Sunday January the 17th 2016
First Division
Omonia 5 Tripimeni-Olympia 0
Omonia went into their match on Sunday with Tripimeni-Olympia not having played a league fixture for other a month. With the pitch at Southbury playable but covered in snow, this potentially could have been a match where the greens could have slipped up in their title challenge.
This however was far from the case, The greens were really up for it and they put in a strong performance in front of the on looking supporters which included members of the New Salamis FC committee who were there supporting Tripimeni-Olympia.
Omonia started brightly with ex Tripimeni-Olympia player Alfie Bartram pulling the strings for the greens. After 10 mins however a defensive error from the normally reliable Stefan allowed Tripimeni-Olympia’s winger through on goal however he hesitated and the chance was gone. Omonia then went down the other end and Alfie Bartram fired a shot first time into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area after being picked out with a clever ball from Spenny Stylianou.
On the half hour mark Harry Vazanias finished emphatically after 2 defensive errors in the Tripimeni-Olympia backline. Another error allowed Adem Ali to score Omonia’s third just before half time.
Any hopes of a Tripimeni-Olympia comeback in the second half were crushed when 10 minutes into the half, the league’s top scorer Ioannis Varouxakis buried a header from Alfie Bartram’s cross.
Omonia continued to press forward and on 75 minutes full back Laurence Rispoli had a clear a chance as you will ever see but somehow found the opposing keeper who rebounded the ball out to Vas Xrisikos who slammed the ball into the goal to give the greens a resounding 5-0 victory against Tripimeni-Olympia.
KLN 3 Livadia 3
Conditions for this game were not ideal however KLN seem to cope with better than Livadia. A very slow start to the game with KLN having the better possession and chances. However a free kick from Elia Katsioloudi made it 1-0 Livadia. However KLN were awarded a penalty but it was saved by George Georgiou to keep it 1-0 half time
KLN equalised just after the break with Lefteri and within 60 seconds Livadia were ahead with a goal from Samir Ali 2-1. Livadia pressed for a third and got it with a goal from Andreas Kyprianou. With 20 minutes to go KLN didn’t give up and scored to make it 3-2 with Rio Bryan Edwards. Again Livadia had chances to finish the game but they failed to hold on and KLN scored a third with a few minutes left to play with a brilliant 25 yard volley from Panny.. Final score 3-3
Cetinkaya Cinar 2 Apoel 5
Layers of snow cleared as play continued and the slush made it hard for both teams but it did’nt stop the goals. Apoel settled quickly and went 2 up in 20 minutes with goals from Erhan and Alex Lucas penalty . The action continued with Kerim of Cinar using his pace to get into the Apoel box and to be brought down for a penalty. Salih Karakis’s kick was saved. 0-2. Cinar pressure did not pay off and defensive errors cost them as Ap…oel added a third with Giovanni , 0-3. 15 minutes to half time Omer Cimdiken hit a cracking half volley from 25 yards for 1-3. With half time looming Cinar were awarded another penalty and this time Marcus Samuals made no mistake scoring his 75th goal for Cinar, 2-3.
Cinar were now pressing for the equalizer and were caught on the break with keeper Remzi giving away a penalty. Apoel scored with Giovannito make it 2-4. With 10 minutes remaining on the clock Apoel added a fifth without creating too many chances with Philip but taking all that was offered to them. Relegation must be looming for Cinar now.
Anorthosis 8 Maronites 2
A great game with ten goals in all but the Maronites could not stop the rampant Anorthosis. A great game and a good advertisement for the KOPA football league.
Anorthosis goals came from Alex Russia 3, George Gregoriou 2, Coolridge 2 and Charlie. Maronites goals came from Michael Anastasiou.
Second Division
Arachne 2 St Panteleimon 0
The game started at a very fast tempo. Chances were limited though with both teams defending well. In the 30th minute Leo Charalambous broke in behind the St Panteleimon defence and cooly slotted the ball into the corner of the net. The last 5 minutes of the half saw Arachne take a 2 goal lead with a good move down the left which saw Ant Panayi cross the ball to Damien Spyrou who cooly converted. A minute after the goal St Panteleimon were reduced to 10 men when a player retaliated to a challenge and was given a straight red card.
In the second half St Panteleimon tried their upmost to break Arachne down but couldn’t do so and were limited to taking long distance shots not troubling the brilliant Aidan lynch. Arachne also looked dangerous on the counter attack and had a few chances to end the contest but didn’t convert. Overall, Arachne throughly deserved the win
Pantel 3 Asha 3
It was labeled to be the match of the day 2nd and 3rd spot Pantel and Asha with both teams battling for promotion and the second division championship.
With both teams on form and relishing on the importance of this game
Pantel were quick off the mark and scored in the 3rd minute when Andrew Bremner scored the opener. Halfway through the first half Asha equalised from a Antonio Gozzolino penalty. Pantel retook the lead with Andrew again and again Asha equalised with a penalty this time taken by Anthony Ioannou
The game ended with an exciting ten minutes and Pantel scoring with Liam Esprit making it 3-2 and in the dying minutes Andreas Vazanias scored an all important equaliser for Asha.
Achna 1 Komi Kebir 5
Komi Kebir got themselves back into the promotion picture with a much needed win on the grass at Peter May – Komi started the afternoon kick off the brightest and hit the post within the first five minutes through left back Peter Vassiliou’s darting run and shot. Achna then came very close as Winger Theo was clean through on goal but he pulled his shot wide.
Komi took the lead though when a corner was headed back across goal by Duncan and Sami Menari planted his header into the goal. Komi doubled their lead when another Theo Vassiliou corner curled straight in at the near post. Mark Richards made it 3-0 just before half time running onto a through ball and flicking his shot past the keeper.
The second half started with Achna pushing to get back in the game but it was Komi who made it 4-0, Andonis Kalli smashing a shot home from the edge of the area. Achna then scored from the penalty spot through Theo Charalmbous after Chris Petrou was brought down by Komi keeper Anthony Pantelides.
Komi captain Jason Lambri capped a great day for Komi, finishing off a good move late on to make it five.