APOEL celebrate their centenary with a 3-1 win over Aris

APOEL celebrated the 100th anniversary of their founding over the weekend in Nicosia, with thousands of fans taking part. The club was founded on 8 November 1926 in a pastry shop on Ledra Street. The celebrations began with a torch procession through the city, starting on Ledra Street, in which former players carried the centenary flame. The flame moved along Makarios Boulevard and reached the club headquarters on Limassol Boulevard.

Former player Nikos Pantziaras said he felt honoured and delighted to come together for the club's 100th year. Giannos Ioannou said that the driving force behind the team's achievements has been the supporters.

On Sunday the celebrations moved to GSP Stadium, where APOEL played Aris in a league match. Before the game, the fans put on a display in blue and yellow, with a huge banner and a large number 100 unfurled in the South Stand. In the 26th minute, the supporters lit hundreds of flares to mark the year of the club's founding, and the smoke that rose briefly halted the match.

Aris took the lead in the 3rd minute through Verton. Marquinhos equalised six minutes later. In added time at the end of the first half, Carrillo put APOEL ahead with a header. Bakasetas sealed the win in the 77th minute, and the match ended 3-1 in APOEL's favour.