Żejtun Corinthians strike late to overcome Lija Athletic

ŻEJTUN CORINTHIANS 2

Viera 73; Gomes 76

LIJA ATHLETIC 0

ŻEJTUN CORINTHIANS

C. Cassar-6, L. Moreira-6, A. Carabott-6 (66’ R. Santos), K. Reid-6.5, T. Bonfim-6, C. Grech-6, F. Gomes-7, V. Vieira-6.5, E. Herrera-6 (76’ G. Bugeja), N. Tabone-6, A. De Barros-6 (80’ D. Agius).

LIJA ATHLETIC

L. Bonnici-6, L. Muscat-6, I. Borg-6, E. Beu-6.5, N. Micallef-6 (72’ N. Mclaren), F. Brandan-6, H. Wood-6 (77’ R. Darmanin), M. Jimenez-6, J. Gill, C. Giordimaina-6, V. Alhinho-6.

Referee Daniel Portelli.

Yellow cards De Barros, Wood, Viera, Micallef, Alhinho, Beu, Muscat, Agius, Bugeja.

Red cards Gill (L) 86; Santos (Ż) 86.

BOV Player of the match Fernando Jose Gomes (Żejtun Corinthians).

Żejtun Corinthians returned to winning ways as two quick-fire goals mid-way through the second half handed them a 2-0 win over Lija Athletic.

The Corinthians therefore move to safer waters as they now lie on the 12-point mark, leaving Lija Athletic second from bottom on five points.

Lija went close to taking the lead after just eight minutes with a fine header by Erjon Beu, off a cross by Neil Micallef but the ball hit the woodwork. The Corinthians replied with a Fernando Jose Gomes shot which was partially saved by the goalkeeper on 18 minutes and Kemar Reid hit past the upright off the rebound.

Erjon Beu had an overhead kick ending high on 31 minutes and three minutes later, Żejtun threatened once again. Gomes advanced into the area but his shot was blocked by the goalkeeper. Vitor Vieira’s effort off the rebound was deflected into a corner by a defender.

Four minutes from the end of the first half, the Corinthians were unlucky not to take the lead when Kemar Reid advanced upfield, rounding the goalkeeper but pulled too much to the left for him to be able to shoot at goal. He tried to serve Vieira but the ball was deflected by a defender and eventually, Adrian Carabott’s shot at goal was neutralised by the Lija goalkeeper.

However, on 73 minutes, Żejtun managed to break the deadlock. Vieira intercepted the ball, just outside the area, and with an angled shot from the left, beat Luke Bonnici to put the Corinthians ahead.

Lija hardly had time to recover as two minutes later, Kemar Reid entered the area from the right and served Fernando Jose Gomes who slotted the ball past Bonnici to make it 2-0.

Four minutes from time, Lija’s Juan Cruz Gill and Żejtun’s Roberio Santos clashed after the latter pushed the Lija defender inside the area. Referee Daniel Portelli sent off the two players who continued to argue on their way out.