League leaders AEL have the upper hand over Anorthosis Famagusta in the Cyprus Coca-Cola Cup following their 1-0 victory in the first leg in Limassol on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, AEK will also be defending a slender lead when they travel to Alki for the second leg next week following their win with the same scoreline while Omonia rendered their second leg against bottom side Ermis a mere formality after their 6-0 thrashing in Nicosia.
The big game was in Limassol where AEL were determined to continue their quest for a unique league and cup double this season.
Pambos Christodoulou’s charges currently hold the best defensive record in Europe have managed to keep an astonishing 20 clean sheets in both competitions this season conceding just seven goals in 24 matches.
The Limassol club owe much of that to Argentinean goalkeeper Matias Degra who has provided an iron-clad rearguard this season and once again showed why he is the top keeper in Cyprus on Wednesday by denying Anorthosis’ Vincent Laban from the penalty spot in added time.
The only goal of the contest came through an earlier penalty of their own when Janicio Martin was adjudged to have handled Dossa Junior’s header in the box and referee Marios Tsangaris pointed to the spot.
Patrick Vouho converted the penalty kick on 72 minutes.
In other games, AEK secured a 1-0 victory over Alki in the Larnaca derby. The only goal of the encounter came midway through the first half when Antun Palic fed Luis Moran and the Spaniard beat Polish keeper Pawel Kapsa at the second attempt.
Neophytos Larkou’s Omonia will be able to send out a reserve side for their second leg against Ermis next week following their easy win in Nicosia.
The goals on the night came from Andre Alves (2), George Efrem, Bryan Bergougnoux, Andreas Avraam as well as an own goal from Ermis defender Laurent Fassotte.
Cyprus Coca Cola Cup
