Birzebbuga 2

St Andrew’s 2

Birzebbuga and St Andrew’s shared four goals in an interesting match, with St Andrew’s saving the match thanks to a late penalty.

Birzebbuga seemed heading for a victory after two consecutive defeats but the Saints’ late rally earned them a well deserved point. In fact a draw result was a fair one as no side deserved to leave the field empty handed.

On 15 minutes St Andrew’s were rather unlucky not to forge ahead when Alhinhio Goncalves strike from just inside the penalty area slammed against the crossbar.

Birzebbuga took the lead on the half hour when Schneider brilliantly scored direct from a freekick that finished in the top corner far beyond Balzan’s reach.

Seven minutes into the second half St Andrew’s drew level when Alhinhio’s cross from the left flank was not cleared by the Birzebbuga defenders and Nicky Vella Petroni to fire low into the net. The Saints’s joy was short lived as sixty seconds later Birzebbuga were back in front when David Da Silva fired a scorcher from the edge of the penalty area, with Balzan partially saving the ball which bounced behind the goal line.

St Andrew’s pressed hard.Three minutes from time a Michael Calleja shot was handled by Kenneth Spiteri and referee Sandro Spiteri pointed for the penalty spot and Alhinhio Goncalves scored to make it 2-2.

Birzebbuga: I. Casha, K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino (R. Celeste), D. Baldacchino, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, L. Grima, M. Mifsud, K. Borg, M. Sciortino, D. Da Silva.

St. Andrew’s: D. Balzan, N. Chetcuti, B. Diacono (M. Grima), B. Said, K. Galea (M. Ellul), R. Previ (M. Calleja), A. Camilleri Kamsky, N. Vella Petroni, A. Nakua, V. Alinho Goncalves, G. Ribeiro.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri