It was Apoel who began the game on the front foot and pressed for the goal that would have levelled the aggregate score but they were found wanting yet again in the final third.
Apollon were content to sit back and soak up the pressure and wait to hit Apoel on the break. They went close in the 13th minute but there was no one to tap the ball into the net after Pedro’s teasing cross, but 12 minutes later the Limassol team took the lead.
A simple exchange of passes in the middle of the field set Gaepke through with a clear run on goal but he unselfishly squared the ball to Papoulis who prodded the ball past Apoel goalkeeper Waterman.
Apoel did try to hit back before the interval to get back into the game but could not find a way to break down Apollon’s resolute defence.