A strong lead to be in the final of the cup for the third consecutive season was taken by Paphos, who won 2-1 against AEL in the first semi-final held at the “Alphamega” stadium.
In a balanced game, all the goals of which were achieved in the first half, the guests managed to take the lead with two goals, both from Zaza who scored in the 10th minute with a penalty (for Singh’s hand) and in the 37th minute with a close-range shot, with Savo reducing the score for AEL, who despite their efforts in the second half could not to avoid defeat.
Remarkably, Zaza reached five goals in as many matches against AEL, not having scored more than one goal against any other Cypriot team (he still has nine goals against nine different opponents), while Luiz, who was replaced in the 73′, left injured.
On April 22, the rematch will be held at Stelios Kyriakidis.
The fight
The first half of the semi-final had a few phases, several (depending) goals. The penalty won by Paphos (for Singh’s hand in Luiz’s foul) was the first notable phase and Zaza did not let it go unexploited, beating Ochoa from the penalty spot for 1-0 (10′). AEL tried to react, but in the only good chance they created (after a mistake by Gorter), Savo missed the target. On the contrary, Paphos, who in the 26th minute had a missed shot by Pepe, managed to double their goals in the 37th minute, with Zaza scoring again, with a close-range shot after Dragomir’s turn. At the end of the half, however (45+2′), Savo reduced the score to 2-1 with a close shot from a lateral position, putting AEL back in the game.
The replay started with a big phase for each team, with AEL threatening in the 51st minute with a strong shot by Bogdan and Paphos in the next minute with a header by Pepe, but the continuation was not comparable. The next notable opportunity came in the 70th minute with Anderson’s spot-kick, while in the 83′ there were strong protests by the home team for a penalty, for Bogdan’s overthrow by Gorter, with the Estonian ref and VAR having a different opinion as the Paphos goalkeeper took the ball. In the final, AEL came twice close to equalizing, with Stefanovic’s header in the 86th minute (just off) and an even bigger chance in the 90+1 minute with Milosavlijevic’s shot on the crossbar, while two minutes later Anderson’s header failed to make it 3-1 and… to a large extent “lock” Pafos’ qualification.
The LIVE of the match
End of match
90+3′ Paphos also scores with Anderson’s close header, just outside!
90+1′ Terrible chance for AEL with Milosavlijevic’s shot on the crossbar!
-Six minutes late.
88′ Paroutis replaces Singh.
87′ Silva in place of Zaza.
86′ The Limassols threaten with Stefanovic’s header, just over the posts.
83′ AEL asks for a penalty for Gorter’s overthrow of Bogdan, the Estonian ref says nothing.
81′ Zradi replaces Glavsic.
75′ Yellow card to Ioannou.
73′ Yellow card to Bogdan.
73′ Forced substitution for Paphos, Luiz out, Mimovic in.
70′ Anderson entered the area, played the ball with Ochoa kicking away for a corner
67′ Neophytou and Moog replace Imanissimoue and Maseko.
65′ Anderson against Lele.
52′ Paphos also threatens with Pepe’s header, Stefanovic cleared before the ball crossed the line.
51′ Great opportunity for AEL to equalize with a strong shot by Bogdan on the outside of the net!
46′ Sema replaces Korea.
Second half
45+2′ GOAL, AEL reduces to 2-1 with Savo! With a close shot from a side position.
-4 minutes delays for the first part.
37′ GOAL, 2-0 Paphos with Zaza! With a shot at the second post after Dragomir’s turn.
34′ Yellow card to Masekos.
29′ Great opportunity for AEL! After Gorter’s wrong pass, Savo stole, passed the Paphos goalkeeper from the left and crossed from a lateral position trying to beat Sunic who was covering the goal, but missed the target.
26′ Strong shot by Pepe, out.
25′ Long shot by Savo, also off target.
21′ Shot by Singh, very off target.
19′ Paphos’ goal is disallowed due to an offside indication to Zaza, who correctly placed Ochoa in a 4-on-4.
10′ GOAL, 1-0 Paphos with Zaza’s penalty kick!
-VAR also agrees with the decision. Zaza prepares for the execution.
-Replays seem to confirm Estonian referee Jonas Janovic.
8′ Penalty for Paphos! For Singh’s hand in taking the foul.
8′ Direct free kick by Luiz, countered, out.
-The match has started.
AEL: Ochoa, Conceição, Stefanovic, Bogdan, Imanissimoue (Neofytou 67′), Zdrakovsky, Milosavljevic, Glavsic (Zradi 81′), Singh (Paroutis 88′), Maseko (Moog 67′), Savo.
PAPHOS FC: Gorter, Bruno, Luiz (73′ Mimovic), Lucassen, Ioannou, Sunic, Pepe, Dragomir, Zaza (87′ Silva), Correa (46′ Seema), Lele (65′ Anderson).
SCORER: 45+2′ Savo / 10′ Pen., 37′ Zaza
YELLOW: 34′ Maseko, 73′ Bogdan / 75′ Ioannou
Referee: Midsummer Jonas
First Assistant Referee: Charalambous Giorgos P.
Second Assistant Referee: Evagorou Evagoras
4th Referee: Athanasiou Kyriakos
OUR: Sand Marko
AVAR: Marios Kalogirou
Observer: Michalis Karaiskakis