Top three make no mistake on Match Day 12 of NCL

BOV CHALLENGE LEAGUE MATCH DAY 12 REVIEW

Sliema Wanderers 5-1 Marsaskala
League leaders Sliema Wanderers cruised to an easy victory over Marsaskala to maintain their two-point lead over Zejtun at the top of the standings. It was a one-way affair with Sliema wrapping the match in the first half. Paul Zammit’s side had already put their minds at rest in the first half scoring three goals and dominating for long stretches. Marsaskala had some good opportunities mainly thanks to Andres Viveros runs, but he was completely isolated in attack and the Sliema defence had no trouble.
After twelve minutes, the Blues took the lead when Jean Carlos took possession of the ball just outside the area, and with the goalkeeper slightly out of position he lobbed beautifully home. Sliema continued to dictate matters and on 29 minutes, Jean Carlos again did all the running before passing to the unmarked Lydon Micallef who easily slotted home. Two minutes later, the Brazilian striker was on the mark again scoring a well taken goal with a low shot from the edge of the area.
In the second half, Micallef obtained his brace when he dribbled past a couple of defenders before putting at the back of the net. Late in the game, substitute Jake Engerer added the fifth goal with a precise grounder. With a few minutes left to play, Marsaskala won a penalty when Joshua Micallef was brought down by Engerer and Dario Aquilina scored from the resultant penalty.

Zejtun Corinthians 3-0 Swieqi United
Second placed Zejtun Corinthians resumed their pathway to promotion after dispatching Swieqi United in a 3-0 win result last Sunday afternoon.
Andre Carlos Penha opened the scoring for Corinthians after 28 minutes beating Swieqi's stand-in custodian Gosef Mizzi with a shot from inside the box, the tenth league goal for the Brazilian. Orosco Anonam’s side increased their lead just before the interval thanks to a great first-timer by James Brincat.
Swieqi did try to get back into the match after the break, with the Corinthians removing their feet from the accelerator. However, their efforts proved to be futile with Zejtun adding a third deep into stoppage time by lanky Brazilian substitute Caique.

Attard 1-3 Naxxar Lions
Naxxar registered another meaningful win, beating Attard 3-1 to continue their hunt for direct promotion. George Vella’s side took the lead on 24 minutes when Robinson Blandon beat Zach Valletta, his fifth goal of the season. Ayrton Azzopardi doubled the lead from the spot fifteen minutes before the break, after Luca Martinelli fouled Blandon inside the area.
Attard’s hopes to narrow the gap were significantly hampered in the 55th minute as Camilo Escobar was sent off after receiving his second caution of the day. This allowed the Lions to increase their lead through Edson Farias who made it 3-0 seven minutes from time, before Daniel Agius's side scored a consolation goal in the dying moments from a header by substitute Oluwatosin Adbdulhameed. Naxxar remain three points behind Sliema and therefore keep the pressure on the league leaders.

Marsa 3-3 Tarxien Rainbows
On Sunday night, Marsa and Tarxien played out an entertaining six-goal thriller, with both teams eventually sharing the spoils. All the goals were scored after the break.
Marsa had the first real chance on 21 minutes when Teppei Lida exchanged passes and entered the box completely alone but his conclusion from two yards was blocked by Jurgen Borg. Thiago Nonato came close for the Rainbows on 37 minutes with a low shot that ended up just wide.
Tarxien took the lead right at the start of the second half when Darren Falzon connected with a great backheel past Nicholas Vella. But Marsa equalized on 63 minutes when Jake Jovanoski managed to conclude from close range after a goalmouth melee.Two minutes later, Marsa went into the lead after an incredible run by Lucas Ribeiro saw him waltz past three players before crossing to Luca Brincat who headed home with ease. The match really sprang to life with Tarxien equalizing on 69 minutes with a fine solo effort by substitute Angel Correa. Emmanuel Mbong put Tarxien back in the lead in an incredible turnaround two minutes after the equaliser with another fine strike. But at the death, Marsa managed to equalize from the penalty spot through Ryan Fenech after Brooke Farrugia handled in the box and got sent off for a second yellow card. Two expensive points lost for Jacques Scerri’s side, who are now eight points behind an automatic promotion spot and need to be flawless in the next match days in order to keep their hopes alive for a return to the Premier Division.

San Gwann 1-1 Melita
Apart from Tarxien, Melita lost two precious points as well in their quest to finish among the top six in the first phase of the season. The Amateurs were held to a 1-1 draw by San Gwann in a rather low-profile encounter. The match never reached high standards with most of the excitement coming in the second forty-five minutes. Ramon Zammit’s side took the lead five minutes into the second half when Libyan all-timer Nezar Abouaisha headed home from close range. But their joy was short-lived as five minutes later Melita drew level when Jean Pierre Attard was tripped inside the area and from the penalty spot Matthew Debattista made no mistake. Following these two goals, Melita showed the better ideas with young San Gwann goalkeeper Miguel Spiteri making a couple of very good saves to keep his opponents at bay.

