Naxxar L.-Vittoriosa S.    3-3

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, V. Bellia, RG Cassar (J. Debono), G. Da Silva Ribeiro, J. Debono (T. Scerri), K. Drago, D. Falzon, DA Reano, A. Rocha da Silva, F. Stojanovic (M. Vignjevic).

Vittoriosa: M. Muscat, L. Vella Critien, L. Torri, C. Sammut (S. Bamba), S. Arab, G. Martin (S. Arab Eddin), O. Guerrero, C. Spiteri, M. Pereira, C. Brincat, F. Arriagada Mella.

Referee: C. Pisani.

Asst refs: I. Spiteri, W. Debattista.

4th official: S. Spiteri.

Scorers: A. Rocha da Silva, C. Brincat, O. Guerrero 2 (one penalty), V. Bellia penalty

Yellow cards: L. Vella Critien, K. Drago, O. Guerrero, M. Muscat, L. Torri, C. Brincat, S. Arab Eddin, G. Da Silva Ribeiro

Player of the match: O. Guerrero

TMI Top 3: 1. O. Guerrero, 2. M. Pereira, 3. V. Bellia

Attendance: 572

Two late penalties in the space of three minutes for Naxxar Lions denied Vittoriosa Stars a win yesterday.

In a keenly contested Relegation Pool match, the Stars appeared heading for a deserved win after having overcome a 0-1 deficit to take a splendid 3-1 lead.

But the dominant Stars were pegged back by Naxxar in the late stages as the Lions were awarded two penalties between the 84th and 86th minutes –which they scored – to salvage a point from what had seemed to be a clear defeat.

The two sides shared the exchanges for most of the encounter although the Stars appeared to be the more methodical team.

Naxxar were the team to break the deadlock, but the Stars reacted and deservedly equalised on 36 minutes.

And they almost snatched the lead a few minutes from the interval when they had a shot blocked from over the goalline.

In the second half, the Stars took control of midfield and richly merited the 3-1 lead by the 73rd minute, following which they were made to defend by the Lions who threw everything into attack in an effort to save something from this important match.

And this was just what they did by scoring those two late penalties.

The first action arrived on the eighth minute. From a cross by Carl Sammut, it was Gilbert Martin who tested Naxxar goalie Azzopardi, but the latter saved well.

Naxxar, however, took the lead soon afterwards. They were awarded a freekick just outside the area. Da Silva Ribeiro’s shot was partially blocked by the Stars barrier, but there was Andre Rocha da Silva who beat Muscat with a splendid overhead kick.

In the 22nd minute, it was Daren Falzon who had an angled effort passing across goal.

A minute later, Falzon crossed from the right. Rocha da Silva first timed the ball which saw veteran Muscat saving in two attempts, before the ball could cross the line.

At the other end, soon afterwards, Pereira set Guerrero in the Naxxar area, but the latter’s effort went wide.

In the 28th minute, a Guerrero freekick saw Pereira heading goalwards, but Stojanovic, standing on the goalline, managed to head the ball to safety, thus denying the Stars an equaliser.

Vittoriosa levelled matters on the 36th minute. From a Guerrero freekick, it was Clive Brincat who headed home to the delight of the Stars fans.

At the other end, two minutes later, Gilmar Da Silva was through on the left, but his final effort was blocked to a corner.

On 42 minutes, Pereira exchanged the ball with Arriagada, went round goalie Azzopardi, but his shot was blocked on the line by a desperate Reano.

In the 48th minute, Muscat saved the Stars fort from collapse, saving a Daren Falzon first timer after a fine run down the right flank by Ribeiro da Silva.

At the other end in the 51st minute, a fine move by the Stars ended with Gilbert Martin setting Guerrero in the area, and the striker made no mistake with a fine chip over Azzopardi.

In the 64th minute, Naxxar were unlucky not to equalise when from a Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, a Rocha Da Silva header hit the post and the Stars managed to clear the danger.

In the 73rd minute, the Stars added a third goal from a penalty awarded by referee Pisani for a foul by Drago and Reano on Marcelo Pereira. From the spotkick, Guerrero beat Azzopardi in style.

Naxxar almost pulled one back on 82 minutes, but Daren Falzon’s shot was somehow turned to a corner.

In the 84th minute, Naxxar were awarded a penalty after Muscat fumbled the ball from a cross and then floored Vignjevic. From the spotkick, Victor Bellia made no mistake.

Naxxar made the most of this lifeline in the 86th minute when they were awarded a second penalty. Reano took the responsibility and sent Muscat the wrong way for the dramatic equaliser.