Cyprus round-up: APOEL increase gap

APOEL Nicosia FC secured an important 2-0 win on Saturday to move three points ahead of Anorthosis Famagusta FC.

Solakis double
Greek striker Elias Solakis ended his goal-drought for APOEL with two personal efforts in the first half against Alki FC to take his goal tally this season to ten. The first goal came courtesy of some disappointing defending by Alki, which allowed Solakis to get in behind the defence and fire his side ahead in the 30th minute.

Excellent finish
The same player was again target soon after the Alki defence was again caught napping and Sinisa Gogic headed the ball into the path of the Greek who drilled the ball decisively past goalkeeper Michalis Shimitras. Alki had coach Ilie Dumitrescu sent off late in the game.

AEL sent crashing
AEL Limassol FC continued their stuttering run in the league with yet another home defeat, this time at the hands of seventh placed Ethnikos Achnas. AEL took a first-half lead thanks to Georgos Constanti's penalty but poor finishing from Stelios Trattos and Lambros Lambrou up front for the hosts allowed Achnas to rally back first with Vance Trajcev - who curled a long ranged free kick into Athos Chrysostomou's net - and then Alexis Alexandrou who sprung the offside trap before rounding Chrysostomou with just four minutes left on the clock.

Omonia move up
Current champions Omonia FC took good advantage of AEL's defeat as they grabbed a vital 1-0 win away to AEP Paphos FC in front of a record 6.104 capacity crowd at the tiny Paphiakos stadium to move up into third place in the league. Belgian Gunter Thiebaut's 48th-minute strike was enough to separate the two sides in an action-packed game that saw Omonia keeper Tassos Yiallouris produce some stunning saves.

Anorthosis go second
Anorthosis were also victorious in their game away to AEK Larnaca FC in Saturday's late game. Polish striker Wojciech Kowalczyk's goal on 55 minutes was enough to give Anorthosis the edge they needed as AEK missed a host of chances to score late in the game. In the other game, Enosis Neon Paralimni FC defeated Olympiakos Nicosia FC 2-0 with goals from defender Georgos Kolanis and substitute Marios Thomas.