With Hambo's goal, the Limassol team won 1-0 against AEK and continues to hope for an exit to Europe
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And yet it is still here! Apollon defeated AEK 1-0 thanks to a “painting” by Hambos and remains alive in the battle for a European ticket. Larnaca were better in the first half but they did not take advantage of the opportunities they found. With today's victory, Apollon rose to 56 points while AEK remained at 61.
First Half
The pace was pretty good from the first few minutes. Both teams entered aggressively with the aim of finding an early goal.
The first good moment came in the 11th minute and it was for Apollon. Pittas took a powerful, dribbled shot from outside the area but Piric got down and made a solid block. The Cypriot forward also threatened in the 17th minute with a place inside the area after a parallel turn by Ba, but he did not find the target.
AEK picked up the pace afterwards and created two chances in a minute. Initially, Lopez caught a long shot in the 19th minute, but Jovanovic fell and collected easily. In the 20th minute, it was Gyurço's turn, who converged from the left and took the shot, but again the Serbian goalkeeper showed readiness and blocked the ball.
The guests imposed their rhythm and controlled the game. In the 34th minute, García took the header after a foul by Gourcho and sent the ball just wide.
The “blue and white” had difficulty moving the ball and creating a good phase. Nevertheless, they came within a breath of a goal through a set piece in the 39th minute. After Warda's corner kick, Peyburns turned to Ba and from an advantageous position he sent the ball… into the sky.
AEK responded in the 41st minute with a shot by Tomovic after a period of time in the Apollon area. but the Serbian stopper did not find the target.
Nothing changed in the remaining minutes with 0-0 remaining until the end of the first half.
Second Half
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The hosts opened the scoring with a good morning in the replay. Hambos Kyriakou caught a strong shot from quite a long distance and sent the ball into Piric's window in the 49th minute.
AEK tried to react but could not break the very well organized defense of the “blue and white”.
As expected, Apollos retreated to preserve their advantage and gave space to the “yellow-greens” who recorded their first phase in the replay in the 71st minute. Milicevic made the cross and Lopes caught the header which, however, was very off target.
Essentially, the home team kept their lead relatively comfortably as AEK did not find a way to threaten Jovanovic's goal.
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In the 87th minute, the Serbian keeper said “no” to Triskovski's close header and maintained his team's lead.
In the next phase, Pittas missed a big chance to end the match as with a nice placement from the edge of the area he sent the ball just wide.
1-0 was also the final score. Apollos rose to 56 points and remains alive in the battle to secure a European ticket. AEK remained at 61 points and is invited to make a reaction in the next derbies that acquire a “final” character.
THE IDENTITY OF THE GAME
Apollo (Anton):Jovanovic, Ekpolo, Peiburns, Pittas (90' Spoliaritz), Roberges, Va, Hambos (78' Mavrias), Filiotis, Donio (66' Sahar), Warda, Kol
AEK (Oltra):Piric, Garcia, Milicevic, Tomovic, Rosales (84' Mamas), Ledes (84' Iakolis), Pons, Farage (64' Naum), Gourcho (75' Gromov) , Triskovski, Lopes (75' Nikolic)
Scorer: 49' Hambos/-
Yellow cards: 79' Sahar/70' Ledes, 90+4' Mamas
Dismissals: -/-
Referee: Vitor Jorge Fernandes Ferreira< /p>
VAR: Miguel Hugo Filipe De Campos
