AEL Limassol faces uphill battle in cup semi-final following home defeat to Pafos FC
AEL Limassol lost 1-2 to Pafos FC in the first leg of their Cypriot Cup semi-final match held at the Alphamega Stadium. Pafos took an early lead via a penalty conceded by Singh, followed by a second goal scored by Jaja. AEL managed to narrow the deficit, keeping their hopes of reaching the final alive ahead of the return leg. Head coach Hugo Martins expressed confidence that the team will turn the tie around, though observers have criticized the club's defensive inconsistencies and recurring errors. The second leg is scheduled for April 22 at the Stelios Kyriakides Stadium, where AEL will play without Bogdan but with Szoke available. Ahead of this decisive match, AEL will face ENP in a league game on April 17. Meanwhile, AEL official Nikolas Leventis voiced formal complaints regarding the performance of the Estonian officiating team led by Joonas Jaanovits, specifically criticizing the use of VAR technology. The club remains focused on the cup as a potential path to European competition, which also influences contractual clauses regarding the coach's future.