Cyprus Football league: Apollon clears ahead as APOEL records new losses

FC Apollon of Limassol consolidated its lead in the Cyprus Football League after its 5-0 victory over Nea Salamina of Famagusta on Saturday for matchday 17.

Hampered by the absence of key players, APOEL of Nicosia drew yesterday 1-1 with Othellos Athienou, with the Nicosia club not registering a victory since December 5. The series of negative results for last season`s Champions led to a coach change with Greek Giorgos Donis stepping down and Germany`s Thorsten Fink taking the reins.

Apollonas moved three points clear at the top of the table as they hit five past Nea Salamina while second-placed APOEL could only manage a draw against lowly Othellos Athienou.

Anorthosis moved closer towards a top-six finish after defeating AEL while Ermis and Omonia had to settle for a draw.

The early penalty (4th minute) that Apollonas were awarded against Nea Salamina, which Gaston Sangoy converted, allowed the Limassol team to play fluent and attacking football scoring four more times.

Adrande scored just before the break to give Apollonas a two goal cushion and when Guye added a third early in the second half, the game was all but over. Further goals by Merkis and Thuram just heaped more misery on Nea Salamina who are just three points off the relegation zone.

For the fifth consecutive game, this time against Othellos Athienou, APOEL were unable to take all three points. With eight squad players out through injury APOEL’s new coach Fink was always going to have a tough start to his career especially against a side that remain unbeaten in three months.

Othellos took a deserved lead through Grigalasvili five minutes into the second half with a stunning strike from outside the penalty box. Rafik Djebbour equalised for the home team with a third of the game still to go but, despite piling on the pressure, APOEL were unable to find a winning goal.

A late strike by Avraam gave Anorthosis all three points against AEL who were unlucky to leave Antonis Papadopoulos empty handed.

AEL were far the better team in the first half taking an early lead through Bebe. Against the run of play Anorthosis equalised midway through the first half when the visitors’ defence was caught napping and Makris stole in to head past AEL’s Romero.

Dejected AEL coach Christoforou said after the game that the result was unfair on his team, sentiments expressed by Anorthosis coach Paous as well.

Ermis Aradippou and Omonia played out a 1-1 draw with Omonia dominating play in the first half and the home side taking control of the second. The visitors took the lead through Leandro after some great work by Nuno Assis with Ermis equalising through Pina on the stroke of half-time.

Doxa Katokopias came back from behind to defeat Ethnikos Achnas 3-1

Ethnikos took the lead though Pincelli but Doxa equalised though Lopo and grabbed two more through Vasconcelos and Novoah in the 90th and 95th minute.
Matchday 17 wraps up on Monday with AEK of Larnaca hosting Agia Napa. If the Larnarca club clinches victory it will climb to the third sport in the standings edging closed to the championship`s leader.

Results
Ermis – Omonia 1-1
Apollo – Nea Salamina 5-0
APOEL – Othellos 1-1
Anorthosi – AEL 2-1
Doxa – Ethnikos 3-1