Anorthosis secures first victory of the season against APOEL
On September 12, 2026, Anorthosis Famagusta achieved its first victory of the new football season by defeating APOEL 2-1 at the Freedom Antonis Papadopoulos stadium in the third round of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan.
Kiko opened the scoring for Anorthosis with a penalty in the 26th minute. Although Tasos Bakasetas equalized for APOEL in the 51st minute, Rafa Lopes netted the decisive winning goal in the 90th minute following a corner kick provided by Kiko. Anorthosis manager Nestor El Maestro praised his squad’s high-pressure performance and tactical discipline, while APOEL coach Nikos Papadopoulos acknowledged his team's defensive errors in the first half.
This result marks a significant recovery for Anorthosis following their initial losses against AEL and Apollon. The club has experienced a boost in fan support, reaching over 5,000 season ticket holders, and currently occupies 8th place in the league table, while APOEL dropped to 9th.
Looking ahead, Anorthosis aims to build on this momentum in their upcoming match against Nea Salamina. Meanwhile, APOEL continues to integrate new arrivals like Bakasetas, who made his debut in this match.