Msida 1

Lija 1

Msida: P. Psaila, C. Micallef, D. Cachia, M. Boni (L. Micallef), A. Farrugia, T. Farrugia, P. Fenech, T. Farrugia, J. Mifsud (C. Sciberras), J. Zammit, D. Nwoke (N. Bouvet).

Lija: S. Agius, D. Okeke, J. Scerri (A. Scicluna), G. Lanzon, D. Scerri, M. Gatt, G. Barry, P. Camilleri, N. Zammit (A. Ellul), J. Vella (D. Cosaitis), Z. Anicic.

Referee: K. Azzopardi.

Assistant referees: A. Camilleri, M. Debono.

Fourth official: A. Azzopardi.

Scorers: D. Nwoke, G. Barry.

Player of the match: D. Nwoke.

TMI top 3: 1. P. Fenech, 2. D. Cachia, 3. D. Nwoke.

For 90 minutes, Msida looked like they were heading for a comfortable victory. Without raising any sparkles they had taken the lead and administered proceedings and rarely did they look as if they could wilt against bottom-placed Lija.

But winning the three points was not to be against relegated Lija as Glenn Barry struck in added time to equalise for Lija.

On paper, it should have been an easy match for Msida though there was nothing at stake in the match with both teams knowing their fate had been sealed. Msida were safe with their Premier league status confirmed while Lija had been relegated last week.

Both teams went down to honour the fixture and Msida took the chance to include a number of their reserve players.

The Saints proved to be slightly superior to Lija though the match ended up resembling more a friendly given the lack of importance.

Johan Zammit and Daniel Nwoke up front were superior and had they taken the chances they created, the story would have been different.

Msida went close to taking the lead in the 21st minute when off a Zammit pass, Nwoke skied the ball high from an ideal position.

At the other end, an insidious cross from Michael Gatt was cleared in extremis by the Msida defence before the Lija strikers could pounce on the ball.

Msida took the lead in the 31st minute when Nwoke made amends for the previous missed chance and hit a low shot past a helpless Agius after a good personal move.

Lija tried to equalise and the enterprising Barry entered the area but the ball was saved by Psaila to corner. Soon after, Zammit’s effort at the other end was neutralised by Agius.

On the change of ends, Fenech set Zammit through with an astute pass but the latter hit the ball over the bar from a good position.

Fenech, who also played a very good match, passed to Nwoke in the 82nd minute but his attempt was saved with difficulty by Agius.

Lija equalised in the dying moments of added time when off a Gatt cross, Barry had the simplest of goals in tapping home an equaliser.