By Andreas Vou
It was a mixed evening for the three Cypriot sides competing in the Europa League third-round first leg on Thursday, with Omonia ending the night the happier of the trio after a goalless draw in Denmark.
Apollon had been rampant in the previous two rounds of qualifying with two consecutive 4-0 aggregate wins, and the early indications were that it would be another comfortable affair against Azerbaijan’s Qabala on home soil.
After just 14 minutes, Fotis Papoulis picked out strike partner Giorgos Kolokoudias with a pinpoint cross. The Cypriot striker did well to direct his header across goal and beyond the goalkeeper to give Apollon a dream start.
Surprisingly however, it was the visitors who looked the likelier of the two to grab the next goal, with Bruno Vale being called into action to make a few decent saves. Apollon could not gain control of the game and were under the cosh for the majority of the game.
Just as it looked like Apollon had weathered the storm, the biggest drama of the night would come right at the death, as the referee awarded a hugely contentious penalty to Qabala with Freire adjudged to have pulled his marker to the ground.
The decision sparked irate protests from Apollon which prolonged the tension even further. Eventually, captain Javid Huseynov slotted the ball down the middle to make it 1-1 and deal a huge blow to Apollon’s chances.
Meanwhile, Omonia travelled to Denmark to take on Brondby who had got off to a disappointing start in the domestic league with two defeats in two games and had a point to prove to their loyal fans, who were in full voice from the start.
The first real chance of the match fell to Omonia on 13 minutes. Luciano Bebe went on a superb individual run before picking out Nuno Assis in the box but the club captain lashed his effort well over the bar.
Then, on 40 minutes, came another golden chance for Omonia. Cillian Sheridan found Andre Schembri in the box who then cut inside his defender and attempted to dink the ball over Lucas Hradecky but the Finnish keeper stood tall to deny an opener.
In the very next attack, Brondby threatened with their first chance on goal. Elbasan Rashani picked the ball out of the sky with a great first touch before unleashing a powerful shot across goal but was denied by the outstretched leg of Constantinos Panayi.
Omonia played without fear and, as a result, Brondby looked hesitant to commit players forward. The second half lacked the intensity of the first half as both sides seemed content with the 0-0 result.
AEK Larnaca had the toughest of the three matches against Girondins Bordeaux. After digging deep to keep the score even in the first 45 minutes, the floodgates opened in the second half as goals from Andre Biyogo Poko, Cheick Diabate from the spot and Nicolas Maurice-Belay sealed a comfortable 3-0 win.
Omonia end the night the more content of Cyprus’ three representatives though Apollon must still fancy their chances away to Qabala. AEK, meanwhile, will require a miracle back in Larnaca next Thursday.
All results from the UEFA Europa League Qualification Round 3 first leg matches on Thursday
Qualification Round 3, Thursday, July 30, first leg
Southampton (England) – Vitesse Arnhem (Netherlands) 3-0 (halftime: 2-0)
Wolfsberger AC (Austria) – Borussia Dortmund (Germany) 0-1 (halftime: 0-1)
Belenenses (Portugal) – IFK Gothenburg (Sweden) 2-1 (halftime: 2-0)
Hajduk Split (Croatia) – Stromsgodset IF (Norway) 2-0 (halftime: 0-0)
Sampdoria (Italy) – Vojvodina Novi Sad (Serbia) 0-4 (halftime: 0-1)
Athletic Club (Spain) – Inter Baku (Azerbaijan) 2-0 (halftime: 1-0)
West Ham United (England) – FC Astra (Romania) 2-2 (halftime: 1-0)
Charleroi (Belgium) – Zarya Luhansk (Ukraine) 0-2 (halftime: 0-0)
Girondins Bordeaux (France) – AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) 3-0 (halftime: 0-0)
Standard Liege (Belgium) – Zeljeznicar Sarajevo (Bosnia & Herzegovina) 2-1 (halftime: 2-0)
Brondby (Denmark) – Omonia Nicosia (Cyprus) 0-0 (halftime: 0-0)
Debrecen (Hungary) – Rosenborg Trondheim (Norway) 2-3 (halftime: 1-0)
FCM Targu Mures (Romania) – St Etienne (France) 0-3 (halftime: 0-1)
Kukesi (Albania) – Legia Warsaw (Poland) 1-2 (halftime: 0-1) aband.52′
Rabotnicki Skopje (FYR Macedonia) – Trabzonspor (Turkey) 1-0 (halftime: 1-0)
AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands) – Istanbul Basaksehir (Turkey) 2-0 (halftime: 1-0)
FC Thun (Switzerland) – FC Vaduz (Liechtenstein) 0-0 (halftime: 0-0)
FC Zurich (Switzerland) – Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) 0-1 (halftime: 0-0)
Zilina (Slovakia) – Vorskla Poltava (Ukraine) 2-0 (halftime: 1-0)
AIK Stockholm (Sweden) – Atromitos Athinon (Greece) 1-3 (halftime: 0-2)
Apollon Limassol (Cyprus) – FK Qabala (Azerbaijan) 1-1 (halftime: 1-0)
FK Krasnodar (Russia) – Slovan Bratislava (Slovakia) 2-0 (halftime: 1-0)
PAOK Salonika (Greece) – Spartak Trnava (Slovakia) 1-0 (halftime: 0-0)
Altach (Austria) – Vitoria Guimaraes (Portugal) 2-1 (halftime: 1-0)
Slovan Liberec (Czech Republic) – Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel) 2-1 (halftime: 1-0)
Sturm Graz (Austria) – Rubin Kazan (Russia) 2-3 (halftime: 1-2)
Elfsborg Boras (Sweden) – Odd Grenland (Norway) 2-1 (halftime: 1-1)
Kairat Almaty (Kazakhstan) – Aberdeen (Scotland) 2-1 (halftime: 2-0)
