Enosis Neon Paralimni suffered relegation for the first time in their history on Wednesday night after a 1-1 draw away to Ethnikos Achnas was not enough to keep them in the top division.
The Paralimni club, who have been first division regulars since 1968, will now aim to get back into the top division from the second division B1 league next season. The final whistle of Enosis’ game saw the Paralimni players fall to the floor in despair.
Elsewhere, Aris Limassol and AEK Kouklia scraped their way into the relegation playoff group despite defeats in their games against Apollon (2-3) and AEL (0-4) respectively.
At the Dasaki Stadium, Enosis took the lead on 25 minutes when Ethnikos defender Petros Hatziaros handled the ball in the area and referee Marios Panagi pointed to the spot. Enosis skipper Giorgos Tofas – who was once on the books at QPR – put his side ahead after beating goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to lift Paralimni hopes.
But the celebrations last barely ten minutes as Ethnikos’ Serbian winger Predrag Lazic drove his shot from distance past Enosis shot stopper Christakis Mastrou.
The second half began cagey with both sides failing to create a decent chance in the opening exchanges. As the clock began to wind down, the frustration began to creep in and Enosis midfielder Giorgos Kolanis was booked whilst on the bench for dissent.
Marco Aurelio and Nicos Barboudis almost gave Ethnikos the lead with strikes on 72 and 77 minutes but their efforts were blocked by Mastrou as Enosis continued to dice with danger.
Enosis coach Nicos Andronicou threw his last roll of the dice with ten minutes left by bringing on teenager Marios Zanettou to leave his side with four forwards in a desperate attempt to grab the winner.
But the visitors failed to fashion a decent chance as Ethnikos defended deep much to the distraught Paralimni players and fans.
In the Limassol derby, skipper Giorgos Merkis was the hero as his late thunderbolt gave Apollon (photo) a 3-2 win over Aris to keep them in the hunt for the league title.
Argentinean forward Gaston Sangoy – who was making his 100th appearance for the Limassol club – immediately began asking questions of Kouklia keeper Panos Constantinou seeing two decent chances go begging. It wasn’t long before Christakis Christoforou’s side took the lead – Sangou and Fotis Papoulis linking up well with the Greek finishing off the move with a good strike.
Aris’ Thuram somehow managed to see his effort from close ranged right after the break but the Brazilian did get it right on the hour to send the Limassol Green supporters into raptures.
Barely a minute later, Okoye missed a glorious chance to put his side in front after rounding Vale but seeing his shot cleared off the line by the Apollon defenders.
Papoulis swung the initiative back in Apollon’s favour on 77 minutes with the Greek midfielder snatching his second of the game following a pass from Roberto and his tenth overall this season.
But Aris leveled matters again with two minutes left on the clock with Christer Youssef pouncing on a loose ball.
But the best was left until last as Merkis scored arguably the greatest goal of his career in the second minute of stoppage time to keep his side well course in the hunt for the league title.
In the two dead rubber games yesterday, AEK Larnaca defeated Doxa Katokopia 1-0 courtesy of a strike from Joan Tomas who was teed up by Nasri Maachi while Nea Salamina cruised to a 2-0 victory at bottom cub Alki after second half goals from Justin Mengolo and Diego Leon.

Cyprus Weekly