St Lucia 4

Luqa 3

A very action-packed game as both teams created many scoring occasions.

St Lucia enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges in the first period while Luqa were the better outfit after the resumption.

Following this game St Lucia are in penultimate place on 10 points from 10 games while Luqa are in fourth position on 15 points, also from 10 games.

The first two actions were created by St Lucia. Dwayne Caruana served Pier Luigi Pace with a through ball and Luqa keeper Neil Faenza had to come out of his charge to kick the ball away to safety.

After a well-taken flag kick from the left flank by Clive Pisani the ball was cleared by a defender following a header by James Fenech.

St Lucia opened the score in the 10th minute when Pisani served Pace with a through ball who, after entering the area, scored with a hard grounder.

In the first action by Luqa, Brian Cauchi was fouled outside the area and from the free kick by the same player, the ball sailed slightly over the bar. In another action by St Lucia, Caruana freed Pace on the right flank who missed the upright after entering the area.

In another action by Luqa, Terrence Cassar served Cauchi with a through ball outside the area but St Lucia keeper Wayne Zerafa saved his long-range effort.

St Lucia doubled the score in the 25th minute as Kersten Curmi served Pace with a through ball who after outspeeding a defender, entered the area and netted with another hard grounder.

Five minutes later, they were denied by the woodwork when Pisnai served Pace with a cross from the right and the ball thumped the base of the upright from his long range shot and it was cleared away with difficulty.

Luqa narrowed the gap in the 35th minute when Malcolm Coleiro served Glenn Caruana with a through ball in the area who scored with a rising shot, two minutes later they won a corner kick on the left flank which was well-taken by Justin Cassar, the ball was partly cleared and Zerafa saved the rebound by Cauchi. 

St Lucia restored their two-goal lead just before the break as Pisani served Pace with a through ball who scored with a hard drive after entering the area. 

Six minutes after the restart, Luqa scored a second goal when Justin Cassar served Coleiro in the area who, after beating a defender, netted with a perfect lobbed ball.

A minute later, St Lucia were again denied by the woodwork as Pisani pounced on a faulty clearance outside the area and the ball thumped the bar from his hard drive with Faenza beaten. 

Luqa kept trying to save the game and had two actions. Glenn Caruana was fouled on the left edge of the area and from the free kick by Shawn Gatt, Zerafa had to dive and save the ball to a corner. This was well-taken by Justin Cassar butthe ball was cleared away with difficulty.

Cauchi then served Coleiro in the area but Zerafa foiled him with a perfect timely sortie. 

Luqa managed to equalise in the 59th minute when Cauchi served Justin Cassar in the area who again scored with another lobbed ball. 

In the 68th minute Luqa were reduced to 10 men when Terrence Cassar was shown the red card after fouling Pisani with a hard tackle in midfield. 

In another action by Luqa Justin Cassar served Coleiro with a through ball and Zerafa saved his shot from the edge of the area.

At the other end, Kersten Curmi released Omar Nasr on the right flank who after advancing Faenza denied him with a diving save. 

Two minutes before the end of normal time St Lucia scored a dramatic winner when Jonathan Galea pounced on a faulty clearance outside the area and scored with a hard rising shot in the top left hand corner of the net past a helpless Faenza.   

Referee: Alan Bonnici

Player of the match: Brian Cauch (Luqa)