Naxxar L.-Vittoriosa S. 1-1

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, J. Ani, V. Bellia (J. Debono), D. Bonnici (A. Rocha Da Silva), A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar, M. Del Negro, P. Doffo, T. Lopez, Evaldo, O. Zongo (G. Ribeiro)

Vittoriosa S: S. Cini, R. Dos Santos, J.F. Aguiar, M. Pereira, M. Camilleri (R. Mifsud), Samir Arab, O. Guerrero, M. Buttigieg, M. Teruel (M. Barbara), C. Brincat (Siraj Arab), C. Spiteri

Referee:  A. Azzopardi

Asst.refs:  R. Vella, A. Borg Cardona

Additional asst.refs: T. Farrugia Cann, P. Farrugia

4th official: A. Camilleri

Scorers: J. Ani 42, Samir Arab 77

Yellow cards: M. Pereira, M. Camilleri, Siraj Arab, R. Mifsud, P. Doffo, Samir Arab, Evaldo, A. Buhagiar, J. Aguiar

Red card: M. Del Negro

Player of the match: J. Azzopardi (Naxxar L)

TMI top 3:  1. P. Doffo  2. R. Dos Santos  3. J. Azzopardi

This encounter between the two newly promoted sides finished with honours even. Naxxar, who played with ten men for a whole hour, can take comfort from this draw, that keeps them five points abreast of the Stars and one behind Mosta in sixth place. Naxxar’s impetus was blunted by the dismissal of Mattia Del Negro on the half hour. They still managed to forge ahead through Jery  Ani before the break, only to be caught up by Vittoriosa’a equaliser 12 minutes from the end. In the process it turned out to be a robust affair, with a lot of physical endevour that left little space for good quality football. No less than nine players were cautioned.

Vittoriosa made three changes from the team that lost against Sliema Wanderers the previous week. The injured Jean Vella was replaced in goal by Sean Cini with Malcolm Buttigieg and Clive Spiteri starting the match instead of Siraj Arab and Adam Spiteri.

Naxxar had three key players missing – Andre Rocha Da Silva, Gilmar Ribeiro and Darren Falzon, scorer of a brace against Balzan, started on the bench.

They suffered a setback on the half hour, when reduced to ten men, following an incident in midfield between Del Negro and Clive Brincat. As the two players  rose for a high ball, the Naxxar midfielder challenged his opponent who fell akwardly  on the ground. Del Negro was shown the red card, in what looked a very harsh decision, and Brincat had to be stretchered off with a shoulder injury.

That turning point was supposed to give Vittoriosa the edge. They had carved the better chances when Teruel played a square free kick from the right for Ramon Dos Santos’ shot to be repelled by keeper Azzopardi against the foot of the post and into a corner. On 20 minutes, Pereira played a good ball for Guerrero to chest and turn inside the area but his effort was blocked by Cassar into a corner.

Despite their numerical superiority, Vittoriosa failed to breach Naxxar’s defence and it was the Lions who broke the deadlock three minutes before the break. Bellia started the move from midfield, Bonnici released Jery Ani down the left, breezed past keeper Cini and deposited the ball into an unattended goal.

Naxxar still looked comfortable enough to preserve that lead in a chaotic second half, littered with stoppages and bookings and some other debateable refereeing decisions.

On 52 minutes Evaldo lay on the ground inside the Naxxar area as the Lions countered through Bonnici. The chance was lost and Siraj Arab took possesion to start a Vittoriosa attack, only for the referee to stop play and book the Vittoriosa player for protests.

Vittoriosa fluffed a couple of chances. Guerrero turned well inside the Naxxar area but shot narrowly wide and Pereira found space on Spiteri’s pass but shot feebly and the goalkeeper saved.

Vittoriosa also lost Brazilian Teruel through injury on 70 minutes but managed to draw level seven minutes later. On substitute Barabara’s corner, Samir Arab was left unattended inside the area to head the ball in.

There was another apparant handling of the Naxxar keeper outside his area which the referee did not sanction, before the shot stopper was forced to stretch himself to keep out Barbara’s meaty free kick.

The inclusion of Rocha Da Silva and Gilmar late in the half nearly gave Naxxar a win. Da Silva ran clear on a long throw in but lobbed the ball just over and, in added time, Ani hit horrndously in front of goal when well served by Gilmar.