Manduca’s last-gasp strike wins Nicosia derby

GUSTAVO Manduca scored deep into injury time as APOEL beat Omonia 2-1 in the first game of the Cyprus playoffs at an empty GSP Stadium to pile the pressure on AEL, who dropped two points against Anorthosis in Larnaca.

The defending champions took the lead a minute into first-half stoppage time through Helder Sousa, whose shot deflected off Margaca.

Omonia leveled eleven minutes into the second half when a free-kick was played short to promising Cypriot forward Demetris Christofi who hit a great shot from distance to beat Dionisis Chiotis.

However, just when everyone thought a draw was inevitable four minutes into injury time, Manduca played a one-two with Aldo Adorno and then beat Antonis Georgallides in Omonia’s goal with a delightful chip.

At the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium in Larnaca meanwhile, Anorthosis and AEL shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.

After great movement by Jan Rezek, David Kvirkvelia’s powerful shot four minutes into the game gave the hosts a 1-0 lead, but Dede equalized in the 17th minute as the two best defences in the Cypriot league looked very vulnerable.

However, there were no more goals until the final whistle, meaning AEL now top the standings with 61 points, with APOEL second on 59.

Omonia and Anorthosis are third and fourth with 57 and 53 points respectively.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.