Cyprus round-up: No stopping APOEL

A 4-1 win against relegation threatened Alki Larnaca FC kept APOEL Nicosia FC at the top of the Cypriot table.

Malekkos hat-trick
Kostakis Malekkos scored a hat-trick at the GSZ stadium, including two goals from the penalty spot, while Hungarian striker Barnabas Sztipanovics scored the other with a powerful header late on for Panagiotis Lemonis' undefeated side. Alki struck a consolation goal on 66 minutes - a blistering Akis Ioannou shot from 30 metres.

Rauffman on form
Second-placed Omonia FC remain just one point behind APOEL after a 3-0 win against title challengers Anorthosis Famagusta FC. The league's top scorer, Rainer Marcos Rauffman, showed his class again, beating Cypriot international goalkeeper Nicos Panagiotou twice before setting up a third goal for Ljubisa Kekic.

Olympiakos cruise on
Elsewhere, Olympiakos Nicosia FC remain on course for a UEFA Cup place after a 2-1 win against AEK Larnaca FC moved them to within a pint of third-placed Anorthosis. Slovakian striker Josef Kozlej tucked away a 20th-minute penalty to give Nicos Andronicou's side the lead with Slovenian international Sasa Gajser adding a second with a well-struck free-kick on 70 minutes. AEK pulled a goal back in added time through Sergis Kounnis.

Other games
In the weekend's other games, Ethnikos Achnas FC achieved their biggest win of the season with a  6-1 thrashing of Dighenis Morphou FC, while Apollon Limassol FC were the winners in the Limassol derby as they beat the bottom club Aris Limassol FC 3-1. The games between Nea Salamina FC and Enosis Neon Paralimniou FC, and AEP Paphos FC versus AEL Limassol FC ended goalless.