Omonia trounce Apoel 3-0

Omonia scored an emphatic 3-0 victory over APOEL on Saturday in the first game of the play-offs, but Anorthorsis’ loss to Aek in Larnaca left the top four rankings unchanged.
Omonia, which remains fourth with 56, two points behind third placed Aek, was better throughout the 90 minute game at home at the GSP, going ahead with Efrem in the 15th minute. It doubled its tally with Leandro in the 56th minute, while Efrem made it three goals to nil in the 65th.
This was the Nicosia’s team eight consecutive win. APOEL, which had not let in a goal in eight games, was unable to turn the tables, though it retains its six point lead from second place Anorthosis, making it a firm favourite for the title with 66 points.
Playing at home under new manager Pambos Christodolou, Anorthosis was unable to return to winning ways, instead suffering a 3-0 defeat to Aek. Da Silva put the Larnaca side ahead on the 20th minute, before defender Paolo George scored an own goal in the 63rd and Tomas made it three from Aek in the 83rd minute.
Having failed to capitalise on APOEL’s loss, Anorthosis now sees its lead over Aek drop to two points.

How do the play offs work

At present, 14 clubs compete in the league. Each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, which makes a total of 26 games for each club. Since 2007-08 the league has a second round. In the second round the first 12 teams are separated into groups of 4 teams according to their position at the end of the first round. The last two teams are relegated to the second division. The points from the first round are carried to the second round and the teams play the other teams twice.

In the play offs teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss.

The league champions are entitled to entrance in the UEFA Champions League in the first qualifying round. The winner of the Cypriot Cup and runner-up in the league automatically enters the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round. The third placed team enters the UEFA Europa League on the first qualifying round. If the cup winners are also league champions, then the losing cup finalists are granted a UEFA Europa League berth. If the cup winners qualify for Europe by their league position, then the fourth-placed team in the league qualifies for the UEFA Europa League.

First Division Championship 2012/2013 –
1 Competition Day
Saturday, 6 April 2013
OMONIA NICOSIA	3		0	APOEL NICOSIA
ANORTHOSIS FAMAGUSTA	0		3	AEK LARNAKAS
More
First Division Championship 2012/2013 –
1 Competition Day
ENOSIS NEON PARALIMNIOU FC	2		1	AEL LIMASSOL
APOLLON LIMASSOL	0		0	DOXA KATOKOPIA

Cyprus Weekly