Msida SJ - St Patrick 3-0
Msida easily had the better of lowly St Patrick to practically put their minds at rest of retaining their premier league status in a match characterised by very windy conditions.
Msida made sure of the three points in the first half when they built a two goal cushion after just 33 minutes to practically put their minds at rest of retaining their Premier league status.
Yesterday, they outclassed rivals St Patrick, the latter seeing their possible chances of avoiding the drop decrease considerably after yesterday’s defeat.
Msida were the better side and despite the wind, they were always in command with Nwoke and Zammit upfront always proved to be dangerous even though they missed a number of chances. Sammut and Bajada came out on top in midfield. The flanks also worked well coming in support of the midfield and attack to make things difficult for the Saints.
Their best player was probably Paul Fenech who never stopped running down the right flank, proving to be a livewire and also scoring a superb second goal.
Msida were maybe lucky to take the lead probably due to the windy conditions after just 13 minutes but from then they never looked back and were always in command.
The Saints were rarely effective in that first half despite what seemed like a promising start.
Up front Dozie and Caruana were generally outnumbered by the Msida defence with Theuma and Boni combining well to rarely give the Saints strikers a glimpse at goal.
It was only in the send half that St Patrick ventured forward more dangerously but by then the match was as good as over. Msida goalkeeper Omar Borg thwarted the Saints on a number of occasions.
At the start, St Patrick’s Chima Dozie down the left hand side entered the area and hit a cross shot which was neutralised by Msida goalkeeper O. Borg.
At the other end after good work by Johann Zammit who profited from a lapse in the Saints’ rearguard, Nwoke failed to profit from an opening and the Saints defenders finally cleared before the Nigerian striker could hit home.
Msida took the lead in the 14th minute. It was clearly a goal which came about also because of the very strong winds that prevailed at Ta’ Qali yesterday. Boni took a freekick from long range. The ball was central but Azzopardi fumbled at the ball and despite a second attempt to save, the ball crossed the line to the joy of the Msida players.
Msida added a second in the 33rd minute. Paul Fenech down the right hit a swinger which was also aided by the wind and beat Azzopardi all ends up as the ball went into the corner of the net.
Msida could have added a third in the 38th minute when Nwoke, Zammit and Sammut beat the offside trap and came face to face with goalkeeper Azzopardi. Nwoke, who had the ball attempted a shot from just outside the area but Azzopardi dived to turn to corner want seemed like a certain goal.
The Saints went closest just before the end of half time when Anizoba Chizoba hit a shot from the edge of the area which went just wide.
On the change of ends, mark Tanti hit a shot from outside the area which went just over the bar.
Msida added a third in the 57th minute when Sammut set Fenech through down the right, the latter passed to Nwoke who hit home to settle the issue beyond any doubt.
At the other end, Dozie confirmed it was not St Patrick’s day when he missed an incredible sitter when in front of goalkeeper Borg.
Borg then thwarted Fenech with a fine save off a good header. Prior to that, Zammit had missed a good chance from an ideal position at the other end.
Msida again went close in the 80th minute. Adrian Farrugia set Roderick Bajada with a fine pass, the latter ended the area but the Saints goalkeeper saved to corner with his feet.
In the final minutes of the game, Nwoke missed an incredible chance when served by Sammut.
Teams: Msida: O. Borg, C. Micallef, J. Mifsud, D. Theuma, M. Boni, P. Fenech (L. Micallef), R. Bajada (T. Farrugia), K. Sammut, D. Cachia, J. Zammit (A. Farrugia), D. Nwoke.
St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, M. Fleri Soler, M. Tanti (C. Cioffi), C. Micallef, G. Failla (S. Dimech), T. Caruana, B. Fenech (D. Gauci), S. Costa Braziliano, P. Anizoba Chizoba, S. Zerafa, C. Dozie.
Referee: O. Lautier; Asst. refs: J. Rapa, P. Agius;4th official: K. Azzopardi
Scorers: M. Boni, P. Fenech, D. Nwoke.
Player of the match: Paul Fenech
TMI top three: 1. P. Fenech, 2. D. Nwoke, 3. R. Bajada