First Division
Brotherhood 4 Maronites 1
Brotherhood eased their relegation worries with this 4-1 win over Maronites who are already relegated. Brotherhood is now two points ahead of Olympia after their final game but the hoods have the dilemma of waiting around to see what Olympia do in their remaining two games when they play Maronites and last year’s champions New Salamis.
Brotherhood’s goals were scored by Matt Krokatsis, Aaron Kennedy 2 and Paul Yiannakas. Maronites scored their goal at 2-0 to make it 2-1 with an absolute blinder of a free kick around the 35th minute mark from Tyler Barclay a rocket shot straight into the top left corner leaving the Brotherhood keeper stranded.
Second Division
Omonia 1 Komi Kebir 0
This result has sent a twist to the second promotion race with this hard fought win for Omonia who keep their promotion hopes in their hands. By the end of the game Omonia were reduced to 9 men after George Costa and Tony Kromidias were sent off each for two bookable offences with ten minutes to go. Omonia had the better of the chances with one instance where Mustafa shot just wide after a fine through ball from Yiannis.
In the second half Marcus had an effort saved superbly by Komi keeper Aris. Eventually Omonia took the lead in the 60th minute after a corner broke to Mete who prodded the ball home. The win continues Mike Pieri and Koullis Antoniou’s positive impact since taking over Omonia.
Cyprus Youth 2 Achna 2
Achna started off well in this game leading 1-0 after twenty minutes with a fine goal from Theokli Charalambous then KLN equalised with Jason Sinclairs strike in the 38th minute. Luke Papacosta then scored in the 65minute to put KLN 2-1 in front. They were then pressuring Achna for the third after missing several opportunities to seal the game off but despite this Achna went on the counter attack and equalised in added time with a goal from Alex Chrysostomou.
Pantel 3 Pendayia 4
Playing with the wind in their favour, the home team Pantel got off to a great start scoring within the first 20 seconds after a quick break from kick off and Alex cut in from the left and bent a low hard shot into the near post. Pantel doubled their lead when Nick hit a superb volley from the edge of the box that flew into the net and the score remained 2-0 going into half time.
Pendayia came out flying in the second half and with the wind against their backs took every opportunity to get the ball forward and were rewarded when a long free kick from the half way line from Tabby Constantinou was headed in by a Pantel defender. The away team continued to push forward and a low hard cross from the left from Sotiris Vassiliou was put in at the back post by sliding Sami Menari to bring the game level. 10 minutes later Alex Constantinou was brought down in the box and Steph Tsirpis stepped up to take the penalty and despite a good save from the Pantel goalkeeper, Tsirpis remained cool and fired the ball into the back of the net. Pendayia scored their fourth and final goal when a long headed ball from the back from Duncan Quigley found Sami Menari who raced through and drilled the ball home.
Pantel scored a consolation goal after Lakis ran through the Pendayia defence and were it not for some great saves from stand-in goalkeeper George Paraskeva, Pantel may have been able to draw level, but it was Pendayias’ day and they walked away with their first win of 2013.
Arachne 1 Anorthosis 3
Anorthosis also produced a shock result by beating promotion hopefuls Arachne 3-1. You could sense Arachne were nervous and tense and with their large support you would think they would be comfortable.
Anorthosis were 3-0 up with their star striker Danny Coolridge scoring two goals in the 25th and 70th minute and then a wonder goal in the 75th minute from Stefanos Georgiou who received a great ball from Stavros Theodosiou who dribbled past four Arachne players before passing.
Arachne’s consolation goal was scored by Leo Charalambous.
KOPA Challenge Cup
Sponsored by Buzz Sweets
Quarter Final
Livadia 4 Olympia 2
The biggest shock of the day was Olympia getting knocked out by League newcomers Livadia.
In a game heavily dictated by the wind Livadia started well and put Olympia on the back foot immediately. Adem Ali got the first goal after a mazey run to put Livadia 1-0 ahead. Livadia pushed for a second which came again from Adem Ali. It was then the turn of former Olympia player Vince Rispoli to put on a show to score a wonder goal against his old team. 3-0 at half time.
Olympia started well and were rewarded with a penalty which was scored by David Hicks to make it 3-1 ten minutes in to the second half. Olympia pressed further and scored their second within 15 minutes from a great goal from Tariq lobbing the Livadia keeper.
It was tense at 3-2 with Olympia pressurising and in one instance a David Hicks shot was parried by the Livadia goal keeper Mario Hitra onto the post that went onto hit the other post and again a Tariq shot hit the post too. However Livadia squeezed on and got the fourth again with Adem Ali scoring a hatrick. Final score a 4-2 win for second division Livadia who add another first division team to their disposal list in the cup after also beating first division Rizokarpasso in the previous round.
Livadia will now be playing the winners of the Apoel versus Cyprus Youth in the Semi Final.
KOPA Division One Cup
Semi Final
Ael 0 Tripimeni 5
Tripimeni had a very convincing 5-0 win over Ael to make them the first team to progress to a League Cup Final. Tripimeni took the lead from the 8th minute with Ahmet Rifat and increased their lead in the 37th minute with an Alfie Bartram goal to make it 2-0 half time. The third goal came just after the break from Bambos which seemed to kill off AEL.
Two further goals were added a second for Ahmet Rifat and the other goal scored by Leon Fisher.
