The battle for the Cyprus football championship is turning into a APOEL and AEK affair after their wins over Anorthosis and Ayia Napa respectively.
At the bottom of the table four teams – Enosis, Ethnikos, Paphos FC and Ermis are battling to avoid relegation through the second automatic relegation slot.
Anorthosis got off to a good start but two first-half goals by Pieros Sotiriou and Thomas de Vincenti gave APOEL the three points against Anorthosis in Larnaca.
AEK were given a fright by relegated Ayia Napa who took a sixth-minute lead through Georgiou and it was not until the 41st minute that Catala equalised for the visitors AEK.
Triskovski gave AEK the lead in the 60th minute and four minutes later an Andre Alves penalty sealed the three points for AEK.
Omonia returned to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Aris.
Nuno Assis got both goals in the first half with Ranos scoring for Aris 15 minutes from the end.
AEL steered clear from the relegation zone with a 2-1 away win over New Salamis with Koutander scoring from the penalty spot. Salamina’s Jurjuric had earlier cancelled out Piech’s opener.
Salamina’s loss allowed Doxa to move to within two points of sixth place following their 2-1 of Ermis Aradippou. Doxa had taken a two-goal lead through Paulinhio and Enifoul with Keita scoring for Ermis in injury time.
Ethnikos and Enosis had to settle for a point each leaving them in the danger zone with just a point separating the two.
Apollon’s Croatian striker Manglica continued to impress, scoring a hatrick against Paphos FC, whose only reply came from Maachi late on in the game.
The win propelled Apollon into third, seven points from the top.
The results of matchday 24: Anorthosis-APOEL 1-2, Ayia Napa-AEK 1-3, Omonia-Aris 2-1, Apollon-Paphos FC 3-1, Nea Salamina-AEL 1-2, Ethnicos Achnas-Paralimni 0-0, Doxa-Ermis 2-1.
Standings: APOEL 56, AEK 55, Apollon 49, Anorthosis 48, Omonia 43, Nea Salamina 31, Doxa 29, AEL 28, Aris 27, Ermis 24, Ethnicos Achnas 23, Paphos FC 21, Paralimni 20, Ayia Napa 6.