Underdogs APOP clinch Cypriot Cup

Cypriot side APOP/Kinyras Peyias FC made history on Saturday night by becoming the first club from the Paphos district of the island to win a major trophy with their 2-0 cup final victory over AEL Limassol FC.

Underdogs
Georgios Polyviou's side had beaten overwhelming favourites APOEL FC and AC Omonia in the previous rounds and were again underdogs at the GSP Stadium in Nicosia. As expected, AEL enjoyed the majority of the play but they were undone by some stout defending, Hungarian goalkeeper Gábor Bardi denying Freddy and Yiannis Sfakianakis later clearing off the line from the Angolan striker.

Semedo introduction
The introduction of José Semedo on 64 minutes then turned the game around and it was Peyia who took the lead when Angelos Efthymiou flicked the ball over onrushing AEL goalkeeper Pierre Ebede with seven minutes remaining. Five minutes later, Semedo skipped past his marker on the right and whipped in a cross which Fangio Buyse dived to head in from close range. "This is a dream come true for us," exclaimed victorious coach Polyviou. "We totally deserved this trophy and we will celebrate it good and proper. Everyone in Peyia should celebrate with us until the morning."