Apollon knock Apoel out of Cyprus Cup

Apollon are through to the quarter-finals of the Cyprus Cup after a 2-1 away win over Apoel on Wednesday sealed a 3-2 aggregate win.

It was Apoel who began the game on the front foot and pressed for the goal that would have levelled the aggregate score but they were found wanting yet again in the final third.

Apollon were content to sit back and soak up the pressure and wait to hit Apoel on the break. They went close in the 13th minute but there was no one to tap the ball into the net after Pedro’s teasing cross, but 12 minutes later the Limassol team took the lead.

A simple exchange of passes in the middle of the field set Gaepke through with a clear run on goal but he unselfishly squared the ball to Papoulis who prodded the ball past Apoel goalkeeper Waterman.

Apoel did try to hit back before the interval to get back into the game but could not find a way to break down Apollon’s resolute defence.

For almost 30 minutes of the second half Apollon were in complete control. They were rarely troubled and seemed to be enjoying their day as they toyed with Apoel who could not get hold of the ball.

In the final 15 minutes Apoel regained control and the Apollon goalkeeper had to be alert to turn Efraim’s goalbound effort round the post.

Then with 11 minutes remaining Savic equalised after a Matic cross.

With Apoel pushing almost all players forward in search of a second goal they left huge gaps at the back and in added time Dendic raced clear on goal before crossing to Pittas for the icing on the cake.

It was a thoroughly professional and deserved win by Apollon who never appeared in danger of missing out on the draw for the quarter-finals, especially after taking the lead.

Earlier Nea Salamina also booked their place in the last eight with a 2-1 home win over Pafos FC for a 3-1 aggregate victory.

In a first leg match, Digenis Morphou were hammered 3-0 at home by Ethnikos Achna.

The day’s final match saw Anorthosis easily advance to the quarter-finals. After a goalless first leg, the league leaders turned on the style at home to beat Olympiakos Nicosia 3-0.

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.