Msida SJ 1
Lija A 2
Lija Athletic scored two second half goals to beat bottom of the table Msida SJ with the odd goal in three. Lija deserved their victory, even though Msida could have earned their first point of the season with some luck.
For Msida this was their second blow this week after losing the match against Balzan Youths on the table following MFA’s disciplinary board decision. On the other hand the victory puts Lija back on course for the promotion race which is now gathering momentum.
Msida were the better team in the first half and deservedly took the lead with a well taken D’Amato header. But Lija were a completely different lot in the second half as they pushed their opponents in their own penalty area and grabbed the victory with two quick goals midway through the second half.
Play was mainly in midfield in the opening stages with Lija having their first attempt on ten minutes when Dzanovic tested Alden. Lija lost midfielder Kurt Formosa who limped off injured, and went behind on 30 minutes.
An Alinho well taken freekick was headed beautifully in by Joseph D’Amato. This was Msida’s best patch as Lija passed through some anxious moments at the back. Msida went close a second goal before the break when Karl Saliba was denied by a good Sean Mintoff save.
In the second period Lija took their opponents by surprise as they pushed everything forward leaving Msida no option but to defend their slender lead. On 53 minutes an Antoine Sacco shot was well saved by Jeremy Alden, and on 60 minutes Lija were back on level terms. A Keith Darmanin corner was well connected by Admir Dzanovic who headed home from close range.
Five minutes later Lija took the lead.An Antoine Sacco shot slammed against the crossbar and from the rebound defender Jonathan Mifsud handled the ball inside the area with the referee opting for the penalty from which Keith Darmanin scored what proved to be the winner.
Admir Dzanovic should have easily wrapped up the match on 68 minutes when he shot slightly wide with only Alden to beat, and a minute later the same player had an easier chance but he shot straight in Alden’s hands.
Msida dominated the remaining minutes but failed to obtain the equaliser. The closest they could get was on 76 minutes when Adrian Farrugia crossed towards Matthew Borda whose shot slammed against the crossbar.
Balzan sole leaders after dramatic victory
St Georges 3
Balzan Y 4
Balzan Youths are the new leaders of the First Division with a dramatic victory over leaders St George’s with the odd goal in seven. It was a spectacular match - the best so far this season - as the Saints suffered their first defeat of the season.
Balzan were trailing their opponents 2-3 with five minutes to go, but they hit back in the dying minutes to score two quick goals that put them on top of the standings.
Balzan were dominant in the opening minutes and the Saints’ defence was constantly under pressure. Recently signed Calcado tested Thomas Galea with a low effort and on six minutes Lyden Micallef shot slightly over the bar from an angled position.
On 19 minutes the Saints forged ahead against the run of play when Glenn Bonello passed towards Gary Inguanez who let the ball go towards Ruiz who rocketed the ball home for a great goal.
St George’s continued to defend but Balzan were not dangerous as in the opening minutes of the match. Five minutes from the break St Georges doubled the score when a Glenn Bonello freekick was deflected by the Balzan wall, with the ball going past a helpless Tabone.
Two minutes from the restart Balzan Youths pulled one back when Calcado passed towards substitute Steve Meilaq who slotted the ball home from an acute angle. Balzan were now constantly on the attack but the Saints had other ideas and scored a third on 55 minutes when Dylan Zarb passed towards Ruiz who easily slotted the ball home.
The Saints missed the fourth goal on several occasions with the Balzan defence completely off guard. But the Youths were back in the reckoning on 68 minutes when Renato Conceicao scored with a low drive.
The issue was now wide open but the Saints were still able to control their opponents and hit back with counter breaks with Ruiz missing some sitters in front of goal. Five minutes from time Balzan obtained a dramatic equaliser when a Calcado freekick hit the base of the upright and from the rebound Steve Mailaq obtained his brace when he shot home. But there was more to come as three minutes later Balzan obtained the winner when Lyden Micallef came from the blind side to head home a Calcado freekick to send the Balzan fans in raptures.