Apollon ride their luck to hold Lazio

Apollon Limassol FC claimed a creditable 0-0 draw against Seria A side SS Lazio in Nicosia to keep alive their chances of qualifying from UEFA Europa League Group J.

The final result was something of a coup for Apollon, who had to withstand intense pressure at times on home soil. However, they may have to do it all over again on matchday four when they head for Rome, one point behind Lazio and three shy of leaders Trabzonspor AŞ.

Lazio will feel they should have made more of their chances in Cyprus. In the first half, Ederson and Hernanes both worked their way into good positions after Apollon defenders had failed to clear their lines, only to be unable to find the finishing touch. Apollon were to offer little in reply, though Gaston Sangoy and Fotis Papoulis missed the target on forays forward.

Apollon never took charge of the game but posed their visitors more problems after the interval, going close when Papoulis' curling effort just cleared the crossbar on the hour. Camel Meriem also tried his luck from distance five minutes from the end, but his long-range effort was just off target.

Vladimir Petković's Lazio, though, will have a thing or two to discuss on their flight home. Indeed, Hernanes and Álvaro González both failed to trouble Bruno Vale in the Apollon goal as Christakis Christoforou's men rode their luck to claim a point.