The Cyprus League play offs began this weekend.Thanks to a Gustavo Manduca added time goal gave APOEL a 2-1 victory over Omonia in the Nicosia derby, held in an empty stadium that had to be played behind closed doors.Omonia serving out a stadium ban for trouble caused by their fans in a previous league match.
Omonia now fall to third place. Apoel took the lead in the last minute of the first half with a goal from Soouza while Omonia equalized at 56 ‘with Dimitris Christofi.
The game was played in a tense atmosphere it did not help to motivate both teams with no supporters there.
AEL drew with Anorthosis 1-1This result leaves AEL on top with 61 points Apoel on 59, Omonia 57 and Anorthosis on 53 points. Anorthosis took the lead as early as the fourth minute with a goal from Tato Kvirkvelia and AEL equalised in the 17th minute with a goal from Dede.
In the second group of play offs AEK managed to maintain its lead AEK beat Alki 2-0 and New Salamis drew Apollon 2-2. in the third group Ethnikos beat Enosis Neon Paralimniou 2-1 and Aris beat Olympiakos 2-1.
Play Offs
At present, 14 clubs compete in the league. Each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, which makes a total of 26 games for each club.
Since 2007–08 the league has a second round. In the second round the first 12 teams are separated into groups of 4 teams according to their position at the end of the first round. The last two teams are relegated to the second division. The points from the first round are carried to the second round and the teams play the other teams twice.
Photos from Omonia v Apoel
