STROVOLOS, Cyprus (Interstat) — Fabricio Pedrozo scored twice and APOEL used a decisive second-half surge to beat visiting Omonia 29th May 4-1 at Neo GSP in Strovolos, Cyprus on Sunday. APOEL improved its position with the home victory after Omonia 29th May had taken an early lead. Pedrozo was APOEL’s top star with two goals, while Steve Ambri scored for Omonia 29th May. Anastasios Bakasetas and Marquinhos also scored for APOEL. The match featured five goals and a series of cards and substitutions that changed the shape of both sides.

Omonia 29th May struck first in the ninth minute when Ambri found the net. The early goal gave the visitors a lead and forced APOEL to chase the game. APOEL responded before halftime when Bakasetas scored in the 43rd minute. That goal leveled the match and shifted momentum into the second half. Bakasetas played 79 minutes before being substituted. Marquinhos, who also played 79 minutes, scored APOEL’s second goal in the 56th minute. The goal put APOEL ahead and began a run of three unanswered goals after the interval.

Pedrozo made the lead more comfortable in the 76th minute with one of his two goals, then added another as APOEL pulled away. Pedrozo played the full 90 minutes and finished with two goals. His scoring helped APOEL turn a tight contest into a clear home win. Ambri played the full 90 minutes for Omonia 29th May and scored his side’s only goal. The visitors could not find a second goal after falling behind, and APOEL controlled the closing stages.

Discipline became a factor for Omonia 29th May. Uzoho F. was booked in the 14th minute, and Tierney F. received a yellow card in the 50th minute. Fiakas S. was booked in the 61st minute and again in the 74th minute, leaving Omonia 29th May with 10 men. Dos Santos L. also received a yellow card in the 62nd minute. APOEL’s Garcia A. was booked in the 90th minute. The cards interrupted Omonia 29th May’s attempts to build rhythm as APOEL protected and extended its lead.

Both teams used substitutions to adjust. Omonia 29th May brought on Portales A. in the 32nd minute and made two changes at the start of the second half, with Pattichis K. and Aristotelous C. entering. Nwakali K. came on in the 68th minute, and Tierney F. was replaced in the 80th minute. APOEL brought on Mancini D. in the 68th minute. Bakasetas and Marquinhos were replaced in the 79th minute after their goals. Limnios D. and Barak A. entered in the 84th minute. The changes helped APOEL see out the result and gave Omonia 29th May fresh legs in a match that had already turned against the visitors.

The result left Omonia 29th May with a competition record of 1-2 and an overall record of 1-2. APOEL moved to 3-2-2 in the competition and 3-2-2 across all competitions. Omonia 29th May had entered after a 1-0 home win against Anorthosis and a 2-1 loss at AEL Limassol. APOEL had played a 0-0 draw at Pafos after a 2-1 home win against Nea Salamis. APOEL’s recent run also included a 2-2 draw at Apollon, a 2-1 loss at Anorthosis, a 6-0 home win against AEL and a 3-1 loss at AEK. The home side’s next league match is scheduled against Omonoia 29, followed by a trip to Aradippou and a home game against Aris.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score, while its ELO system gave APOEL a 94.3 percent probability to win. APOEL was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 3.5.