Anorthosis Famagusta were the big winners on the weekend after defeating fellow financial strugglers Omonia 2-1 in Larnaca while there were big upsets elsewhere with AEL going down at Ethnikos Achnas and newcomers Othellos Athienou defeat Nea Salamina away.
In the big Monday night kick-offs, league leaders APOEL play hosts to in-form AEK Larnaca while second place Apollon welcome third place Ermis Aradippou. At the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium, Omonia and Anorthosis – two clubs currently battling millions of euros in debts following years of mismanagement – played out an entertaining game as they fight out for a place in Europe next season.
Omonia midfielder Giorgos Economides had given Costas Kaiafas’ side the lead with a rasping effort on 17 minutes but the hosts equalised just after the restart when Constantinos Laifis steered Andreas Avraam’s corner past keeper Jose Moreira. The game could have gone either way until Andreas Makris pounced on a mistake from Moreira on 81 minutes to hand his side the three points.
The game was marred by accusations by Omonia who said that they heard monkey-chanting aimed at striker Mickael Pote during the game. APOEL were last week fined after sections of their fans had also racially taunted the same player during the Nicosia derby.
Elsewhere, Apostolos Makrides’ Ethnikos secured their best win of the season after staging a remarkable comeback against AEL. The Achnas club had fallen 2-0 behind inside the opening half-hour following strikes from Luciano Bebe and Alexandru Ionitsa but then staged a rally to stun Christakis Christoforou’s side. Juninho pulled a goal back with an effort from distance just before halftime and the score was level moments after the restart when Ganiu Ogungbe scored with a header. Valdo added a third to make it 3-2 before Ogungbe scored again to seal an emphatic 4-2 victory against a beleaguered AEL side that was reduced to ten men following the second half dismissal of Cadu.
First division newcomers Othellos grabbed their first three points away from home on Sunday after a 1-0 success at Nea Salamina. An 18th minute own-goal from Chidi Onyemah separated the two sides at the Ammochostos Stadium. In the only game on Saturday, Doxa Katokopia downed Ayia Napa 1-0 with a Diogo Ramos strike in the bottom of the table clash.
Cyprus Weekly
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