APOEL defeats Aris 2-1 in Cyprus Championship playoff match
On April 5, 2026, APOEL secured a 2-1 victory over Aris at the GSP Stadium during the second matchday of the championship playoffs. APOEL took the lead in the 20th minute through Koutsakos, but Aris equalized in the 57th minute with a goal from Gaustad. The decisive moment occurred in the 80th minute when Stefan Drazic scored the winning goal from a penalty kick after being fouled by Balogun. Aris coach Liasos Louka criticized his team's defensive errors, while APOEL supporters and coaching staff protested that Balogun should have received a second yellow card during the penalty incident. With this win, APOEL reached 48 points, trailing the fourth-placed Pafos FC by four points, while Aris remained at 44 points. Both teams are now preparing for their next fixtures scheduled for April 14, 2026.