Apoel’s Champions League dream in danger after defeat

Cyprus champions Apoel face an uphill battle to continue in Champions League qualifying after falling to a 3-1 defeat in Lithuania against FK Suduva Marijampole in the first leg of their first qualifying round tie.

A disastrous 10-minute spell early in the first half saw Apoel trailing 3-0 against the Lithuanian champions thanks to a hat-trick from their towering centre forward Cicilia.

All three goals were scored in an identical fashion as Cicilia was left unmarked in the penalty area after crosses from the right.
Much as they tried Apoel did not manage much in the opening 45 minutes with Suduva’s goalkeeper Kardum called into action just once as he tipped over de Vincenti’s goalbound free-kick.

In the second half Apoel poured forward and were permanently camped inside the Lithuanians’ half.

They created a number of openings with Pote twice thwarted by Kardum and Aloneftis failing to find the net with only the keeper to beat.

Suduva held out until Tavares hoisted the ball into the penalty box and Kazou headed into the net in the final minute of added time, meaning Apoel can still go through with a 2-0 win in Nicosia in the second leg next Tuesday.

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.