Omonia enjoyed a comfortable win yesterday against AEK Kouklia running out 4-0 winners in a game that takes them to third in the table, just two points behind league leaders Apollon.
Polish forward Łukasz Gikiewicz opened the scoring for the Greens after seven minutes with a header. Portuguese midfielder Nuno Assis doubled the lead with a well placed shot on 13 minutes. The visitors scored again just before half time, when Assis’ countryman, João Paulo Andrade, steered his effort into the net after 38 minutes. French defender Anthony Scaramozzino added the fourth with a strike from the corner of the area beating the keeper to secure the Greens’ fifth win in a row.
In yesterday’s other game AEK Larnaca were held to a goalless draw by Ermis in a match that had few clear cut chances.
The point gained by Ermis took their total to 20 points, just a point off leaders Apollon, but having played a game more. AEK take their points haul to 12 but would have the left the field disappointed not to have taken more from the game.
In Saturday’s big match AEL took all three points, leapfrogging their opponents Anorthosis – who were reduced to 10 men – to go to third in the table with a 3-1 win in an action-packed match at the Tsirion.
AEL coach Ivayalo Petev felt his side had got what they desered from the match and heaped praise on his players for how they played and dominated their opponents even before they had been reduced to 10 men.
Anorthosis coach Jorge Costa pointed to the sending off as being the pivotal moment in the game but assured fans of that the players would respond to the defeat.
AEL started the match the strongest and quickly made their dominance pay with a goal through Luciano Bebe in the 10th minute. Anorthosis responded without really looking capable of scoring until the referee controversially awarded a penalty on the half hour mark. AEL defender Dede looked to have won the ball when he challenged Anorthosis number 10, Shota Grigalashvili, but the referee booked the defender and Spaniard Gonzalo García, on loan from Maccabi Tel Aviv, stepped up to beat Karim Fegrouch.
Tempers frayed following the decision as the crowd expressed what they felt was an injustice, the referee dished out a series of yellow cards in his effort to bring the game under control.
AEL nearly retook the lead from a Bebe freekick just outside the area which beat keeper Mario Vega but clipped the outside of the post. Orlando Sa had another chance to restore the lead for the home side with another freekick. The Portuguse striker opted for power but sent the ball high over the bar.
Anorthosis struggled to cope with the pressure AEL were exerting and Valentinos Sielis conceded another freekick the referee reached for his cards and pulled out a yellow, followed by the red as it was his second of the match and Anorthosis were down to 10 men.
The Famagusta side saw out the half to go in on level terms at the interval but it felt like it would only be a matter of time before AEL would make their numerical advantage count.
Five minutes into the second half the Tsirion stadium erupted as the home side regained the lead. Anorthosis’ defence were all over the place and a cross from Monteiro was turned into his own net by Savo Pavicević.
AEL’s dominance continued with another shot from Bebe coming off the post, Monteiro missing an easy chance.
Sa made the game safe for the homeside, closing down play from the centre of the pitch as Anorthosis tried to find a way forward. The ball broke kindly and the Portuguse striker ran uncontested to the goal and coolly finished.
In Saturday’s other games Nea Salamina came back from a goal down against Aris to win 2-1 with a goal in stoppage time to take them to 12 points in the table. Lopez opened the scoring just after the start of the second half. Substitute Tzourtzourits levelling on 55 minutes.
Two minutes later the home side were reduced to 10 men when Dino Skvorc was booked for the second time. But striker Diego Leon scored in the 90th minute to secure the win.
Ethnikos Achnas suffered a miserable 3-0 home reverse at the hands of Doxa. Two goals from Lopo in the 10th minute and a 22nd minute penalty put the visitors in control. Viela wrapped up the game with a third midway through the second half to take Doxa onto 16 points.
APOEL will entertain Alki today looking to make up some ground on the leaders while table toppers Apollon go to Paralimni looking to maintain their advantage at the top.
Cyprus Weekly
