Apollon celebrated its first victory in the Cyprus League by Stoiximan yesterday (September 6) Apollon, who defeated Anorthosis 3-1 at the “Alphamega Stadium” in the second matchday.
The “blue-and-whites” were able to capitalize on their home field advantage and bounce back after their draw with Aris, celebrating a very important result that, in addition to three points, gives them breathing room and time to prepare for what lies ahead.
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The star of the derby was Gary Rodrigues, who, as the most influential player on the field, contributed both creatively and in front of the net. The right winger from Cape Verde was the one who opened the scoring in the 44th minute, but he also set up his team’s other two goals.
First, with a give-and-go to Ozbolt (47′) for the 2-1 lead, and then with the penalty he drew, which allowed the Slovenian forward (89′) to double his personal tally and seal the victory for the Limassol side.
Of course, beyond the plays that resulted in goals, he also created and set up other key moments, such as the shot from the edge of the box in the 13th minute and the “sure goal” he set up for his 30-year-old partner in… crime in the 78th minute, which, however, missed the target.
His outstanding performance could not fail to impress Hernán Lozada, who, at the press conference, heaped praise on him—as well as on Ozbolt. The two of them combined perfectly and kept the opposing defense on its toes throughout the match, while also paving the way for the positive result.
Despite the success, the Spanish coach chose to keep a low profile, noting that his team has not yet reached last year’s level of performance and is still experiencing ups and downs. Of course, the numerous injuries have also played a significant role in this, as they have prevented key players from finding their rhythm.
Overall, the home team put in a pretty good performance and have every reason to look ahead with optimism. After all, the season has just begun, and at this stage, securing wins is more crucial than flawless performances.
A low point was Andreou’s injury at the end of the first half. The 23-year-old, in an attempt to quickly launch a counterattack while being pressured by an opposing player, stumbled and injured his leg. Unfortunately, it did not appear to be a minor issue, as he was carried off the field on a stretcher, with Apollon anxiously awaiting the results of his medical examinations.
As for the rest of the season, the “blue-and-whites” face an even tougher challenge, as they will be visiting GSP Stadium on Saturday (September 12, 8:00 p.m.), where they will aim to… secure the three points.
