Pafos FC leads 1-0 against AEL in the first leg of the cup semifinal

On April 8, 2026, Pafos FC secured a 1-0 victory over AEL in the first leg of the Cyprus Cup semifinals at the Alphamega Stadium. The match's only goal came in the 10th minute via a penalty kick scored by Zaza. The penalty was awarded in the 8th minute after the referee, Joonas Jaanovits from Estonia, determined that AEL player Singh committed a handball following a free-kick taken by David Luiz. Sources indicate the referee ruled that Singh’s positioning of his hand increased the body surface area, a decision that was subsequently confirmed by the VAR system. Zaza successfully converted the penalty against goalkeeper Ochoa to put the team managed by Albert Celades in the lead. The match took place in a competitive atmosphere as both teams vied for a spot in the final. No further goals were recorded during the opening phase of this two-legged tie.