2008–09 Cypriot First Division

Cypriot First Division

Season	2008–09
Champions	APOEL 20th Cypriot championship
Relegated	Alki AEK Atromitos
Champions League	APOEL
UEFA Europa League	Omonia Anorthosis APOP (via domestic cup)
Goals scored	612
Average goals/game	2.81
Top goalscorer	Serjão (24)
Biggest home win	Omonia 7–1 Enosis Apollon 7–1 Alki
Biggest away win	Atromitos 1–6 Anorthosis Atromitos 0–5 Omonia
Highest scoring	Atromitos 3–6 Apollon
← 2007–08 2009–10 →

The Cypriot First Division 2008–09 was the seventy-first season of top-tier football on Cyprus. It started on 30 August 2008 and ended on 10 May 2009. The defending champions were Anorthosis.

APOEL won the championship three games before the end of the season.

This year, for the second time, the championship also featured a group stage. Teams were divided into 3 groups: 1st–4th, 5th–8th and 9th–12th. Points from the main part of the season still counted.

Promotion and relegation

AEK
Alki

AEL
Apollon

AEP

Anorthosis

APEP

APOEL
Omonia

APOP

Atromitos

Doxa

Enosis

Ethnikos

APOP

Location of teams in Cypriot First Division 2008–09

Teams promoted from Cypriot Second Division 2007–08:

• Champions: AE Paphos
• Runners-up: APEP
• 3rd placed team: Atromitos

Teams relegated to Cypriot Second Division 2008–09:

• Aris Limassol
• Nea Salamina
• Olympiakos Nicosia

Overview

Team	Head Coach	Team Captain	Venue	Capacity	Kitmaker	Shirt sponsor	Club Chairman
AEK Larnaca	Savvas Constantinou	Constantinos Mina	Neo GSZ Stadium	13,032	Mass	CytaVision	Marios Ellinas
AEL Limassol	Mihai Stoichiţă	Simos Krassas	Tsirion Stadium	13,000	Mass	Sinergatiko Tamieftirio Lemesou	Andreas Sofokleous
AEP Paphos	Nir Klinger	Giorgos Georgiou	Pafiako Stadium	10,000	Mass	Eurolink Investment Group	Fillippos Georgiou
Alki Larnaca	Panikos Xiourouppas	Rouga, AndrésAndrés Rouga	Ammochostos Stadium	4,000	Legea	TEAM A Security	Demetris Phantousis
Anorthosis Famagusta	Michalis Pamboris	Nikos Nicolaou	Antonis Papadopoulos Stadium	10,000	Puma	Quality Group Developments	Chris Georgiades
APEP Pitsilia	Willy Scheepers	Bruno Piano	Tsirion Stadium	13,000	Mass	KKCG	Panayiotis Neokleous
APOEL	Ivan Jovanović	Marinos Satsias	GSP Stadium	22,859	Lotto	MTN Group	Foivos Erotokritou
Apollon Limassol	Thomas von Heesen	Christos Theophilou	Tsirion Stadium	13,000	Lotto	Columbia Ship Management	Theodoros Antoniou
APOP Kinyras Peyias	Giorgos Polyviou	Giannis Sfakianakis	Peyia Municipal Stadium	4,500	Puma	PrimeTel	Michalis Mitas
Atromitos Yeroskipou	Sofoklis Sofokleous	Argyris Petrou	Pafiako Stadium	10,000	Umbro	SPE Yeroskipou	Vangelis Genis
Doxa Katokopia	Charalmbos Christodoulou	Kyriacos Polykarpou	Makario Stadium	16,000	Puma	Yiannakas Real Estate Ltd	Charalambos Argyrou
Enosis Neon Paralimni	Adamos Adamou & Antonis Kleftis	Demos Goumenos	Paralimni Stadium	5,800	Lotto	Elian Developers	Adamos Loizou
Ethnikos Achna	Stéphane Demol	Christos Poyiatzis	Dasaki Stadium	7,000	Nike	Famagusta Developers	Kikis Philippou
Omonia	Takis Lemonis	Costas Kaiafas	GSP Stadium	22,859	Lotto	Ocean Tankers	Miltiadis Neophytou

