Melita 4

Lija A 3

Melita kept their pace among the front runners with a hard earned victory over Lija Athletic. It was a more than deserved victory for Melita who played the match with ten men from the 36th minute, and even with nine minutes in stoppage time.

Lija took an immediate lead after only two minutes when Ige beat Sapiano with a great shot from the edge of the area.

But Melita turned the tide in their favour with two quick goals in the space of three minutes. Julian Galea equalized on five minutes and Kane Micallef put Melita in front three minutes later.

Melita continued to dominate the match with Lija never really worrying the Melita rearguard. But on 36 minutes Melita received a setback when Karl Vella Petroni received a second yellow.

Three minutes later Melita increased their lead when Luke Micallef passed towards Kane Micallef who missiled home from the edge of the area.

Just before the break Lija were back in business when Ige passed to the unmarked Andre Scicluna who scored with a low drive.

In the second half Lija held territorial advantage, with Melita on the defensive, but Lija were not dangerous in front of goal. But on 61 minutes Lija drew level when a Benjamin Camilleri freekick was headed by Melita defender George Gribbon past his own goalkeeper Sapiano.

Lija tried to increase the pressure to score the winner, but Melita took them by surprise on 79 minutes when Michael Martin found open space in the heart of the Lija defence and beat Ini in style.

Lija could have equalized four minutes later but Antoine Sacco missed a sitter, and on the other end Kane Micallef missed a glorious chance to seal the issue and failed a chance to notch a hat trick.

In stoppage time Melita were reduced to ten men when Vukanic was sent off for dissent.

Melita - M. Sapiano, M. Ramon Sierra Camacho, G. Gribbon, M. Martin (L. Sammut), T. Terpougoff (M. Attard), K. Micallef, J. Galea, E. Cornago San Pedro (A. Muscat), L. Micallef, K. Vella Petroni, J. Vukanic

Lija A - E.A: Ini; C. Giordimaina (G. Camilleri), D. Scerri, K. Darmanin, G. Camilleri, J.P. Scerri, B. Fenech (B. Camilleri), A. Scicluna, T. Caruana (E. Briffa), M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige, A. Sacco

Referee - Mohammed Khalil