Vittoriosa-Naxxar 1-3
Vittoriosa S: M. Muscat , O. Sidibe, C. Sammut (Siraj Arab), M. Pereira, O. Guerrero, C. Spiteri, C. Brincat, J.F. Aguiar, L. Vella Critien, L. Torri (F. Arriagada), Samir Arab (M. Barbara)
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, V. Bellia, A. Buhagiar, R. Cassar, G. Ribeiro (M. Vignjevic), D. Falzon, T. Lopes, D. Reano, T. Scerri (D. Bonnici), F. Stojanovic
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, D. Sultana
Additional asst.refs: C. Pisani, F. Zammit
4th official: A. Borg Cardona
Scorers: G. Ribeiro 15, F. Stojanovic 25, D. Reano 43
Yellow cards: S. Arab, T. Scerri, V. Bellia, C. Brincat, F. Stojanovic, F. Aguiar, G. Ribeiro, L. Vella Critien, M. Pereira
Player of the match: G. Ribeiro (Naxxar L)
TMI top three: 1. D. Reano 2. F. Stojanovic 3. O. Sidibe
Attendance:922
Naxxar Lions saved their best for last. Yesterday they beat the team above them, Vittoriosa Stars, to secure their Premier League status for at least another year. All the damage was inflicted in the first half with three goals, as they exploited their opponents’ vulnerability in defence.
Vittoriosa who played a disastrous first half, recovered slightly in the second, pulling back one goal and being denied also by the woodwork, but falling short of their objective, when a draw would have also been enough.
Vittoriosa thus put the curtain down on their stay in the Premier League after only one season.
The teams went into this last and decisive game of the season in contrasting fortunes. Unbeaten in their last five outings, Vittoriosa had clinched three wins on the trot. On the other hand, Naxxar had only won twice since drawing 3-3 with the same Vittoriosa in?March.
The Lions were buoyed by the return of goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi, defender David Reano and playmaker Gilmar Ribeiro, all back after suspension. Strfiker Terence Scerri was also given the nod. Vittoriosa oach Oliver Spiteri kept faith in the same starting eleven who beat Qormi in the previous game that filled them with fresh hopes.
Tactically cautious, both sides remained composed for the first quarter hour, with Vittoriosa crowding their defence and Samir Arab detailed to shadow Gilmar Ribeiro in every part of the field. Bakare, Stojanovic and Bellia tried to create openings with their runs from midfield. Guerrero’s dipping free kick after nine minutes took a wicked deflection before going slightly over the bar and into a corner as the Stars were the first to threaten.
However they were undone early by two goals within ten minutes. Past the quarter hour Arab conceded a free kick outside their area. Gilmar’s shot rebounded off the Vittoriosa wall, the ball fell to Reano, whose effort was slightly deflected low by Gilmar past the helpless keeper Muscat.
Galvanised by their lead, Naxxar went close again two minutes later with a Stojanovic low drive that Muscat saved well. But on 25 minutes Filip Stojanovic completely surprised the Vittoriosa keeper with a long range shot, as Muscat allowed the ball to slip from his grip and end behind him.
It was a shoddy goal to concede and Vittoriosa were visibly frustrated as they suddenly had to chase the game.
They even suffered further derision two minutes before the break. On Gilmar’s corner from the right, Clive Spiteri’s headed clearance put his goalkeeper off balance and David Reano was left unmarked to shoot in the loose ball.
The frequency of scoring chances did increase after the interval. Vittoriosa were menacing on 52 minutes, creating havoc inside the Naxxar area. Guerrero was twice foiled by reflex saves frrom keeper Azzopardi. Finally, substitute Siraj Arab put his shot wide.
On the other end, Falzon advanced down the left, on Gilmar’s through pass, but shot over. Towrads the hour, Vittoriosa were unlucky when Pereira picked Spiteri’s pass but thumped his shot against the bar.
On 66 minutes Falzon’s powerful freekick from the edge of the Vittoriosa area was well saved by keeper Muscat.
On 69 minutes, Vittoriosa deservingly reduced the arrears. Marcelo Pereira chested the ball inside the area, on Guerrero’s cross from the right, turned past Buhagiar and scored with a low strike.
Naxxar were made to defend their lead grimly for the last quarter hour or so as Vittoriosa, having effected all their three substitutions, summoned their last efforts, although not enough to avod defeat andt the drop.