Managerial changes

Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Replaced by	Date of appointment
Omonia	Giorgos Savvidis [1]	Resigned	4 March 2008	Nedim Tutić [1]	4 March 2008
Apollon	Yossi Mizrahi	Mutual consent	11 May 2008	Svetozar Šapurić [2]	23 May 2008
Ethnikos	Svetozar Šapurić	Mutual consent	23 May 2008	Stéphane Demol [3]	24 May 2008
Apollon	Svetozar Šapurić [4]	Sacked	9 September 2008	Thomas von Heesen [5]	15 September 2008
AEK	Nir Klinger [6]	Sacked	27 October 2008	Makis Katsavakis [7]	28 October 2008
AEP	Savvas Constantinou [8]	Resigned	3 November 2008	Nir Klinger	5 November 2008
APOP	Eduard Eranosyan [9]	Sacked	27 November 2008	Giorgos Polyviou	27 November 2008
AEK	Makis Katsavakis [10]	Resigned	2 December 2008	Loizos Stefani	2 December 2008
Enosis	Marios Constantinou	Resigned	7 December 2008	Panayiotis Xiourouppas	8 December 2008
Alki	Christos Kassianos	Resigned	17 December 2008	Panayiotis Xiourouppas	7 January 2009
AEK	Loizos Stefani	Mutual consent	18 December 2008	Christos Kassianos	18 December 2008
Enosis	Panayiotis Xiourouppas	Mutual consent	29 December 2008	Eduard Eranosyan	30 December 2008
AEK	Christos Kassianos	Resigned	15 January 2009	Savvas Constantinou	15 January 2009
AEL	Andreas Michaelides	Mutual consent	26 January 2009	Mihai Stoichiţă	27 January 2009
Enosis	Eduard Eranosyan	Resigned	28 January 2009	Adamos Adamou & Antonis Kleftis	29 January 2009
Omonia	Nedim Tutić	Sacked	16 March 2009	Takis Lemonis	17 March 2009
APEP	Tasos Kyriacou	Sacked	5 April 2009	Willy Scheepers	5 April 2009
Anorthosis	Temuri Ketsbaia	Resigned	13 April 2009	Michalis Pamboris	13 April 2009

First round

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation	Head-to-head
1	APOEL Nicosia	26	22	3	1	53	14	+39	69	Qualification to the Second Round, Group A
2	Omonia Nicosia	26	21	1	4	61	18	+43	64
3	Anorthosis Famagusta	26	20	2	4	49	19	+30	62
4	AEL Limassol	26	13	4	9	34	30	+4	43		AEL 1–0 APOL APOL 1–3 AEL
5	Apollon Limassol	26	13	4	9	53	34	+19	43	Qualification to the Second Round, Group B
6	APOP Kinyras	26	12	4	10	35	35	0	40		ETH 1–4 APOP APOP 1–2 ETH
7	Ethnikos Achna	26	11	7	8	34	32	+2	40
8	Doxa Katokopia	26	8	7	11	37	39	−2	31
9	AEP	26	5	12	9	30	38	−8	27	Qualification to the Second Round, Group C
10	Enosis Neon Paralimni	26	6	7	13	23	43	−20	25
11	APEP	26	5	8	13	28	44	−16	23
12	Alki Larnaca	26	4	7	15	27	50	−23	19
13	AEK Larnaca (R)	26	3	6	17	27	45	−18	15	Relegation to the Cypriot Second Division
14	Atromitos (R)	26	1	4	21	19	69	−50	7

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
Teams qualified for Group A played out one spot in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League and two spots in the UEFA Europa League, one in the second and one in the first qualifying round.
A spot in the third qualifying round of UEFA Europa League was awarded to the winners of the Cypriot Cup 2008–09.
Teams qualified for Group C played out one additional relegation spot.
Points gained in the First round were taken over into the Second round groups.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results

