A Strong Night for Cypriot Football as Omonoia and Pafos Win in Europe, While APOEL Stumble

It was an overall positive evening for Cypriot football, with Omonoia and Pafos securing wins in their opening UEFA Conference League group stage matches. However, APOEL’s late draw in Ireland left a bittersweet taste as they let victory slip away in stoppage time.

Omonoia’s Second-Half Surge Crushes Vikingur

Omonoia Nicosia opened their campaign in style with a dominant 4-0 victory against Icelandic champions Vikingur Reykjavik at the GSP Stadium. The match, however, began with the visitors in control, as Vikingur dominated the first 25 minutes. They created several scoring opportunities but were denied twice by Omonoia’s goalkeeper Fabiano, who kept his side level during a challenging opening phase.

After weathering the early storm, Omonoia turned the tide in the second half. Senou Coulibaly opened the scoring with a header from Charalambous’ corner just after the break, giving the home side the momentum they needed. The introduction of Andronikos Kakoullis proved crucial as he doubled Omonoia’s lead, finishing from close range after coming off the bench.

Substitute Alioum added a third as Vikingur’s defence tired, racing clear to slot the ball home. Kakoullis then completed the rout by pouncing on a weak backpass, rounding the Vikingur goalkeeper, and securing a fourth goal to cap off a commanding second-half performance. Despite struggling early on, Omonoia ran out deserved 4-0 winners.

Pafos Overcome Early Setback to Cruise Past Petrocub

Meanwhile, Pafos also started their European adventure with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Moldovan side Petrocub. The Cypriot Cup holders had a sluggish start, falling behind in the 25th minute, but they quickly responded. Seven minutes later, Joao Correia equalised, and just three minutes after that, in-form winger Jaja put Pafos ahead with a well-taken goal.

The second half belonged to Pafos, as they dominated possession and chances. Correia grabbed his second goal in the 52nd minute, making it 3-1, and Name added a fourth to seal an impressive win for Carcedo’s men. Despite the 4-1 scoreline, the match was a far more dominant display from Pafos, who controlled the game from the moment they took the lead.

APOEL Let Victory Slip in Dublin

APOEL Nicosia, on the other hand, left Dublin with frustration after conceding a last-gasp equaliser in their 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers. The Cypriot side appeared to be heading for victory after Laifi’s 58th-minute goal, but they failed to take advantage despite having a clear opportunity through Marquinhos late on.

In stoppage time, APOEL’s defensive frailties were exposed when Shamrock Rovers scored from a corner, with Watts heading in the equaliser in the 92nd minute. APOEL coach Jose Dominguez lamented the result in the post-match press conference, stating:

“We could have killed the game. We had a big chance through Marquinhos, we didn’t take it and conceded the goal in stoppage time against a team that’s very good at set pieces. It’s a bad result, like a punch in the stomach.”

Despite the disappointment, Cypriot football as a whole had a largely successful night, with Omonoia and Pafos both making emphatic starts to their Conference League campaigns.