Cyprus round-up: APOEL crowned champions

APOEL Nicosia FC took their 17th Cypriot title on Saturday after a 1-1 draw at AEL Limassol FC.

Glory for APOEL
A draw for Egen Gerrard's side saw them taste glory in the league for the first time in six years having dominated the league all season with 18 wins in 26 league games. Cypriot international Demetris Daskalakis gave APOEL the perfect start on eleven minutes today after he got in behind the AEL defense and headed a well-taken Konstantinos Charalambides corner past goalkeeper Demetris Leoni.

Late equaliser
Greek striker Elias Solakis missed a few chances to double his side's lead but his lack of finishing was to prove costly as Lambros Lambrou got onto the end of Josef Sebok's swerving corner nine minutes from time to gift AEL the crucial point that could bring UEFA Cup football to the Tsirium Athletic Center next season.

Anorthosis hit eight
Anorthosis Famagusta FC - who needed APOEL to lose whilst also scoring 12 goals to win the title themselves - almost got it right as they put eight goals past Ermis Aradippos FC. Polish striker Wojciech Kowalczyk scored a mesmerizing five goals to bolt to the top of the scorers charts with 23 goals, three ahead of Slovakian Josef Kozlej of Olympiakos Nicosia FC whose side hosts Alki FC tomorrow. Loucas Louca added two more late in the second half and Christos Kotsonis grabbed the other with a good strike that completed a miserable afternoon for Ermis keeper Stelios Stylianou.

Omonia disappointed
Omonia FC fought out a hard-earned 2-1 win against a depleted Apollon Limassol FC side at the GSZ stadium in Larnaca but it was not to prove rewarding as AEL's draw against APOEL kept the former champions out of contention for a UEFA Cup spot.  Koullis Mitsingas fired Omonia ahead after seven minutes after he was put through by a Vesko Mihajlovic pass. Rainer Rauffmann added a second on 71 minutes before youngster Doros Demosthenous snatched a late consolation for the Limassol side.

Achnas score six
Cypriot Cup debut finalists Ethnikos Achnas FC finished off the season in fine style with a 6-0 thrashing over relegated Doxa Katokopia FC as they hope to make history on 11 May against Anorthosis in the Cypriot Cup final. Dragoslav Music scored two brilliant goals with Vance Trajcev, Loucas Zeniou, Nicos Sofocleous and Christos Poyiatzis adding the other four. AEP Paphos FC also ended the season on a high note as they defeated Enosis Neon Paralimni FC 4-1 at the Pafiakos stadium.