Qrendi 2-5 Zurrieq
Perhaps the biggest surprise in this season’s Challenge League are Zurrieq, who moved with the top six of the table, beating neighbours and rivals Qrendi 5-2, in a match that Zurrieq dominated for long stretches.
The first half was very entertaining with both sides giving their all in this derby. Qrendi were unlucky on 24 minutes when a close-range flying header from Nathan Cope smashed against the crossbar. Zurrieq turned the tide with two quick goals in the space of sixty seconds. On 35 minutes a swift counter attack was finished in style by Xylon Portelli, and sixty seconds later, Robinho went through on the left flank and crossed towards Dasser Sammut who first timed home.
The match was dead and buried three minutes into the second half when Robinho scored Zurrieq’s third goal after yet another impressive run. On 66 minutes Qrendi pulled one back thanks to a Cadu header but on 78 minutes Zurrieq were again on the mark when substitute Joao Felipe converted from the penalty spot on his debut. The penalty was awarded for a foul on the irresistible Robinho. Five minutes from time, substitute Mattias Formosa scored another consolation goal for the team of Jesmond Zammit. But in stoppage time, Robinho, the best player on the field of play, scored his second goal of the game.

St Andrews 3-2 Fgura United
Brain Said’s St Andrews registered a very important win on Saturday afternoon as they defeated Fgura United by the odd goal in five. With this victory they climbed into seventh place, on the same points tally as Fgura an Lija, to remain in the running for a Top Six spot.
Alan Borg Olivier scored the opening goal after 17 minutes with a powerful shot from close range. Three minutes later on the other side, Fgura’s Aroldinho was unlucky as his shot from outside the box hit the woodwork. St Andrews missed a golden opportunity to double the scoring on 42 minutes as Santiago Martinez missed a penalty kick. Ironically, barely two minutes later, Kevin Vella’s side also missed a penalty as the attempt by Aroldinho was well saved by veteran goalkeeper Miguel Montfort. But the Brazilian top scorer of the Challenge League redeemed himself a minute later by scoring the equalizer with a well-timed header.
Just after the hour, Ghanese centre-back Asante Agyeman restored the lead for Brian Said's side and Luka Mijic made it 3-1 seven minutes later from a precise Martinez pass. Aroldinho converted a penalty for Fgura deep into stoppage time, his 15th already of the season, to make the final score more acceptable for Fgura.

Mqabba 1-2 Lija Athletic
A 95th minute header from substitute McAllister Clinch gave Lija a flattering win over Mqabba who surely did not deserve to leave the field empty handed. The match was balanced with many scoring opportunities and looked set for a 1-1 draw thanks to two great goals scored in the first half by Erjon Beu and Lucas Ra, but Clinch’s dramatic goal gave Lija the points at stake.
Lija took the lead with a stunner after only five minutes when Beu scored a gem of a goal with a shot from well outside the area. Lija had some other good scoring opportunities but Mqabba never threw in the towel and grew in composure after a difficult initial period. Seven minutes from the break Mqabba drew level with another great goal scored by Lucas Ra, who found the back of the net with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area.
In the second half Mqabba played the better football and had the best scoring opportunities but failed to score the winner. Lija had their chances too and deep in stoppage time they snatched a dramatic winner with a McAllister Clinch header.

Vittoriosa Stars 3-0 Mtarfa
In the lower part of the table, Vittoriosa Stars returned to winning ways after seven consecutive league defeats, beating Mtarfa 3-0 in only their third win of the season. For Mtarfa, after a promising start of the season with two wins and two draws in their first five matches, this was already their seventh consecutive league defeat. In all fairness, both teams will need to improve considerably, should they stand a chance to avoid the drop. All goals arrived in the first thirty minutes of the match.
Vittoriosa opened the scoring after seven minutes play when Miguel Ciantar stunned Mtarfa's defence by placing the ball accurately in the net, with no reaction from goalkeeper Slaven Micallef. Ciantar doubled on 23 minutes with a great top corner free kick and on the half hour mark, the outcome of the match was already sealed when Luca Gatt's powerful shot from outside the box made it three for the Cottonera side.
Mtarfa failed to stage a reaction after the break, which means a ray of hope for the Stars, who are now occupying rank 14 with twelve points, equal with Marsaskala. Mtarfa (8), Qrendi and Mqabba (both 7 points) are situated lower then Vittoriosa.

Image copyright by Shaun Camilleri / Naxxar Lions FC Media