LFA Challenge Cup
Semi Final
This LFA cup semi final was really tight between Apoel one of the top teams in the Cypriot Football League and Yalova a Cypriot team that is one of the top teams in the Turkish League. You could see both teams were worried about each other and both teams were just blocking each other with no attacking initiatives by either team.
Extra time was inevitable and if that ended a draw there would be penalties to decide the game. So into extra time and just as I expected the game opened up both teams had to go for the win. Both teams had good chances but it was Apoel who broke the duck when a cross from Vas was deflected off the thigh of Apoel striker Richard Worrall to glance under the body of the Yalova goal keeper into the back of the net.
Then with three minutes to go in extra time Richard Worrall picked up the ball on the half way line to go past two players before stroking it past the oncoming Yalova goal keeper into the empty net to eventually make Apoel two nil winners and a path to the LFA Challenge Cup Final versus Cypriot team Yeni Bogazici Dogan Spor FC who play in the Turkish League to be played on Sunday April 14th 2013 at Dulwich Hamlet Stadium.
Division One
New Salamis 3 Brotherhood 0
Last season’s champions New Salamis cemented their place at the top of the first division with a three nil win over relegation strugglers Brotherhood. The red’s took the lead within eleven minutes with a fine strike from Richard Georgiou.Brotherhood held their own and created a few chances but New Salamis went further ahead and put the game out of Brotherhood’s reach in the last ten minutes with two goals from Chris Benjamin.
Rizokarpasso 2 Cetinkaya Cinar 3
Rizokarpasso took the lead after nine minutes. A back pass by a Cinar defender on the six yard box to the keeper allowed a freekick taken by Anthony Macdonald to be scored Inevitably hitting a Cinar player on the way in. Cinar came alive in the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 47th minute for handball. Marcus Samuals made no mistake with his kick, 1-1. In the 62nd minute substitute Salih Karakis received the ball and ran on and hit a low shot to make it 1-2. Rizo fought hard for the equalizer and with 10 minutes left, capitalized on a poor defensive clearance with a great strike from Anthony Macdonald, 2-2. It didn’t end there as Cinar had the last say. Keeper Remzi’s long kick was headed on by Marcus Samuals into the path of Super sub Salih Karakis who lobbed the Rizo keeper to win the match 2-3.
Maronites 1 AEL 2
Maronites made an improvement on last weeks drubbing from New Salamis but have got to start holding on to their leads they have taken the lead several times in games this season eventually to lose these matches. They held the lead for fifteen minutes after taking the lead in the 55th minute with Lewis Barclay before AEL scored in the 70th minute with Rakim Richards and in the 73rd minute with Jed Wood to ease AEL out of the relegation zone.
Tripimeni 2 Olympia 1
This was a game of two halves with Olympia on top in the first half where Umit gifted them with a good goal. The second half belonged to Tripimeni when they scored with two free kicks one scored by Sam in the 55th minute and the other in the 65th minute by Ricky Louca.
This win keeps Tripimeni in the First Division championship race.
Division Two
Achna 5 Anorthosis 7
The highest scoring game of the day and what a match it was. Anorthosis were winning 6-1 at half time. Danny Coolridge led the way by scoring five goals in the first half plus an own goal for Anorthosis sixth goal and Shane Wylie of Achna scoring at 3-0. In the second half Achna got it back to 6-4 with another goal from Shane Wylie and two from Theokli Charalambous. Then Anorthosis added a seventh with Andreas Chambi and Shane Wiley of Achna added his third to make it final score 7-5. There was complaints from spectators at the game which ended 5-7 they thought they were watching tennis instead of football and they were there for ages at the game waiting for the teams to come out for the second set.
Omonia 3 Asha 0
Omonia had a comfortable win over Asha . The greens are playing some very pretty football under their new manager Michael Pieri they are improving week by week. Omonia’s goals came in the 20th minute with Moustafa and their Portuguese star Carvalio 30th and Greg in the 80th minute to round the game off at three nil.
Pendayia 0 Cyprus Youth 2
Cyprus Youth are gaining momentum again after a couple of good wins recently. This has been helped by their star striker Chris Papacosta banging in the goals again. He added another two on Sunday to the hat trick he scored last week against Arachne. This result keeps Cyprus Youth in the promotion race but it was not an easy game Pendayia started well and had chances to go ahead. Chris Papacosta’s goals came in the 25th and 75th minutes to give Cyprus Youth a two nil win.
Pantel 4 Arachne 5
What a game for the supporters this was, gripping excitement till the end. Pantel went 2-0 up in first half hour with goals from Reggie and Larry. Arachne made it 2-1 from a long distance strike by Adam Alt and they equalised in the second half through a penalty scored by Damien Spyrou. Arachne made it 3-2 through another penalty scored by Damien. It wasn’t finished and straight from the kick off Pantel equalised 3-3 from a penalty from Alex. Arachne made it 4-3 from a lovely strike by Leo Charalambous and then 5-3 from Aidan Hall on a counter attack. Pantel were still battling and scored in injury time with Alex from a corner to make it 5-4 and set up a nervy end. But Arachne held on to make it 5-4 final score. This win puts Arachne in third place three points behind the leaders Livadia with a game in hand.
KOPA League tables
