KOPA 40YEARS
GREATEST GAMES
N.SALAMINA v OMONIA 2-0
POTTERS BAR 1994
The longest ever title race in Kopa history
ended in late June,the favourites Omonia
led for 8 months as Salamina pushed them
to the last game of the season.Super coach Marcel Pinto only needed a draw to complete
the double while Salamis knew only victory would give them the title.It proved too much
for Omonia at a packed 1000 plus crowd at
Potters Bar as Salamina run out 2-0 winners
with Koureas winning his last title in Kopa.
AEL v ATHLETIC 2-1 1990
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL NEW RIVER
The conquering AEL machine after winning
the title and LFA Challenge Cup rolled into
New River to complete the treble against
the Cup holders Athletic.Michael Michalakis lost the title to AEL was out for revenge and
to retain the Cup,it was a fierce great match infront of a heaving crowd but AELs usual winning pedigree and extra class outlasted Athletic with stars like Sean Abbot,Tony Martin,NickShakali,Mario Kyprianou,Tanjo
Banjo and man of the match Kypro 'Kypper' Kyprianou turning the tide in extra-time to
fire AEL to the great treble.
OMONIA v AEL 0-0 PENS 1993
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL ENFIELD
Awesome Ael had destroyed the field in
Kopa winning the title without a blemish
on the back of 23 straight league wins,
it looked a formality in front of a bumper crowd at Enfield F.C as the greens fought for their lives with kopa greats Paul Brain
Orvil Cunningham,Prod Prodromou.AEL couldn't find a way past the greens who battled to penalties.Omonia's name was
on the Cup as they held their nerve to truimph for their proud fans.
KLN v ANORTHOSIS 2-0 1983
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL FINCHLEY
Anorthosis crowned Champions for the 2nd in their history were going for the great double with Kopa legend Andy
Kokkino but nemesis KLN with Kopa legend Jimmy Cattle was in the way as two years previous,KLN were in mean
mood sweeping past Anorthosis again.
Finchley F.C was the venue infront a big crowd,chief executioner was KLN and Kopa legend Panny Vrahimi thumping
in a 25 yard rocket to give KLN another triumph and their 2nd Challenge Cup.
PAOK v AEL 2-1 1987
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL NEW RIVER
Awsome AEL just crowned champions for
the first time in Kopa took on unfancied Paok managed by KLN great Chris Antoniades and
a huge crowd at New River were expecting Nick Shakali and Co to complete the double with a cricket score but Kopa in the 80s was
a very competitive era as this game proved and Paok led by Kopa goal king Nigel Mcneil caused a huge upset against a superior team.
KLN v OMONIA 3-0 1979
HARINGEY BOROUGH TITLE PLAY OFF
The two Kopa giants Omonia and KLN battled
out two memorable games infront of heaving crowds.Kopa legends Nick Kyprianou with his Omonia Champions were out to retain the title against KLN managed by Jimmy Cattle.Omonia
with Kopa great Andy Kokkino dominated the
first leg as Mario Christdodoulou got the only
goal for the greens but KLN in an unforgettable
2nd leg trounced the greens 3-0 with KLN greats
Panny Vrahimi,Timmy Newby and Chris Georgiou
notching to give KLN their first title in Kopa.
ATHLETIC v OMONIA 4-2 1991
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL NEW RIVER
Jimmy Cattles Omonia Champions were odds
to do the Double infront of the usual 1000 plus crowd at New River but were denied in a blood and thunder match by Athletic who was in their
3rd Challenge Cup final in a row bossed by the great Andy Artemi along with Kopa Greats Mario
Kombou,Charlie Kyriacou,Sotiris Louca and man
of the match Junior Samuels turning the tide in one of the best Cup Finals seen in Kopa.
SALAMINA v AEL 3-1
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1988
Salamina came into this final as the massive underdogs against the Champions AEL who trounced everybody in sight retaining the title
in fearsome style so their first double seemed inevitable but the mighty reds inspired by the Salamina super greats of Nick Eleftheriou and Danny Bailey caused the big upset with goals from Murino,Chris Marcou,Serge Costa as the reds celebrated their greatest ever Challenge Cup victory at New River.
OMONIA v SALAMINA 3-1 1981
DIVISION 1 CUP FINAL MARKET RD
Omonia infront a huge heaving crowd
at Market Rd took on their arch rivals Salamina and run out winners with
Kopa legend Tony Georgiou the man
of the match firing 2 goals,the other
goal came from another Omonia great Mario Christodoulou gaining revenge
for the previous Division 1 Cup Final
defeat to Salamina in 1980.
