Andrè Schembri came off the bench to score a quick double as AC Omonia came from behind to beat Apollon Limassol 2-1 in the Cypriot First Division on Saturday.
Omonia, who are battling with Apollon for a place in next season’s Europa League qualifiers, found themselves a goal down as early as the 13th minute when Leandro Freire put the hosts ahead in a Championship Pool match at the Tsirion Stadium.
Schembri entered the fray at the start of the second half and the Malta striker went on to leave his mark on the match when he pulled Omonia level before netting the winner two minutes from time.
Schembri told Times of Malta: “When I came on, the team was trailing in what was a crucial match but my two goals saw us through as we claimed three vital points. I was very satisfied after the match.
“It’s an important victory for our hopes of qualifying for the Europa League and, hopefully, it will boost our confidence ahead of next week’s Cypriot Cup semi-final, second leg against AEK Larnaca (first leg 0-0).”
Omonia have now leapfrogged Apollon into third place on 58 points, one ahead of Apollon with fifth-placed Anorthosis also in the hunt on 56.
In the Relegation Pool, Steve Borg played the full 90 minutes as Aris Limassol were held to a 1-1 draw by Doxa Katokopia.
Aris stay third in the table on 35 points, seven ahead of bottom-placed Ethnikos Achnas.
In Italy’s Lega Pro C, Malta defender Zach Muscat produced another good performance as Akragas held promotion seekers Lecce to a goalless draw at Stadio Via Del Mare Stadium, on Saturday.
Mid-table Akragas have 37 points, five ahead of 14th-placed Monopoli who occupy the last spot in the relegation play-offs.
In Lega Pro A, Rowen Muscat was an unused substitute as Pavia suffered a 1-0 defeat at Mantova.
This was the second successive defeat for Pavia, also in a mid-table position and nine points away from the relegation play-offs zone.
Elsewhere, Sam Magri’s Dover Athletic strengthened their promotion chase when they travelled to Wrexham and won 1-0 in the English National League.
Magri, a Malta U-21 defender, played the full 90 minutes as Dover retained third spot in the standings on 77 points, nine behind Forest Green, who played a game more.
Cheltenham Town are almost promoted to League Two with 92 points.
Manny Muscat’s Wellington Phoenix ended their commitments in the Australian A-League on a negative note when they lost to Adelaide United 2-0 at home on Sunday.
Muscat was substituted in stoppage time as Wellington finished the campaign second from bottom on 25 points.