Cyprus round-up: Olympiakos dent AEL's title hopes

Division A title hopefuls AEL Limassol FC lost 3-0 to Andros Kouloumbris's much improved Olympiakos Nicosia FC this afernoon.

Deserved victory
AEL looked a different team to the side that defeated Omonia FC in their last outing as the Olympiakos striking trio of Josef Kozlej, Michalis Christophi and Marios Themistocleous ran their defence ragged. Kozlej, the country's leading scorer with 16 goals, put Olympiakos into an early lead from the penalty spot following a foul on Christophi by Georgos Ioannou, and Themistocleous doubled his side's lead with a wonderful shot from a Kozlej pass.

Brick wall
AEL worked hard for an equaliser in the second half but found veteran Olympiakos goalkeeper Andros Petrides in great form. Substitute Demetris Assiotis sealed AEL's fate in the fourth minute of injury time as he sprung the offside trap before rounding AEL goalkeeper Demetris Leoni and slotting the ball into an empty net.

Old voodoo
AEL are now seven points behind league leaders APOEL Nicosia FC after losing against the same side that ended their title dream last season - Olympiakos winning 5-0 in Limassol to grab second place.

Alki and AEP share the spoils
In Sunday's other game, Alki FC and AEP Paphos FC fought out a 1-1 draw at the NEW GSZ stadium in Larnaca. AEP took the lead on 25 minutes after Zimbabwean striker Zenzo Moyo headed a Yiannakis Sampson cross into Michalis Shimitras's goal, but his effort was cancelled out in the second half as Cypriot international defender Panicos Spyrou rose above the AEP defence to head home a Zoran Stepjanovic free-kick.