AEL v SALAMINA 3-0 1992
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL NEW RIVER
lmpregnable AEL on the back of pinching
the title on goal difference from star studded
Salamina were going for the double again. Salamina couldn't match AELs team spirit
and power as they romped to victory led by
the awesome Nick Shakali alongside Tony
Martin,Alan Montague,Greg Zacharia,silky
Petro Petrou,George Barry,John Sitton,Peter Lukraft,Mario Kyprianou and co to leave one
of the best ever assembled squads in Kopa
empty handed as the unlucky Michalakis
was again denied by his old nemesis AEL.
KLN v ANORTHOSIS 1-0 1981
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL MARKET RD
KLN just pipped by Olympiakos for the title
took on Koureas and Anorthosis at a packed Market Rd.It was an end to end match and
the game was pointing to extra-time,the KLN
made one last attack and broke the deadlock with a penalty from KLN king Panny Vrahimi giving KLN their first Challenge Cup in Kopa.
ATHLETIC v OMONIA 2-0
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1984
Athletic bossed by George Evedesian
came into this match the biggest Cup final underdogs ever against Omonia
bossed by Kopa legend Nick Kyprianou
but shocked Kopa with a 2-0 victory
with Andy Elias man of the match as Athletic became big winners in Kopa.
SALAMINA v ANORTHOSIS
MARKET RD 1985 1-0
Salamina met their nearest rivals Anorthosis
at Market Rd needing a win to finally win the
first Kopa championship in their history.The
Cyprus legend Koureas was on the verge of
giving his big Salamina red army what they
dreamed of for years in a tight nervy game
Goal supreme Tony Constantinides did the
business with the only goal of the game to
trigger massive celebrations for the biggest supported club in the 80s.
OLYMPIAKOS v ATHLETIC 7-0
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1981-82
Athletic came into their first Final as massive underdogs and so it proved as the hardened
Olympiakos tanked them inspired by warhorse Nick Shakali and silky Greg Zacharia,the Kopa greats chewed up the Athletic midfield,it was
a humiliation as Olympiakos won at a canter
and it still remains the biggest ever scoreline
in a Challenge Cup Final.
ARIS v KLN 3-1 2005
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL MARKET RD
Aris after winning the LFA Challenge Cup and
seeing off KLN in the title race were going for
the treble at Market Rd against their big rivals
KLN who were out to save their season with
a trophy.The mighty Aris were in no mood to
give KLN and Michel Poyiagis a sniff as they
brushed them aside clinching the treble in
fine style to leave KLN with two 2nd spots,it was a season of might have beens for KLN.
ATHLETIC v SALAMINA 2-0
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1989
Cyprus Kopa legends Koureas and Varnava Christophi were odds on to save their season
with a trophy after bashing Champions AEL
in the semis but Michalakis Athletic caused a surprise upset with a smash and grab win.
Salamina stars of Danny Bailey,Tony Russel,
Charlie Kyriacou,Chris Marcou,George Spyrou Nick Eleftheriou and co somehow finished up
with three R-up spots to disappoint their huge
support as Michalakis had his biggest moment.
SALAMINA v ANORTHOSIS 1 - 0
LFA FINAL 1982 TOOTING & MITCHAM
The first all Cypriot LFA final in South London,
Nick Kyprianous Salamina and Chris Theodorous
Anorthosis,it was a grand Cypriot occasion with
two great clubs.The favourites were Anorthosis
but Kopa legend Paul Pavlou got the big goal along with great perfomances from Salamina greats Serge Costa,Tony Russel,Chris Marcou,
Nicos Yiapatos to give the reds a historic victory for legend Nick Kyprianou.
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OLYMPIAKOS v KLN 2-1
CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1978-79
Jimmy Cattles KLN champions were on for the
double at Haringey Borough with 15 mins left
but a dramatic turnaround led by Kopa great
Nick Shakali saw gutsy Olympiakos grab the
Challenge Cup.Olympiakos star striker Andy Mcgonigle did the honours poaching the winner
in extra time wrecking KLN double hopes to
give Andy Fellahoudi his first trophy in Kopa.
DHERYNIA v KLN 3-1
1998-99 NEW RIVER
Dherynia looked the runners-up with a month
left of the season but Salamina gave them a
lifeline as they stumbled with the title in sight,
Dherynia took it with both hands but Cinottis
side had to get past KLN in the last game.A big crowd saw a great match,Dherynia could smell the title and had the extra hunger and quality
as Cinotti,Mario Kyprianou,Mark Christodoulou held out at the back with Mus Tezel powering
their midfield backed by super strikers Hakan,
George Gregoriou,Darryl Cox giving Dherynia
the best night in their history.
