Anorthosis still on top after Larnaca derby win
Anorthosis Famagusta and APOEL have made the league title race their own after both sides secured vital away victories over championship rivals.
Anorthosis went top of the league with a hard-fought 3-2 Larnaca derby win away to AEK Larnaca while APOEL bounced back from their 2-1 home defeat to AEK by beating title holders AEL 3-1 in Limassol.
This was Anorthosis ninth consecutive win they started impressively scoring with Rezek but then AEK took over and took a two one lead with a 30th minute headed goal with Matsi from a Jason Demetriou cross, then a Anton Palits goal gave them them the lead. This seems to motivate Anorthosis and Ilic equalised for them just before the break. Anorthosis scored the winning goal in the 67th minute with Tony Calvo.
APOEL’s victory took them up to second, three points behind league leaders Anorthosis – came about under controversial circumstances. Helio Pinto had given APOEL an early lead with the linesman having failed to spot the Portuguese player was offside. AEL’s response was quick – Luciano Bebe equalising ten minutes later.
Gustavo Manduca’s penalty, following Stelios Parpas’ challenge on Stathis Aloneftis, made it 2-1 and also saw AEL keeper Matias Degra beaten from the penalty spot for the first time in nine continuous attempts.
Then it was the turn of referee Costas Psefdiotis to steal the spotlight after sending off Aritz Borda when the foul – which hardly warranted a red card – was actually made by Christos Karipides.
With the extra man advantage, AEL went seeking for the equalising goal but APOEL hit them on the counterattack with Constantinos Charalambides finishing off the move with a header.
In other games, Omonia got back to winning ways with a 4-2 win over AEP while Doxa continued their impressive form of late by beating Ayia Napa 2-0 away. Apollon’s winning streak came to an end in Nicosia as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Olympiakos while the games Nea Salamina-Alki and Ethnikos Achnas-Enosis Neon Paralimniou both end in draws