Ermis Aradippou made history on Wednesday night with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Apollon to book their first-ever place in the Cup finals where they will face APOEL on May 21.
Ermis was able to send the match into extra time after defeating the Cup holders 2-1, equalising the score of the first round at the Tsirion.
The Aradippou side, who have never won a major domestic trophy or even reached a Cup final, have been this year’s surprise package, proving particularly strong at home, and yesterday was to prove no exception.
Ermis went ahead in the 57th minute with Marco Tagbajumi. But Apollon was able to equalise quickly with star striker Gaston Sangoy in the 61st minute. Ermis managed to score the winner with a brilliantly executed free kick by Yiannis Taralides in the 85th, forcing the game into extra time.
Andreas Papathanasiou was to prove the man of the match, scoring twice in the 100th and 115th minute to send Aradippou fans into seventh heaven.
Earlier yesterday in the other semifinal second leg, APOEL cruised into next month’s final with a 4-0 victory and 8-1 aggregate victory over the two encounters.
APOEL boss Giorgos Donis rested his entire first team squad with the exception of Constantinos Charalambides and the Greek coach was delighted to see Aldo Adorno return from his lengthy injury to score twice after coming on as a second half substitute.
Greek left back Christos Pipinis got the ball rolling with a powerful strike past Doxa keeper Toni on the brink of halftime. Adorno added his two contributions – the second with a delicate curling effort – before Cesar Santin put the icing on the cake 20 minutes from time.
Title contenders APOEL have won the Cyprus Cup the most times (19) and have also been losing finalists nine times.
Relegation battlers Doxa, whose coach Sofocles Sofocleous announced his resignation after the game with AEK Kouklion boss Demetris Ioannou already named as his successor, had missed two early chances through Carlitos and Diogo Ramos before Pablo Suarez rattled the woodwork later in the second half.
APOEL boss Giorgos Donis rested his entire first team squad with the exception of Constantinos Charalambides and the Greek coach was delighted to see Aldo Adorno return from his lengthy injury to score twice after coming on as a second half substitute.
Greek left back Christos Pipinis got the ball rolling with a powerful strike past Doxa keeper Toni on the brink of halftime. Adorno added his two contributions – the second with a delicate curling effort – before Cesar Santin put the icing on the cake 20 minutes from time.
Title contenders APOEL have won the Cyprus Cup the most times (19) and have also been losing finalists nine times.
Relegation battlers Doxa, whose coach Sofocles Sofocleous announced his resignation after the game with AEK Kouklion boss Demetris Ioannou already named as his successor, had missed two early chances through Carlitos and Diogo Ramos before Pablo Suarez rattled the woodwork later in the second half.
Cyprus Weekly
