penalty 2 – 1 from which Theoklis scored from.
Panathinaikos increased their lead when Dylan scored a fine solo effort beating 2 players before firing low in the corner of the back of the net. Panathinaikos had the chances to increase the lead further just before the break.
The second half the Achna manager must have given a good team talk because his team came out firing came out firing on all cylinders and were unlucky when the Panathinaikos keeper pushed a great effort onto the bar and the ball broke loose only for another thunderbolt to hit the underside of the bar. Minutes later the Panathinaikos goalkeeper Alex had to go off with a thigh strain and was replaced by Matt.
Achna were still battling to try and get back in the game and reduced the score to 3-2 when they scored from a free kick from 20 yards out scored by Andy Chrysanthou.
The game continued with with both teams battling for goals and creating chances at both ends but Panathinaikos sealed their victory at 4-2 when Alex Ctori scored from a penalty.
Asha 3 Komi Kebir 2
The very first game of the season kicked off after the summer break and it certainly didn’t disappoint the onlookers.
The game started fairly balanced but Komi went ahead in the 10th minute when from a free kick taken on the right side by Sami Menari who lobbed the ball over the Asha keeper.
Komi went further ahead on 20 minutes after a counter attack when Asha were pushing for an equaliser scored by Andreas Bryant Economides.
The game looked well balanced and yet Asha were two goals down.
On the 35th minute Asha were awarded a penalty and Antonio stepped up to coolly slot the ball to make it 1-2. Asha came back five minutes later when young Kaylan impressively took a player on and smartly shot past the advancing Komi keeper to make it 2-2.
In the second half both teams tried hard to win but it seemed that the game would have finished as a draw when in the dying seconds Jaydee was there to head the ball home after some industrious work by Antonio on the right side of the pitch to give Asha a 3-2 win.
KLN 4 Brotherhood 3
Brotherhood started strongly and scored from a corner after just 3 minutes with Koray Calcalioglu. KLN settled and got a deserved equaliser after Max Papcosta was put through by Zack Charilao to make it 1-1. Brotherhood hit back straight away and scored a fine volley from just inside the penalty box with Koray and led 2-1 half time. KLN made a change at half time and came out of the blocks fast hitting the post and forcing the brotherhood Goalie into 3 fine saves. Brotherhood however countered well and scored a third with Ahmet Pilot after a mix up on the KLN defence to go 3-1 up.
KLN again rallied and reduced the Deficit to 3-2 as new signing Demetri Sifonios made it 3-2 after a fine Finish just inside the penalty box. Relentless pressure by KLN was rewarded by a penalty after a handball by a Brotherhood defender, Zack Charilaou converting to make it 3-3. With just a few minutes to go Max Papacosta was brought down in the penalty box and again Zack stepped up to score and secure a 4-3 win for KLN.
