Cyprus round-up: Omonia secure 19th title

Omonia Nicosia FC claimed their 19th league title with an emphatic 5-0 win against Apollon Liamssol FC on the final day of the Division A season.

Much-needed win
Omonia began the day a point ahead of Anorthosis Famagusta FC and two in front of APOEL Nicosia FC, and knew that only a victory would guarantee them the championship. Captain Kostas Kaiafas put the home side in front after 12 minutes, and German-born striker Rainer Rauffmann then doubled the lead from close range, before making the score 3-0 in the 33rd minute, converting a penalty after he had been fouled by Apollon defender Arsen Marjan. Rauffmann completed his hat-trick early in the second half, before scoring his fourth and Omonia's fifth eleven minutes from time.

Anorthosis into Europe
Despite failing to claim the title, Anorthosis managed to clinch second position and a place in next season's UEFA Cup with a 5-1 win at AEK Larnaca FC. Marios Neophytou scored a hat-trick, meaning he finished as the league's top scorer with 33 goals, one more than Rauffmann, while further strikes from Vedran Pelic and Marvin Brunswijk sealed the win. The home team's only response was an early equaliser from Andros Sofocleous.
 
APOEL finish third
APOEL finished third, ending the season with a 2-1 away defeat at Cypriot Cup finalists AEL Limassol FC. Barnabas Sztipanovics gave APOEL the lead in the tenth minute, but AEL rallied to claim all three points through Didi Daye and Alexis Garpozis, who scored the winner on the hour.

Dighenis safe
Elsewhere, Dighenis Morphou FC preserved their top-flight status with a 4-1 win at already-relegated Aris Limassol FC, as goals from Artur Voskanyan, Stefanos Georgiou, Kyriakos Kyriakou and Georgos Papandreou cancelled out Nicos Kissonergis' early opener for the home side.

Nea Salamis relegated
Dighenis' win meant that Nea Salamis FC made a return to the second division despite defeating Alki Larnaca FC 8-1. AEP Paphos FC finished seventh thanks to a 4-3 win against Olympiakos Nicosia FC, and Ethnikos Achnas FC secured a place in the UEFA Intertoto Cup by defeating Enosis Neon Paralimniou FC 3-0 away with goals from Christakis Pashialis and two from Borje Gjurev.