Tripimeni will now play the winners of the Apoel versus Rizokarpasso semi final game
First Division
Brotherhood 4 Maronites 1
Brotherhood eased their relegation worries with this 4-1 win over Maronites who are already relegated. Brotherhood is now two points ahead of Olympia after their final game but the hoods have the dilemma of waiting around to see what Olympia do in their remaining two games when they play Maronites and last year’s champions New Salamis.
Brotherhood’s goals were scored by Matt Krokatsis, Aaron Kennedy 2 and Paul Yiannakas. Maronites scored their goal at 2-0 to make it 2-1 with an absolute blinder of a free kick around the 35th minute mark from Tyler Barclay a rocket shot straight into the top left corner leaving the Brotherhood keeper stranded.
Second Division
Omonia 1 Komi Kebir 0
This result has sent a twist to the second promotion race with this hard fought win for Omonia who keep their promotion hopes in their hands. By the end of the game Omonia were reduced to 9 men after George Costa and Tony Kromidias were sent off each for two bookable offences with ten minutes to go. Omonia had the better of the chances with one instance where Mustafa shot just wide after a fine through ball from Yiannis.
In the second half Marcus had an effort saved superbly by Komi keeper Aris. Eventually Omonia took the lead in the 60th minute after a corner broke to Mete who prodded the ball home. The win continues Mike Pieri and Koullis Antoniou’s positive impact since taking over Omonia.
Cyprus Youth 2 Achna 2
Achna started off well in this game leading 1-0 after twenty minutes with a fine goal from Theokli Charalambous then KLN equalised with Jason Sinclairs strike in the 38th minute. Luke Papacosta then scored in the 65minute to put KLN 2-1 in front. They were then pressuring Achna for the third after missing several opportunities to seal the game off but despite this Achna went on the counter attack and equalised in added time with a goal from Alex Chrysostomou.
Pantel 3 Pendayia 4
Playing with the wind in their favour, the home team Pantel got off to a great start scoring within the first 20 seconds after a quick break from kick off and Alex cut in from the left and bent a low hard shot into the near post. Pantel doubled their lead when Nick hit a superb volley from the edge of the box that flew into the net and the score remained 2-0 going into half time.
Pendayia came out flying in the second half and with the wind against their backs took every opportunity to get the ball forward and were rewarded when a long free kick from the half way line from Tabby Constantinou was headed in by a Pantel defender. The away team continued to push forward and a low hard cross from the left from Sotiris Vassiliou was put in at the back post by sliding Sami Menari to bring the game level. 10 minutes later Alex Constantinou was brought down in the box and Steph Tsirpis stepped up to take the penalty and despite a good save from the Pantel goalkeeper, Tsirpis remained cool and fired the ball into the back of the net. Pendayia scored their fourth and final goal when a long headed ball from the back from Duncan Quigley found Sami Menari who raced through and drilled the ball home.
Pantel scored a consolation goal after Lakis ran through the Pendayia defence and were it not for some great saves from stand-in goalkeeper George Paraskeva, Pantel may have been able to draw level, but it was Pendayias’ day and they walked away with their first win of 2013.
Arachne 1 Anorthosis 3
Anorthosis also produced a shock result by beating promotion hopefuls Arachne 3-1. You could sense Arachne were nervous and tense and with their large support you would think they would be comfortable.
Anorthosis were 3-0 up with their star striker Danny Coolridge scoring two goals in the 25th and 70th minute and then a wonder goal in the 75th minute from Stefanos Georgiou who received a great ball from Stavros Theodosiou who dribbled past four Arachne players before passing.
Arachne’s consolation goal was scored by Leo Charalambous.
KOPA Challenge Cup
Sponsored by Buzz Sweets
Quarter Final
Livadia 4 Olympia 2
The biggest shock of the day was Olympia getting knocked out by League newcomers Livadia.
In a game heavily dictated by the wind Livadia started well and put Olympia on the back foot immediately. Adem Ali got the first goal after a mazey run to put Livadia 1-0 ahead. Livadia pushed for a second which came again from Adem Ali. It was then the turn of former Olympia player Vince Rispoli to put on a show to score a wonder goal against his old team. 3-0 at half time.
Olympia started well and were rewarded with a penalty which was scored by David Hicks to make it 3-1 ten minutes in to the second half. Olympia pressed further and scored their second within 15 minutes from a great goal from Tariq lobbing the Livadia keeper.
It was tense at 3-2 with Olympia pressurising and in one instance a David Hicks shot was parried by the Livadia goal keeper Mario Hitra onto the post that went onto hit the other post and again a Tariq shot hit the post too. However Livadia squeezed on and got the fourth again with Adem Ali scoring a hatrick. Final score a 4-2 win for second division Livadia who add another first division team to their disposal list in the cup after also beating first division Rizokarpasso in the previous round.
Livadia will now be playing the winners of the Apoel versus Cyprus Youth in the Semi Final.
KOPA Division One Cup
Semi Final
Ael 0 Tripimeni 5
Tripimeni had a very convincing 5-0 win over Ael to make them the first team to progress to a League Cup Final. Tripimeni took the lead from the 8th minute with Ahmet Rifat and increased their lead in the 37th minute with an Alfie Bartram goal to make it 2-0 half time. The third goal came just after the break from Bambos which seemed to kill off AEL.
Two further goals were added a second for Ahmet Rifat and the other goal scored by Leon Fisher.
Tripimeni will now play the winners of the Apoel versus Rizokarpasso semi final game
KOPA League tables as at April 15th 2013
