Pafos FC claims victory over AEK Larnaca to take league lead

Pafos FC secured a 1-0 away victory against AEK Larnaca at the AEK Arena on September 13, 2026, during the third round of the Cyprus League by Stoiximan. The game's only goal was scored in the 62nd minute by Vlad Dragomir, just 177 seconds after he entered the match as a substitute, following a precise pass from Pepe. This result ended AEK's perfect start to the season and placed Pafos FC at the top of the standings with seven points.

The match was marked by officiating controversies and high tension between both sides. In the 39th minute, Pafos requested a penalty after Lele fell following a challenge by Van der Hoorn, but referee Menelaus Antoniou allowed play to continue, leading to a yellow card for Pafos manager Ricardo Sa Pinto for his protests. Furthermore, AEK lodged strong complaints regarding a potential penalty in the 92nd minute involving a challenge on Miramon by Gunga, with AEK officials criticizing the lack of VAR intervention in that specific instance.