Cyprus round-up: Top billing for Olympiakos

Consummate performance
Nicos Andonicou's side leapfrogged champions and UEFA Cup hopefuls APOEL Nicosia FC with a consummate display against last season's Cypriot Cup finalists. Slovenian international Sasa Gajsa provided a perfect free-kick for Andreas Melanarkitis to head Olympiakos's opener after just eight minutes and it was all downhill from there for Achnas.

Tidy finish
Melanarkitis scored a second after 34 minutes with help from Sinisa Gogic, and Achnas goalkeeper Aleksandar Kocic was beaten again just after half-time as Josef Kozlej converted a free header. Cypriot international Philipos Philipou gave Achnas hope with an own goal, but Savvas Tsiakklis made it 4-1 with a tidy finish three minutes from full time.

APOEL struggle to victory
APOEL remain just behind Olympiakos on goal difference after a 2-1 victory over AEK Larnaca FC, although they would have hoped for an easier game to prepare for their UEFA Cup tie against Austrian side Grazer AK next week. Stavros Georgiou opened the scoring for the champions after 65 minutes, but the visitors were level through Louis Eleftheiou's header two minutes later, and it took a spectacular 25-metre strike from Marios Ilias five minutes from time to clinch the points.

Star turn for Mihajlovic
Yugoslavian-Cypriot Vesko Mihajlovic was the star of Omonia FC's 4-2 success at AEP Paphos FC. With his team 2-1 down, Mihajlovic came on as substitute and proceeded to turn the game round, first supplying the pass for Akis Ioakim's equaliser then beating AEP goalkeeper Alexandros Michael to give his side the lead. Marcos Rauffmanns scored his second goal after 79 minutes to seal the win.

Tait on form
In the other games, Cyprus's other UEFA Cup contenders Anorthosis Famagusta FC were held to a 0-0 draw by newly promoted Nea Salamis FC after a good defensive showing from Nea Salamis and in particular former Birmingham City FC player Paul Tait. Meanwhile, Apollon Limassol FC secured their first three points of the season against relegation candidates Alki FC thanks to Romanian striker Marian Savu's 45th-minute header.

Derby joy for AEL
New boys Dighenis Morphou FC continued their good start with a 1-0 triumph against Enosis Neon Paralimni FC after a wonderful solo goal from Greek striker Georgos Papandreou. In the Limassol derby, AEL Limassol FC also got their first win as they edged past Aris Limassol FC 2-1 in front of 7,000 fans at the Tsirium Athletic Centre. Two strikes from Hungarian Jozef Sebok cancelled out Nigerian Joseph Nuafor's early effort.