Cyprus round-up: APOEL leapfrog AEL to top spot

A win sent APOEL Nicosia FC to the top of the Cypriot first division as AEL Limassol FC lost at home on Saturday.

APOEL steamroll Doxa
APOEL won 3-0 against relegation-threatened Doxa Katakopia FC with a spectacular opening salvo. Kostas Malekos opened the scoring after just four minutes and the game was ended as a meaningful contest when Sinisa Gogic scored in the eighth and 13th minutes to seal Doxa’s fate.

AEK triumph in Limassol
Morning leaders AEL are now a point behind APOEL after losing 1-0 at home to AEK Larnaca FC. AEK did their Nicosia neighbours a favour when Boban Kitanov scored what proved to be the only goal of the game at the Tsirion Athletic centre after 30 minutes.

Kowalczyk hits three
Third-placed Anorthosis Famagusta FC stayed in touch with the leaders by winning 3-2 at home to AEP Paphos FC with Polish striker Wojciech Kowalczyk scoring a hat-trick, including two penalties, to render goals from Sasa Jovanovic and Stelios Sofocleous for AEP insignificant.

Apollon win away
In Nicosia, Olympiakos Nicosia FC and Ethnikos Ashias FC played out a 1-1 draw, while at the Dhasaki Achnas stadium Apollon Limassol FC overcame mid-table rivals Ethnikos Achnas FC 1-0.