Msida SJ 2

Lija A. 1

Msida St Joseph made a strong bid to get the three points in a bid to avoid the Relegation Pool in a well taken and deserved win against Lija Athletic, courtesy of two second half goals which reflected the difference between the two sides.

The teams had radically different experiences in their previous matches. Lija had beaten champions Sliema for a surprise win in mid-week. For their part, Msida had gone down to Hibernians.

Following an evenly balanced first half in which both teams created half chances, yesterday Msida showed their superiority as the game went on.

There were starts to Bajada for the suspended Cachia and to Guia in defence, with Boni playing in an advanced midfield role.The voluminous work of Boni and Bajada enabled the Saints to take a firm grip on the match in the second period, but it had to be one of the substitutes, Johan Zammit, to pave the way to his side’s victory shortly after he went on the pitch. Porceddu, although subdued by Lija’s marker Okeke, looked menacing with his set pieces as Msida’s defence looked watertight.

Lija who made one change in their starting line-up, including Kurt Zammit instead of Camenzuli, looked capable of holding to Msida’s threats in the first half but as their opponents increased the pressure in the second, they finally succumbed to defeat.

Athletic created the first chance after only seven minutes play when Zammit’s firm header on Spasov’s cross, forced Msida’s keeper Borg to turn into a corner.

But the Saints soon pulled themselves into the game, enjoying the better share of possession, although they wasted chances through a Theuma free-kick and Bajada’s tame effort.

Midway through the half Lija again looked menacing from a Zammit corner which caused havoc inside the Msida area. Guia finally cleared the ball into another corner.

It was around the half hour mark that Msida began to exploit their superior potential. Porceddu hit Adrian Farrugia’s corner first-time wide and then Theuma headed Micallef’s cross from the bye-line over the bar. A Boni effort also went wide.

Lija, trying to venture out of their defensive shell, ended the first half on the offensive as Michael Gatt’s run and cross was headed by Micallef into a corner.

Msida turned out for the second half in more lively fashion, confirming their attacking intentions. A Bajada blistering shot took a slight deflection into a corner. Towards the hour, Msida put in Johan Zammit to add impetus to their attacking force as Theuma retreated in defence.

The substitution paid dividends within two minutes as Msida went ahead with a goal they had been threatening for some time. Theuma’s effort on Porceddu’s sailing free-kick from the left was palmed out by keeper Agius and Johan Zammit was alert to put the rebound on target with his header.

Aware of their opponents’ vulnerable moment, Msida also drafted in other striker Nwoke for Guia and kept up the momentum. Nwoke’s close header on a Porceddu corner was blocked by keeper Agius and Azzopardi on the line.

Then Zammit connected well on Nwoke’s low cross but fired the ball narrowly over.

There seemed to be a certain inevitability about Msida’s second goal which came on 86 minutes. After a Nwoke effort was blocked, defender Clint Micallef picked up his spot from outside the area to beat Agius with a fierce grounder at the far post.

The Lija keeper injured his hand and was substituted by Pace. By then the gap in class was apparent. The game was clearly lost.

There was still time however for Lija to hit one back in five minutes of added time through a Giles Lanzon penalty after substitute Agius was floored by Msida’s defender Mifsud inside the area.