LARNACA, Cyprus — An early strike from Wálter Rubio ignited hopes at AEK Arena, but a relentless Pafos side stormed back to secure a compelling 4-2 victory over AEK Larnaca on Sunday, underlining their growing ambitions in the Cyprus First Division’s early stages.

From the opening whistle, the tone was set for an afternoon of attacking intent and dramatic momentum swings. The home support had barely found their seats when AEK’s Wálter Rubio finished a slick move in just the second minute, delivering a low drive beyond the reach of Pafos goalkeeper, and sparking jubilant celebrations among the AEK faithful.

Yet if AEK Larnaca’s start was electric, their advantage proved fleeting. By the 15th minute, Pafos were level. Daniel Quina, exhibiting precision and composure, capitalized on slack marking to sweep home the equalizer. The goal had a palpable effect: Pafos, emboldened by parity, began to exert control in midfield, pressing higher and dictating the game’s rhythm.

Pafos’s ascendancy was rewarded before halftime. In the 42nd minute, Quina struck again, his second of the evening coming at the culmination of a flowing counterattack. The midfielder’s tidy finish silenced the stadium and offered a glimpse of Pafos’s attacking cohesion. Moments later, the match’s competitive edge intensified when Ivan Sunjic of Pafos entered the referee’s book with a yellow card, a consequence of Pafos’s aggressive pressing approach.

The hosts, trailing at the interval, emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, but Pafos’s defense, marshaled by well-timed interventions, frustrated the Larnaca attack. Tensions flared early in the half as Pafos’s Daryl Luckassen was cautioned in the 47th minute, followed by Dani Goldar’s booking at the hour mark — both yellow cards testament to the contest’s physical intensity.

Managerial adjustments arrived shortly after; Pafos introduced Konstantinos Pileas and Landry Dimata on 58 minutes, seeking to maintain their midfield solidity and offer fresh legs up front. Larnaca responded with a double substitution, bringing on Riad Bajic for attacking impetus in the 67th minute and later introducing additional options in the final quarter.

Despite their efforts, it was Pafos who provided the game’s decisive moments. In the 80th minute, Anderson Silva — a constant threat in forward areas — completed a sweeping team move, cushioning a low cross into the net to extend Pafos’s lead to 3-1. The dynamic Brazilian’s celebration was met with visible frustration from the Larnaca bench, who sensed the contest slipping away.

Still, AEK Larnaca would not capitulate quietly. In the 86th minute, substitute Dejan Ivanovic pounced on a loose ball in the Pafos area, firing home to cut the deficit and briefly reignite the home crowd’s hopes. But these were quickly extinguished. Barely two minutes after Ivanovic’s intervention, Valentin Dragomir capped a swift Pafos break with a composed finish to restore the two-goal cushion — Pafos’s fourth of the afternoon, and the final act of a breathless encounter.

The result was reflected in the match statistics: Pafos’s clinical finishing, coupled with assured game management, proved decisive despite AEK’s initial ascendancy and late rally. Four yellow cards — three for Pafos, one for AEK’s Ledes Gustavo — underscored the commitment and tension on display.

The substitutions, particularly the introduction of Pafos’s Pepe, Ognjen Mimovic and the tactical withdrawal of Quina, allowed the visitors to see out proceedings with efficiency. For AEK, late changes — including the removal of Rubio — could do little to alter the outcome.

For Pafos, this victory marks a significant statement of intent. Scoring four times away from home against a reputed opponent will buoy their confidence as they look to build on a promising start to the campaign. For AEK Larnaca, the defeat exposes defensive frailties and poses searching questions ahead of a crucial stretch in the domestic calendar.

As the sun set over Larnaca, it was the visitors from Pafos who celebrated — their blend of resilience and attacking flair delivering an away triumph that will echo beyond the confines of AEK Arena.