By George Christou
LEAGUE leaders Anorthosis dropped their first points of the season yesterday when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Aek in Larnaca.
The draw brought to an end a run of nine straight wins.
Apollonas moved to within five points of Anorthosis, after coming back from a goal down in the first half to beat Apop 2-1 in Limassol.
Ethnikos Achnas moved into fourth place with a 1-0 home win over struggling Paralimni.
Promoted club Evagoras scored their first victory of the season, defeating Ael 2-1 in Paphos in a match that came alive in the final 10 minutes.
Aek made the kind of start they were hoping for, taking a 13th-minute lead through Brazilian striker Toinze.
Fellow Brazilian Paolinho was brought down on the edge of the box and Stylianides rolled the ball from the free kick into the path of Toinze, who blasted into the net, with the help of a deflection.
At one stage the match seemed to be veering out of control, the referee showing five yellow cards in the opening 15 minutes. In that time he also showed a red card to Anorthosis coach Dusan Mitosevic for dissent.
Things calmed down after that, although the tackling continued to be hard and true. Aek closed down space very well and Anorthosis were unable to find any avenues to goal.
The same pattern continued in the second half, with Anorthosis going forward in numbers in search of an equaliser, but leaving gaps in defence.
This suited Aek who counter-attacked at every opportunity and had the chances to wrap up the game. It was only inspired keeping by Anorthosis’s Panyiotou which kept his side in the game.
Aek’s failure to take their chances proved costly. Six minutes from time, young substitute Louca equalised for the champions, rising above three home defenders to head the ball in after a cross from Krismarevic.
Apollonas trailed from the 18th minute after a Pavlos Savva volley from outside the area put Apop in 1-0 front. But the home side drew level on the hour through Iosiphides.
Ten minutes later, Spoliaric found an unmarked Michelic who shot home the winner from close range.
All the action in Paphos was left for the final seven minutes of the game, when all the goals were scored. Dragisic opened Evagoras’s account from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute after Pachtalias was brought down by Papadopoulos inside the area.
Antoniou equalised two minutes later, and then Ael’s Papadopoulos was sent off for a second bookable offence. Dragisic scored Evagoras’s winner from a Knezevic pass a minute before the end.
A goal five minutes from time by summer signing Neocleous handed high- flying Ethnikos Achnas their sixth victory of the season. For Paralimni it was the sixth defeat.
Omonia were playing Apoel last night, while today Anagennisis are at home to Alki and bottom club Ashia travel to Salamina.
