Birzebbuga 0

Lija A 1

Lija Athletic notched their third consecutive victory beating Birzebbuga with an Ige header twenty minutes from time. It was a more than deserved victory for Lija who are now in safe waters in the middle of the table.

For Birzebbuga it was yet another disappointment and they are now in relegation trouble. Birzebbuga were a disappointing lot yesterday as Lija dominated from start to finish creating several scoring chances.

Ige apart from scoring the decisive goal played a blinder and was a constant menace to the Birzebbuga defenders. Keith Darmanin also played an important role in Lija’s victory together with Renato Conceicao who gave another solid display at the back.

Lija should have taken the lead inside the first minute when Ige floated a good cross towards Daniel Scerri whose header was stopped by the crossbar. Lija continued to hold the upper hand through the first half and minutes later had an Evano Briffa going wide.

Birzebbuga ventured forward in the tenth minute when Ronnie Celeste passed towards Mead Mifsud who was blocked in time by an Ini timely sortie.

On twenty minutes Keith Darmanin passed towards Ige who nodded the ball towards Thomas Caruana who was anticipated by Ivan Casha the Birzebbuga custodian. Five minutes later Ige was devastating on the left flank and crossed towards Daniel Scerri who missed a sitter blasting high from an ideal position.

In the last chance of the first half, Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ivan Casha was again on the alert saving a well taken freekick by Keith Darmanin.

On the resumption Lija continued to exert pressure on the Birzebbuga defence with Thomas Caruana hesitating in the heart of the Birzebbuga penalty area. On 53 minutes Erjon Beu received a god ball from Darmanin but his shot on the turn slightly missed the crossbar.

The same Beu was unmarked on the left flank on the hour, but this time his shot was well blocked by Ivan Casha. On 71 minutes Lija finally broke the deadlock when Benjamin Camilleri floated a perfect cross towards Ige who headed beautifully past a helpless Casha.

Minutes later an Ige cross shot created havoc in the Birzebbuga defence but finally the ball was cleared away to safety. Birzebbuga’s first attempt at goal came on 79 minutes when Ronnie Celeste pounced on a rare defensive lapse, but his hot was well saved by Ini.

Birzebbuga I. Casha, K. Borg, M. Pullicino, M. Gabriel, D. Baldacchino, G. Tanti, P. Camilleri (K. Spiteri), M. Sciortino (A. Dalli), M. Mifsud, B. Marev (V. Rodrigos Leite), R. Celeste.

Lija A E. Ini, C. Giordemaina, R. Conceicao, D. Scerri, E. Beu, E. Briffa (B. Camilleri), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, T. Caruana (G. Camilleri), A. Ige.

Referee Adrian Azzopardi.