APOEL trimmed the gap on league leaders Anorthosis Famagusta to one point on Sunday after labouring to a 2-0 victory away to AEP.
The previous day, Anorthosis were held to a 1-1 draw by title holders AEL at the Antonis Papadopoulos to set up a thrilling clash against APOEL this coming weekend in Nicosia.
APOEL’s victory came at a price, however, with both Christos Karpidis and Aldo Adorno hobbling off with injuries.
“It was very important to win this game and we managed it by overcoming a few problems, most notably with two players coming off injured”, commented APOEL boss Ivan Jovanovic. “It was a victory at a crucial period in the league title race. But we also need to look at the mistakes that we made especially in midfield, something that is uncommon for us. I am also troubled by the fact that we didn’t take control of this game and that we missed several chances to put the tie beyond doubt. AEP battled valiantly and they deserve to be congratulated.”
Gustavo Manduca had fired APOEL in front on 38 minutes after Adorno went tumbling under the challenge of AEP’s Portuguese defender Cris. The Brazilian beat Spanish keeper Manolo Reina from the penalty mark having also scored from a penalty in their previous 3-1 win away to AEL.
APOEL struggled to keep possession against relegation battlers AEP and also saw key players Karpidis and Adorno exit the game through injuries.
The visitors made sure of the three points in stoppage time as Selim Benachour finished off a sweeping move involving Constantinos Charalambides and Manduca.
Anorthosis and AEL battled out a 1-1 draw in a game which saw both sides reduced to ten men. Jan Rezek had given Anorthosis a halftime lead after beating Matias Degra with a clever free-kick but AEL hit back midway through the second half through Dede. Barely a minute earlier, Anorthosis defender Valentinos Sielis had been sent off while Jorge Costa’s side were also a man down in the closing stages of the game when Dede was also given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
The game was also marred by the horror collision of AEL striker Michalis Constantinou with Anorthosis’s French keeper Matthieu Valverde.
Both players were subsequently substituted with Constantinou having undergone surgery on Sunday and expected to be out injured for some time.
In other games, Apollon cruised to a 3-1 win over Nea Salamina to close in on fourth place while AEK Larnaca beat Enosis Neon Paralimniou 2-1 away to stay third.
Ayia Napa defeated Alki 2-0 away in a game that saw coach Costas Kaiafas step down and Neophytos Larkou stepping in to take his place while Doxa and Ethnikos played out a 1-1 draw.
In the only game on Monday night, Omonia take on Olympiakos in the local derby.

Cyprus Weekly