Lija A 3

Pieta H 1

Marko Potezica scored a brace to help Lija overcome Pieta’s stiff opposition and move to fourth place, six points behing leaders Balzan Youths.

Potezica crowned a great performance with these two goals, with the first one a real beauty.

It was a more than deserved victory for Lija who dominated the match for most of the time, and only risked when Pieta made a last desperate effort, with the Hotspurs hitting the crossbar six minutes from time.

After a rather quite start, Lija took the lead on nine minutes. It was a spectacular goal scored by Marko Potezica who fired home from well over thirty meters with the ball finishing in the top corner of the net.

A minute later Pieta went close to an immediate equalizer when Jurgen Pisani almost scored direct from a corner kick with Lija goalkeeper Mintoffeffecting a great save.

On 18 minutes Daniel Scerri dribbled past a couple of defenders before passing towards Admir Dzanovic who failed to beat the onrushing Pieta goalkeeper. Midway through the half, Mintoff easily saved a long range effort from Pkieta’s Jurgen Pisani.

On 26 minutes Lija striker Antoine Sacco tested Montfort from the edge of the area and in Lija’s last chance of the first half Bojan Zivkovic’s grounder was again saved by Montfort.

On the resumption Pieta went close to an equalizer with a Christian Grech effort well saved by Mintoff. On 58 minutes Lija doubled the score with a well executed move between Zivkovic and Dzanovic, with the ball finishing in Potezica’s path who easily beat Montfort with a grounder.

A minute later Lija went close to a third goal when Antoine Sacco dribbled past two defenders, but was unlucky when his shot hit the base of the upright. On 70 minutes Pieta were back on track when striker Zach Muscat pulled one back finishing off a good move on the left flank by Jurgen Pisani.

The match was now wide open as Lija appeared to have lost their earlier supremacy.

Pieta threw in Robson Luis Bandeira in an attempt to save the match.

Lija had their good moments in their fast breaks with Potezica always menacing.

Howevere six minutes from time Pieta went very close to a dramatic equaliser when a Quilin Refalo scorcher beat Mintoff with the ball slamming against the crossbar and bouncing off the goal line.

It is not clear whether the ball had actually crossed the goal line, but both referee Sultana and assistent Edward Spiteri waved play on, and Pieta’s timid protests were turned down.

Three minutes later Lija put the issue beyond doubt when Buhagiar passed towards Admir Dzanovic who beat Montfort from an acute angle.

Lija A – S. Mintoff, M. Camilleri, A. Saliba, D. Scerri, M. Potezica, A. Sacco, A. Buhagiar, B. Zivkovic (B. Antignolo), A. Scicluna, A. Dzanovic, M. Fleri Soler.

Pieta H – M. Montfort, D. Owuo (R.L. Bandeira), C. Spiteri, B. Sciberras (L. Mallia), Q. Refalo, S. Grech, D. Campos (D. Mifsud), Z. Muscat, J. Pisani, I. Grech, C. Grech.

Referee – Duncan Sultana