Naxxar L 2

Zejtun C 1

Naxxar Lions beat Zejtun for the second time this season to dent Zejtun’s promotion hopes. It was an exciting affair with the best of the match coming in the first half.

Naxxar played their hearts out and at the end they deserved their victory, even though their goalkeeper Justin Spiteri was one of the best players on the field of play with a string of brilliant saves that kept Zejtun at bay.

All goals were scored in the first half, which was action packed. In the second half the game slowed its pace with Naxxar defending for long stretches, as Zejtun could not find a way past the Lions’ organized defence, and when they did they had to face goalkeeper Spiteri who proved to be unbeatable.

The rivalry that exists between these two sides was evident from the start with a very good crowd to assist this match. Tempers were high from the very first minutes with some nasty tackles from both sets of players.

On 13 minutes Naxxar took the lead when Darren Falzon scored a gem of a goal direct from a freekick that gave Ranier Farrugia no chance to save. Two minutes later Zejtun went close to a quick equalizer when an Edward Azzopardi freekick was headed by Kenneth Abela from five meters, but Naxxar goalkeeper Justin Spiteri made a stunning save to turn into a corner.

Zejtun now took hold of the match pushing forward for the equalizer and Kenneth Abela headed over the bar on twenty minutes. Five minutes later Zejtun drew level when Andre Farrugia’s corner was misjudged by Spiteri and Kenneth Abela headed home from an acute angle.

But three minutes later Naxxar were back in front when Andre Da Silva powered his way inside the penalty area and was floored by Vince Camilleri for an obvious penalty. From the penalty spot the same Andre Da Silva sent Farrugia the wrong way to send the Lions back in front.

Zejtun stormed forward in the last minutes of the first half with Kenneth Abela going close with a an effort from an acute angle that was blocked by Spiteri. In the last minute Gers Delia shot slightly off target from close range after a prolonged move in the heart of the Naxxar penalty area.

Seven minutes into the second half, Naxxar goalkeeper Spiteri made a great save to deny Edward Azzopardi who fired a great shot from long distance. Scoring chances were few in this second half with Naxxar playing the waiting game. On 70 minutes referee Sant sent off Zejtun’s Ryan Cauchi from the substitute bench.

Ten minutes from time Naxxar goalkeeper Spiteri was again called in action to block a Gers Delia scorcher. A minute later Spiteri brought the house down with yet another save off a Shaun Magro dipper from inside the penalty area.

Zejtun C R. Farrugia, A. Farrugia (J.C. Galea), C. Magro, E. Azzopardi, K. Vassallo, V. Camilleri (C. Formosa), N. Filipov, S. Magro, K. Ganchev (D. Grech), K. Abela, G. Delia

Naxxar L J. Spiteri, A. Farrugia, L. Micallef, A. Attard, R. Schembri, H. Lima Siqueira, J. Debono, V. Bellia, M. Maccari, D. Falzon (M. Del Negro), A. Da Silva (O. Agboebina)

Referee Alan Mario Sant