Apoel trounce rivals Omonia in Cyprus derby

Just a week after making it through to the Champion’s League Top 16, Apoel of Nicosia trounced their long-time rivals Omonia 3-1 Sunday night and took a mid-season lead in the local championship table after 13 rounds.
Argentine striker Esteban Solari, who had been dogged with poor performance in recent games, came into the game in the 70th minute and from a 1-1 draw up that moment, scored twice and sent fans into a frenzy.
The Omonia ‘greens’ took an early lead in the ninth minute with Andreas Avraam but were down to ten players after Bouthon was sent off. Athos Solomou scored the equalizer just before half time and Apoel kept up the pressure throughout the rest of the game, taking a deserved victory over a disappointing Omonia.
Prior to the game at the shared home ground of the capital’s GSP stadium, Omonia had been in the lead. Apoel now move up with 29 points, one ahead of their eternal rivals who are equal at 28 points with Limassol’s Ael. Anorthosis are lying fourth with 25, followed by Larnaca’s Aek with 23.