Home \ Away1

AEK

AEL

AEP

ALK

ANO

APEP

APOE

APOL

APOP Kinyras

ATR

DOX

ENP

ETH

OMO

AEK Larnaca

2–04

1–1

1–1

1–3

0–2

0–1

1–5

1–2

4–0

2–2

2–2

1–1

2–5

AEL Limassol

1–0

2–1

2–2

0–2

0–0

0–1

1–0

1–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

2–0

0–2

AEP

0–3

0–1

5–2

2–2

1–1

2–2

1–2

2–2

1–0

2–1

0–2

0–0

2–3

Alki Larnaca

1–0

1–2

2–2

0–2

3–1

1–0

0–3

1–3

2–2

1–2

2–1

0–1

0–1

Anorthosis Famagusta

1–0

2–1

0–0

2–1

3–0

1–2

2–1

2–0

3–0

2–0

1–0

2–1

1–2

APEP

1–0

0–1

0–1

2–1

1–2

1–1

1–2

0–1

2–1

3–3

0–0

2–2

1–3

APOEL Nicosia

2–0

4–0

4–1

3–1

1–0

4–0

4–1

1–0

4–0

3–2

1–0

3–0

3–2

Apollon Limassol

1–0

1–3

4–1

7–1

1–2

1–1

0–1

3–1

2–1

0–25

4–0

2–1

0–23

APOP Kinyras

2–02

1–3

0–0

1–0

0–3

1–0

1–2

1–1

3–1

2–1

1–3

1–2

2–0

Atromitos

1–0

0–3

2–2

1–1

1–6

1–5

0–1

3–6

0–2

1–5

1–1

0–1

0–5

Doxa Katokopia

2–2

3–2

1–0

1–1

0–1

3–2

0–2

2–2

2–0

2–1

0–1

0–0

1–2

Enosis Neon Paralimni

2–1

0–3

0–0

1–1

0–3

4–0

0–1

0–3

1–2

1–0

1–1

0–4

0–2

Ethnikos Achna

2–1

3–1

1–3

2–1

0–1

2–2

1–1

1–1

1–4

2–1

2–0

2–1

2–1

Omonia Nicosia

4–1

1–0

0–0

2–0

4–0

3–0

0–1

1–0

4–1

2–0

2–0

7–1

1–0

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
²The match of Round 1 was awarded to APOP with a score of 2–0 after being abandoned due to crowd violence.^[11]
3The match of Round 3 was awarded to Omonia with a score of 2–0 after being abandoned due to crowd violence.^[12]
4The match of Round 8 was awarded to AEK with a score of 2–0 after being abandoned due to crowd violence.^[13]
5The match of Round 12 was awarded to Doxa with a score of 2–0 after being abandoned due to crowd violence.^[14]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second round

Group A

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	APOEL Nicosia (C)	32	26	4	2	62	17	+45	82	2009–10 UEFA Champions League Second qualifying round
2	Omonia Nicosia	32	25	1	6	70	22	+48	76	2009–10 UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round
3	Anorthosis Famagusta	32	21	4	7	52	26	+26	67	2009–10 UEFA Europa League First qualifying round
4	AEL Limassol	32	13	5	14	38	41	−3	44

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results

Home \ Away1	AEL	ANO	APOE	OMO
AEL Limassol		1–1	0–1	2–3
Anorthosis Famagusta	1–0		1–1	0–2
APOEL Nicosia	3–1	2–0		SUSP2
Omonia Nicosia	2–0	1–0	1–2

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
²The match of last round between APOEL and Omonia was suspended after the first half due to violent behaviour of both teams' fans and their mutual conflict.^[15] Disciplinary Committee later decided that the final result of the match is forfeit of both teams.^[16]
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group B

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
5	Apollon Limassol	32	17	6	9	68	42	+26	57
6	Ethnikos Achna	32	13	8	11	47	45	+2	47
7	APOP Kinyras	32	13	6	13	45	49	−4	0392	2009–10 UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round 1
8	Doxa Katokopia	32	10	8	14	46	51	−5	38

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
¹APOP won the Cypriot Cup 2008–09 and qualified for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.
²APOP were deducted 6 points due to unpaid debts.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results

Home \ Away1	APOL	APOP Kinyras	DOX	ETH
Apollon Limassol		3–2	3–1	2–0
APOP Kinyras	2–2		1–0	1–4
Doxa Katokopia	1–1	3–2		2–5
Ethnikos Achna	2–4	2–2	0–2

