Cyprus League: Game Week 15 Roundup

Anorthosis 0-0 Olympiakos

Anorthosis closed out 2025 with another dispiriting result, drawing 0–0 with Olympiakos Nicosia at the Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium on matchday 15, the final round before the Christmas and New Year break. Coming on the back of a defeat to Omonoia Aradippou, the stalemate only deepened the sense of frustration around the club.

Timur Ketsbaia’s side knew victory was close to essential for both points and morale, but their first-half display lacked urgency and creativity. Anorthosis struggled badly in attack, looked blocked in transition, and were contained by a well-organised Olympiakos side that threatened on the counter and even hit the woodwork.

Changes at half-time brought more intensity and pressure, with Anorthosis pushing higher, winning set pieces and creating moments, but the final pass and finishing touch were once again missing – typified by Sensi’s late chance that went begging. Olympiakos, meanwhile, took a second straight clean-sheet draw against a top-six side after their 0–0 with AEL. Compact, disciplined and competitive in midfield, they showed they are no easy opponent and remain comfortably mid-table.

For Anorthosis, the warning signs are clear: the issue isn’t just the league position, but performances. Winless at home and short on attacking output, they head into the break in need of a full reset – with pressure firmly on ahead of the restart.

Aris 2-2 Omonoia Aradippou

Aris Limassol were forced to settle for a point after being held to a 2–2 draw by a resilient Omonoia Aradippou side in a lively encounter decided largely by moments from set pieces.

Aris began on the front foot and wasted little time asserting control. Montnor was denied from close range in the opening minute, while Gomis came agonisingly close soon after, striking the post with a powerful effort from the edge of the area. The pressure eventually told in the 12th minute when Mayambela was brought down in the box, and Kviliataia calmly converted the resulting penalty to give the hosts a deserved lead. Omonoia Aradippou gradually found their footing and struck back through a corner, with Georgiou diving in unmarked to head home and level the score. Despite the setback, Aris responded well and reclaimed the advantage just before half-time, as Gomis rose highest to head in a cross from Correia, sending the hosts into the break 2–1 ahead.

The tempo dropped after the restart, with chances harder to come by. Aris continued to probe through Mayambela and Montnor, while Omonoia Aradippou remained patient and dangerous from dead-ball situations. That persistence paid off in the 80th minute when Thelander, left completely unmarked from a corner, capitalised on a poor goalkeeping decision to head in the equaliser. Both sides pushed for a late winner, but neither could find the decisive moment, and the match ended all square after an entertaining and competitive contest.

Paralimni 0-1 Akritas

Akritas Chlorakas claimed a vital 1–0 away win over Paralimni at Tasos Markou Stadium on matchday 15, continuing their upward momentum. The decisive moment came deep into first-half stoppage time (45+4’), when Chatzivasilis converted a penalty after a VAR review for handball.

The match itself was scrappy, with little rhythm and few clear chances due to frequent stoppages. Akritas move up to 19 points and 8th place, while Paralimni remain bottom with just one point.

Krasava 0-1 Apollon

Apollon Limassol returned to winning ways with a narrow 1–0 victory over Krasava at the “Ammochostos–Epistrofi” Stadium. The decisive moment came late on, when substitutes combined in the 85th minute: Rodrigues delivered a free kick and Marques finished from close range to score the winner.

Apollon dominated possession throughout a slow-paced contest but struggled to create clear chances, with the first real effort arriving midway through the first half. The hosts were rarely threatening, though they went close late on through Julio Cesar. In the end, Apollon’s patience paid off as they secured an important three points and a timely return to winning form.

The Pafos–APOEL fixture was postponed after heavy rainfall in the Paphos district rendered the pitch at the Stelios Kyriakides Stadium unsafe and unplayable.

Shortly after 18:00, referee Konstantinos Fellas conducted the final pitch inspection and concluded that the match could not proceed, leading to the official postponement of the derby.

According to competition regulations, when a match is not played through no fault of either team – or is later annulled by a Judicial Committee without attributing responsibility – the fixture must be replayed. Any referee report compiled before abandonment remains valid solely in relation to individuals reported and incidents observed prior to the postponement.

The regulations also outline a clear framework for rescheduling postponed matches: fixtures scheduled for Friday are replayed on Saturday, Saturday matches on Sunday, Sunday matches on Monday (unless restricted by FIFA or UEFA commitments), and Monday matches on Tuesday – subject to existing domestic or European fixtures.

In this case, however, practical complications arose. The appointed VAR official, Sven Wolfensberger, is also assigned to the AEL–AEK fixture, making simultaneous availability impossible. In addition, several players from both teams had already arranged international travel, with departures scheduled for Sunday evening and Monday.

As a result, the Cyprus Football Association Board of Directors convened an extraordinary late-night meeting to assess the situation and determine the next steps.

Following that meeting, the CFA confirmed that the Pafos FC – APOEL match, originally scheduled for the 15th round of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan, will not be played on Monday either. The pitch remains unsuitable, and no immediate alternative date has been set.

The new date for the fixture will be announced at a later stage.

AEL 0-1 AEK

AEK Larnaca closed out a dream year with a 1–0 away win over AEL Limassol at the Alphamega Stadium, moving up to third place on 31 points.

The match was evenly balanced early on, with both sides trying to control the tempo. AEK struck in the 26th minute when Cabrera finished calmly after a cut-back from Naoum. AEL had chances to respond before the break but failed to convert.

Early in the second half, AEK thought they had doubled their lead through a Saborit header, only for VAR to rule it out for offside. AEL struggled to build sustained attacks, and despite pushing late on, were kept at bay by AEK’s disciplined defence.

Omonoia 4-0 Ethnikos

Omonoia Nicosia signed off the year with a dominant 4–0 home win over Ethnikos Achna at the GSP Stadium on Matchday 15 of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan.

Panayiotou opened the scoring in the 24th minute, before Semedo doubled the lead from the penalty spot just after the hour. Tankovic made it 3–0 on 69 minutes, and Stevan Jovetić sealed the rout with another penalty ten minutes later.

Henning Berg’s side controlled the game throughout, creating chances at will and limiting Ethnikos to sporadic threats. The result leaves Omonoia second on 33 points, while Ethnikos remain 11th with 14.

The Cyprus League is finely poised, with Pafos FC leading on 34 points and Omonoia Nicosia close behind on 33, while AEK Larnaca (31) and Aris Limassol (30) complete a tightly packed top four. APOEL FC sit fifth on 26 points, with Apollon Limassol sixth on 24, already trailing the leaders, while AEL Limassol head the mid-table on 21. At the other end, Omonoia Aradippou, Ethnikos Achna and Anorthosis Famagusta are locked together on 14 points, with Krasava just below on 11 and Enosis Neon Paralimni already cut adrift on one point—with the small caveat that Pafos and APOEL both have a game in hand, still to be played against each other in a rescheduled showdown that could further twist the title picture.