AEK Larnaca reclaimed top spot in the Cypriot First Division on Sunday with victory over Ethnikos Achna, André Alves scoring once again for Thomas Christiansen’s side.
AEK’s victory means a return to winning ways in the league after a two round winning draught after defeat to AEL and a draw with Nea Salamina.
Alves also found his winning touch again after failing to register in 299 minutes, the Brazilian getting on the end of a Tete cross to give his team a half-time lead.
The 32-year-old striker netted his 13th goal of the season and could have grabbed his 14th but was denied by goalkeeper Martin Bogatinov.
Achna came into life in the second half in their search for an equaliser but were unable to find the net as AEK held on to return to the top of the table with 49 points, two ahead of APOEL and four ahead of Anorthosis.
For Danilo Dončić’s side Sunday’s defeat means they remain ninth on 22 points.
Luka Stojanović scored twice for Apollon Limassol’s as they thumped basement club Ayia Napa 4-0 on Sunday at Tsirion Stadium.
Apollon opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Stojanović blasted the ball from close range past Marko Pridigar.
Anton Maglica then scored his first league goal for the club in the 32nd minute. Elízio picking the Croatian out with a neat cross who had no problems doubling his side’s advantage.
Stojanović grabbed his second goal of the game and fifth of the season after João Pedro found the Serbian who curled the ball into the corner.
Defender Angelis Angeli put the icing on the cake in the 73rd minute with a powerful header.
Apollon capitalised on Anorthosis and Omonia’s slip-ups over the weekend by jumping above the Greens into fourth place on 40 points, three above the Nicosia club, and five behind the Old Lady in third.
Ermis Aradippou forced Anorthosis into their second defeat of the season on Saturday, spoiling the Old Lady’s 105th birthday celebrations.
Chris Dickson opened the scoring in the 34th minute when Theo Weeks flicked the ball towards the Ghanaian who tapped the ball into Jan Koprivec’s net to give Ermis the lead.
In the second half Anorthosis were forced to raise their game in their search for an equalising goal.
However, the hosts prevented their opponents from creating any sort of danger around the penalty area and forced the visitors to attempt long range shots.
Ermis finished the game off in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Theo Weeks rapping up a brilliant solo performance finding himself one-on-one with Koprivec calmly slotting the ball past the Slovenian.
Anorthosis’ title hopes suffered a major blow as they have now moved down to third in the Cypriot First Division, two points behind table toppers APOEL and one behind AEK who are up against Ethnikos Achna at GSZ Stadium on Sunday.
APOEL comfortably beat Nea Salamina 6-1 at GSP Stadium on Saturday.
Pieros Sotiriou gave the champions an early lead in the seventh minute with a header after meeting Zhivko Milanov’s cross into the area.
Despite taking an early lead the scores were level again when goalkeeper Urko Pardo brought down Nea Salamina forward Liliu in the box for a penalty. Dimitar Makriev netting his 12th goal of the season from 18 yards.
Temuri Ketsbaia’s side came back to life in the second-half with Tomás De Vincenti reclaiming the defending champions’ advantage with a low free-kick going into the net after 60 minutes.
Seven minutes later Vander got on the end of Giannis Gianniotas cross to give APOEL a two goal cushion.
From that moment on the Nicosia giants took complete control of the game and scored another three goals via Vinícius, Fernando Cavenaghi and a second from De Vincenti.
Jan de Jonge’s Nea Salamina have now conceded 15 goals against APOEL in their last two matches but remain sixth place in the Cypriot First Division.
APOEL returned to the top of the table with 47 points, one ahead of second place AEK who play Ethnikos Achna on Sunday.
Nicos Panayiotou’s side have now jumped up to 10th in the table on 21 points.
Doxa Katokopias defeated Enosis Neon Paralimni (ENP) 1-0 on Saturday via an Edmar strike which proved to be enough to give Loukas Hadjiloukas side all three points.
Hosts ENP were the better side in the first-half keeping possession for long periods and looking strong when going forward.
ENP came close to scoring in the 23rd minute, Vasilis Papadopoulos’ powerful shot going just over Evagoras Hadjifrangiskou’s crossbar.
However, two minutes later it was the visitors with their first opportunity who managed to break the deadlock. Gaoussou Fofana’s initial shot beaten away by Krševan Santini and Edmar pouncing on the rebound to finish.
ENP almost equalised before half-time when Hadjifrangiskou emphatically denied striker Mario Budimir.
The second-half mirrored the first with the home side dominating possession and Doxa trying to hit on the break.
As the game was coming to a close Budimir missed a golden opportunity with his header going just wide.
Doxa have now moved up to seventh in the league.
ENP have now suffered their 12th defeat of the season and are 12th in the Cypriot First Division.
A late Nassir Maachi goal was enough for Pafos FC to cause a big upset on Sunday defeating Omonia 2-1 at Pafiako Stadium.
Despite initially being a goal behind, Pafos FC showed tremendous team spirit to turn the game around and earn a valuable victory for Apostolos Makrides side which was without a win since October.
Cillian Sheridan gave Vladan Milojević’s men the lead in the 25th minute with a beautiful volley giving Pafos keeper Jordi Codina no chance.
The hosts responded instantly via Ibson Melo who ran into the penalty area before beating Greens stopper Constantinos Panagi to bring the game back on level terms.
With the game coming to a close Omonia seemed to ease off the pressure and looked content with a draw, Pafos exploiting this opportunity and piling the pressure on their more illustrious opponents.
Their efforts were rewarded when two minutes before the end Dutch forward Maachi got behind the Omonia defence slotting the ball under Panagi’s legs netting his eighth strike this season.
Pafos’ win means they are now 12th in the Cypriot First Division on 18 points, three above Enosis Neon Paralimni who are in the automatic relegation places.
Omonia’s missed a big opportunity to reduce the gap on third place Anorthosis after they suffered a shock defeat to Ermis on Saturday.
An early Yiannis Mavrou goal was enough to seal a valuable three points for AEL Limassol over local rivals Aris Limassol on Monday.
Mavrou broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, the young Cypriot striker getting on the end of a Adnan Aganović free-kick to poke the ball past Aris keeper Edin Nuredinoski.
Despite Eugen Neagoe’s men attempting to get back into the game Makis Chavos’ side managed to absorb the pressure and hang on and take home a valuable three points.
AEL are now just a point behind their opponents in tenth, with Aris currently sitting in eighth position in the Cypriot First Division.