It was a day of drama for the final day of the first division championship games in the KOPA League yesterday. The KOPA General Secretary Michael Yiakoumi was waiting in anticipation with the Championship Shield half way between Broxbourne and Holloway where the two Championship matches were taking place and was waiting to decide where he should head to take the Championship Shield. New Salamis started the day at the top of the League table level on points with second placed Apoel but with a better goal difference of five goals. So if both these teams won their respective games it would go to goal difference to decide the championship
The drama unfolded New Salamis were leading Olympia 2-0 and Apoel were losing to Tripimeni 2-0.The General Secretary of KOPA as a result decided to make his way with the shield to Broxbourne where New Salamis were playing and it turned out to be the right choice.
First Division
New Salamis 5 Olympia 0
New Salamis got off to a good start with their star striker Leon Mckenzie scoring a goal that must be candidate for the best goal of the season. It was a cross that found Leon on the edge of the box and who just volleyed it into the top corner of the net.
Leon then scored another two giving him a hat trick and a cushion three nil lead for the reds.
Olympia were trying hard to get back in the game and in the last fifteen minutes there was plenty of action, including two great saves by the Olympia keeper Dimitri Melaissi. New Salamis increased their lead when they were awarded a penalty which Richard Georgiou converted and in the last five minutes Chris Benjamin added the fifth.
New Salamis are the new champions third year on the trot and broken the record of being the team that has won the most championships eight times in the KOPA League.
Tripimeni 4 Apoel 0
This was a game of pride for Tripimeni third in the league and a cup finalist were out to prove and show how good they are.
Apoel were two nil down at half time and finding out that New Salamis were winning too disillusioned the Apoel players and their heads dropped.
Tripimeni’s first goal was scored by Ahmet Rifat in the fifteenth minute and the second by Alfie Bartram just before half time. Alfie added another two goals to his tally one a classic in the 55th minute a half volley and one in the 75th minute to give him a hat trick. This win is a warning to Apoel that it will not be easy versus Tripimeni in the Division One cup final when they play each other soon.
Maronites 0 Cetinkaya Cinar 5
Relegated Maronites hosted fourth place Cinar in their last league of the season and found it hard to keep up with the pace of the visiting team. It took Cinar 9 minutes to get on the scoresheet when an Evren Altinok shot was saved but the rebound was met by Josh Djelal for 0-1. Cinar spent most of the first half missing chance after chance, but got their just rewards in the 39th minute as the pacy Marcus Samuals crossed the ball into Josh whose pass found Evren Altinok who made it 0-2. 3 minutes later Marcus once again terrorised the full back and crossed in another ball, which this time was met by Sheldon Hussey for 0-3.
In the first minute of the second half Marcus was brought down in the box and in the resulting penalty, Volkan sent the Maronites keeper the wrong way for 0-4.
Cinar’s fifth and last goal came in the last minute when Sub Mete scored from yet another Marcus cross.
Division Two Cup in memory of Michael Tzouvanni
Semi Finals
Omonia 1 Cyprus Youth 1 (Cyprus Youth won on penalties)
Omonia who had beaten Livadia during the week 5-3 to get to the Semi Final started very well and scored and an early goal. They had the better of the first Half despite KLN having a couple of chances on the counter. Second half the game opened up and became a proper cup tie with KLN pushing for an equaliser and Omonia looking dangerous on the counter attack. In injury time KLN captain Rio Bryan Edwards is sent up front in desperation to try and get an
equaliser when Chris Papacosta picked the ball up in midfield and whipped in a delightful ball to the back post where Rio powered home the equaliser. This proved to be the last kick of the game and penalties awaited. Andreas Kouppas took the first penalty for KLN and scored. Maxwell Papacosta then saved the Omonia penalty. Andre Bennett then missed for KLN. Then Omonia scored. George Haji then scored for KlN. Maxwell Papacosta then produced the save of the day when diving to catch the Omonia penalty. Maxwell the keeper he himself then missed a penalty for KLN. Omonia then scored. Chris Papacosta calmly under pressure sent the goalkeeper the wrong way before Omonia missed their last penalty sending it high over the bar, sending KLN in to the final in what was a pulsating cup tie and now play Arachne in the final.
Arachne 4 Achna 2
Arachne scored first 1-0 Anthony Panayi a good strike. Then Achna equalised and went 2-1 up with goals from Shane Wylie and Greg Kalogirou . Arachne equalised just before half time with Leo Charalambous.
Second half Arachne scored in the 70th minute with a John Holmes header from a corner. Anthony Panayi wrapped it up in 85th min with his second goal. 4-2. This puts Arachne into the final to play Cyprus Youth.
