New Year Surprises
First Division
New Salamis 1 Omonia 3
A New Year surprise for New Salamis who lost their unbeaten record to their arch rivals Omonia. There was a one minutes silence observed at the game in memory of the recent deaths of the sister of the Chairman of New Salamis Michalakis Michael, the sister in law of the club secretary Sotiris Louka and the death of the father of the former New Salamis player Tony Constantinides.
You could sense the importance of this game between the League’s two top clubs by the tense atmosphere but after 30 minutes and within five minutes Omonia were two nil up with both identical goals coming from Adem Ali super shots from the edge of the box into the top corners of the net.
New Salamis stepped up a gear and were pushing to score and created good chances with no avail but again Omonia popped up to score and increase their lead to three nil with a full of action goal from Rakim was saved by the New Salamis keeper Darren Behcet who then saved again from a reaction shot from Rakim but at the third attempt the Omonia midfielder was able to score.
Omonia were now playing for time whilst New Salamis were struggling to get back in the game and the red’s scored a consolation goal with the last kick of the game with a tap in from Chris Xiouris within a crowded penalty area.
This result opens up the League title race with New Salamis still on top level on 24 points with Omonia but Salamina are top on goal difference and have a game in hand.
Livadia 2 Anorthosis 7
This was a tipsy turvy game with Livadia leading 2-1 half time with both their goals coming from Elias Katsoloudi one a penalty who has been a revelation this season with the Anorthosis goal coming from Fotis also a penalty.
The second half LIvadia collapsed and allowed Anorthosis to come back into the game and score six goals coming from Vas Krisikos , Alex Roussis , Danny Coolridge 3 and another from Fotis. This Anorthosis win keeps them in third place and still in with a chance of the League title.
Brotherhood 5 Apoel 2
Brotherhood started the game very well with a fast aggressive style with striker Izzy prominent in most attacks and within the space of a minute they were 2-0 up with goals from Aaron Kennedy and a great Mario Christou headed goal from a corner. But then Brotherhood slipped up when Apoel’s George Costa sneaked in a goal and two minutes later Vincent Lwanga of Apoel raced through but was upheld by the last man Brotherhood defender Koray who gave away a free kick and was sent off in the process leaving Brotherhood with ten men. Apoel were now getting on top and equalised two minutes later with a header from their centre half Joe Ellul. The Brotherhood keeper Dimitri Melaissis pulled off some great saves to keep Apoel at bay and one of them was amazing from a tremendous shot from George Costa.
Towards the middle part of the second half Brotherhood raced forward and took control again and were able to score another three goals one from Niko Salapatas and two from man of the match Izzy his last was an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box which he smashed into the top corner of the goal. Brotherhood are now fourth with an outside chance of the league title.
Aradippou 2 Arachne 1
A much needed three points for Aradippou to ease their relegation worries with their first goal an exceptional one coming from Luke, a one two resulting in him striking the ball into the back of the net. It was 1-0 half time then Arachne equalised with a goal from Leo Charalambous but then Aradippou struck with a goal from sub Sami to give them an important 2-1 win.
Olympia v Tripimeni game was postponed due to the pitch being waterlogged.
Second Division
Pantel 1 Cetinkaya Cinar 5
Cetinkaya Cinar started 2015 with a convincing win against Pantel. It took 11 minutes to get on the mark as Junior’s cross was met with a header from the unmarked Neil Thompson for 0-1. 4 minutes later a Jay Morris pass put through Zaine Martin whose low shot beat the Pantel keeper for 0-2.
Cinar scored within a minute of the second half when Zaine split the Pantel defence with a delightful pass to Tarik Kucuk who made no mistake with his finish for 0-3. 2 minutes later Pantel scored with Yiannis Yianni catching Cinar on the break for 1-3.
Cinar should have put the game to bed soon after, but were guilty of some poor finishing. A couple of substitutions by Pantel made the game more lively, but Cinar’s disciplined performance gave them a fourth on 79 minutes, when the Pantel keeper saved a shot into the path of Kerim Raies who smashed the ball into the net for 1-4. 2 minutes later Cinar sub Ade Kelani was fouled in box and Cem Cemal stepped up to coolly score from the spot kick for 1-5.
With Kln and Maronites not playing, Cetinkaya Cinar extend their lead at the top to six points.
Achna 5 Asha 5
Achna and Asha give each other a bunch of fives
This game had to be match of the day. It started on the cold slippery surface and it was quite even for the first 15 minutes
Achna went ahead on 25 minutes through a fine header from Theoklis Charalambous
Asha equalised on 34 minutes through Harry Koiza and Asha continue to push and finally went ahead through Chris Spyrou.
In the second half Asha continued to push and they went further ahead through Andreas Vazanias to make the score 3-1 to Asha.
Achna came back to make it 2-3 and on 60min with Michael Onoufriou they equalised with a neat goal from Jack Haspineall . A minute later they went 4-3 up again with Jack Haspineall scoring and on 65 minutes they went ahead to make it 5-3 with a goal from Theoklis Charalambous.
On 80 minutes Asha came back to make it 5-4 through Greg Timotheou and ending in the dying seconds with Asha equalising through Chris Spyrou to make it 5-5, this game was a great advertisement for the league and instead of handshakes at the end each player gave a hi 5.
Maronites v KLN game postponed due to waterlogged pitch