Cyprus round-up: Omonia forced to wait
Sunday, May 4, 2003
Article summary
Omonia Nicosia FC were beaten 4-3 by APOEL Nicosia FC, meaning the title race will go down to the wire.
Article body
Omonia setback
Omonia, who needed two points from their final two matches to clinch the championship, were undone by three goals in six second-half minutes which turned the game in APOEL's favour. Kostakis Malekkos, Georgos Vakouftsis and Barnabas Sztipanovic all struck in the last quarter of an hour to put the visitors into an inexorable 4-2 lead.
No consolation
Lefteris Kontolefteros hit a late third for Omonia but it was no consolation for Toni Saveski's side who had responded to the setback of Marinos Ouzounides's early opener with goals from Kostas Kaiafas and Rainer Rauffmann. The leaders must now beat Apollon Limassol FC at home next weekend to be sure of the title.
Neophytou feat
Breathing hard on their shoulders are Anorthosis Famagusta FC, the second-placed team who moved to within a point of the summit with a 9-2 home win against relegated Aris Limassol FC. Marios Neophytou scored five times to go top of the Division A scoring chart, while Kyriakos Koursaros and Vedran Pelic weighed in with two goals apiece. Anorthosis travel to AEK Larnaca FC on the final day, while APOEL, two points behind Omonia, are away to AEL Limassol FC.
Relegation struggle
At the other end of the table, Nea Salamis FC climbed to within two points of safety - and fourth-from-bottom Dighenis Morphou FC - with a 3-1 victory at AEP Paphos FC. Late goals from Kyrsztof Bukalski, Georgos Panayi and Marios Louca secured a vital win. Dighenis could only draw 2-2 at home to cup finalists AEL, but Enosis Neon Paralimniou FC ensured their top-flight status by beating bottom club Alki Larnaca FC 5-1.
Upwardly mobile
Elsewhere, Olympiakos Nicosia FC defeated Apollon Limassol FC 4-2 to consolidate fourth place in the league, while Ethnikos Achnas FC beat AEK Larnaca FC 3-2 to leapfrog them in the table.
