Lija A 3
St Andrew’s 1
Lija repeated the first round score, beating St Andrew’s 3-1 in an entertaining match. Lija now move to safer waters leaving the relegation issue between St Patrick and the two Cottonera sides, Vittoriosa and St. George’s.
It was a deserved victory for Lija who played one of their best matches this season. Lija built a two goal lead inside the first 30 minutes with St Andrew’s pulling one back shortly after.
Both sides deserve praise for the entertainment provided with both goalkeepers always kept busy. But a special mention must be made of Antoine Sacco who had a say in Lija’s first two goals and was always menacing in his moves.
Lija had a promising start with a Keith Darmanin effort going inches wide. On five minutes, Lija were in front when Antoine Sacco pounced on a Jonathan Bugeja defensive blunder to beat Balzan with a precise grounder.
Lija continued to be dangerous with Ige in splendid form. The Saints were unlucky on 15 minutes when from a Ribeiro freekick, defender Brian Said hit the crossbar from close range.
On the other end, Antoine Sacco’s shot was saved by Balzan and an Ige scorcher finished slightly over the crossbar. On 30 minutes Lija doubled the score. Antoine Sacco passed towards Erjon Beu whose left foot curling shot finished at the back of the net.
Three minutes later St Andrew’s were back in business when a Nicky Vella Petroni freekick was partially saved by Ini and from the rebound Gustavo Ribeiro headed home in the far corner.
Both teams came close in the opening five minutes of the second half. Lija’s Antoine Sacco headed inches wide from close range and Lija goalkeeper Ini made a great save blocking an Alinho angled freekick.
Ini made the best save on 54 minutes when Vella Petroni passed towards Gustavo Ribeiro who came face to face with the goalkeeper, but the Lija custodian made a brilliant save.
Four minutes later, in a fast Lija counter break, Ige nodded towards Beu whose shot was deflected past the post. From the resultant corner Andre Scicluna’s close range shot beat Balzan but Ben Diacono blocked the ball on the goal line. On the hour Lija were again close with an Erjon Beu shot on the turn going inches wide.
Lija’s Evano Briffa hit the side netting following another Antoine Sacco move and on the other end Ini again came to Lija’s rescue with a great save off a Ribeiro header.
Both sides continued to play entertaining football in search of further goals, but Lija had the last laugh when substitute Gilbert Camilleri scored their third goal in stoppage time, heading home a Briffa freekick.
Lija A: E. Ini, C. Giordemaina, R. Conceicao, D. Scerri, E. Beu, E. Briffa, K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri (J. Caruana), A. Scicluna, A. Ige, A. Sacco (G. Camilleri).
St. Andrew’s: D. Balzan, N. Chetcuti, B. Saib, J. Bugeja, B. Diacono (M. Calleja), N. Vella Petroni, A. Nakua, M. Grima, M. Elllul, G. Ribeiro, V. Alinho (F. Alkanua)
Referee: Marco Borg