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Group C

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
9	AEP	32	7	15	10	39	44	−5	36
10	Enosis Neon Paralimni	32	8	8	16	27	51	−24	32
11	APEP	32	7	10	15	33	51	−18	31
12	Alki Larnaca (R)	32	6	9	17	39	59	−20	27	Relegation to the Cypriot Second Division 2009-10

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) = Champion; (R) = Relegated; (P) = Promoted; (O) = Play-off winner; (A) = Advances to a further round.
Only applicable when the season is not finished:
(Q) = Qualified to the phase of tournament indicated; (TQ) = Qualified to tournament, but not yet to the particular phase indicated; (DQ) = Disqualified from tournament.
Head-to-Head: used when head-to-head record is used to rank tied teams.

Results

Home \ Away1	AEP	ALK	APEP	ENP
AEP		3–4	1–1	3–0
Alki Larnaca	1–1		1–1	1–2
APEP	0–1	0–4		2–0
Enosis Neon Paralimni	0–0	2–1	0–1

Source: cfa.com.cy (Greek)
¹The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top goalscorers

Source: soccerway.com (First round, Second round)

24 goals

• Serjão (Doxa)

22 goals

• Gastón Sangoy (Apollon)

12 goals

• Ferydoon Zandi (Alki)

11 goals

• Yiasoumis Yiasoumi (Ethnikos)
• Marcin Żewłakow (APOEL)

10 goals

• Demetris Christofi (Omonia)
• Gelson (APEP)
• Łukasz Sosin (Anorthosis)
• Bernardo Vasconcelos (APOP)

9 goals

• Haruna Babangida (Apollon)
• Fangio Buyse (APOP)
• Kyriacos Chailis (AEP)
• Ioannis Okkas (Omonia)

Season statistics

Scoring

• First goal of the season: Peter Ofori-Quaye for AEL against Apollon, 2nd minute (30 August 2008)
• Fastest goal in a match: 47 seconds – Demetris Christofi for Omonia against Alki (29 December 2008)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+3 minutes
  • Klodian Duro for Omonia against APOP (14 December 2008)^[17]
  • Chrysis Michael for APOEL against AEL (22 March 2009)
• Goal scored at the latest point in a match: 90+2 minutes
  • Francisco Aguirre for Omonia against Atromitos (27 September 2008)^[18]
  • Nikolaos Frousos for Anorthosis against APOP (31 October 2008)^[19]
  • Tinga for AEP against Alki (21 December 2008)^[20]
• Widest winning margin:
  • 6 goals – Omonia 7–1 Enosis (22 December 2008)^[21]
  • 6 goals – Apollon 7–1 Alki (25 January 2009)^[22]
• Most goals in a match: 9 goals – Atromitos 3–6 Apollon (8 February 2009)^[23]
• Most goals in one half: 5 goals – APOEL 3–2 Doxa (31 August 2008)^[24]
• First own goal of the season: Mahamadou Sidibè (Ethnikos) for AEL, 50 minutes (2 November 2008)
• First hat-trick of the season: Ioannis Okkas (Omonia) against AEK (6 December 2008)
• Fastest hat trick of the season: 14 minutes – Klodian Duro (Omonia) against APOP (14 December 2008)

Discipline

• First yellow card of the season: Levan Maghradze for Apollon against AEL, 11th minute (30 August 2008)
• First red card of the season: Levan Maghradze for Apollon against AEL, 78th minute (30 August 2008)
• Most yellow cards in a single match: 9 – Apollon 1–3 AEL – 4 for Apollon (Levan Maghradze (2), Christos Marangos & Gastón Sangoy) and 5 for AEL (Panos Constantinou, Dušan Kerkez, Peter Ofori-Quaye, Laurent Fassotte & Silvio Augusto González) (30 August 2008)
• Most red cards in a single match: 3 – AEP 2–3 Omonia – 2 for AEP (Almir Tanjič & Jefisley André Caldeira) and 1 for Omonia (Aleksandar Pantić)
• Card given at latest point in a game: Aleksandar Pantić (red) at 90+2' for Omonia against AEP (30 November 2008)

See also

• Cypriot Cup 2008–09
• Cypriot Second Division 2008–09
• List of Cypriot football transfers summer 2008

References

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