Naxxar Lions and Melita cancel each other in goalless draw

NAXXAR LIONS   0

MELITA       0

NAXXAR

M. Debono, P. Vitor, T. Yamaguchi, N. Pace Cocks, M. Taumaturgo (54’ G. Barbosa), E. Farias (86’ L. Sergio), R. Cassar, Caxambu, F. Barbosa, D. Jackson, Y. Ito.

MELITA

G. Mizzi, J. Attard, K. Mohnani, A. Penha, M. Debattista (79’ J. Barragan), M. VanDe Font, D. Xuereb (65’ J. Yepez), N. Cutajar (86’ P. Galea Testaferrata), K. Bondin, G. Barone, H. Motta.

Referee: Emanuel Grech

Yellow Cards: D. Jackson, K. Mohnani, F. Barbosa, JP Attard, P. Vitor, N. Pace Cocks

360Sports Malta Premier: Andre Penha da Costa (Melita)

Naxxar Lions and Melita earned a point apiece as they cancelled each other in a goaless draw.

Melita, who were coming from a prestigious draw with Sliema Wanderers, therefore maintain a one-point lead over the Lions.

It was a balanced affair with Melita creating the better chances during the first half and Naxxar holding the initiative during the second.

Naxxar coach George Vella opted for three changes from the team which lost heavily to Ħamrun Spartans as Nikolai Micallef, Hudson and Luan Sergio made way for Neil Pace Cocks, Caxambu and Yasukaze Ito.

On the other hand, for Melita, David Xuereb was preferred to Benjamin Cassar.

The Lions had the first attempt at goal on four minutes.

Degran Jackson released Matheus Taumaturgo on the right and the latter tested Mizzi with a low shot.

Three minutes later, Melita had a low shot by Andre Carlos turned into a corner and off the resulting corner by David Xuereb, Henrique Motta headed high.

Andre went close once again with a rising shot from the right ending over the bar on 14 minutes and on 28 minutes, the Brazilian concluded a good move with a low shot from close range ending just wide.

Naxxar replied with a Takuma Yamaguchi low effort which was neutralised by Mizzi,.

In the second half, Naxxar created the better chances and substitute Gustavo Barbosa had a shot from the edge of the area deflected into a corner on 64 minutes and two minutes later, a cross shot from the right by Edson Farias was parried by the Melita custodian.

Finally one minute in added time, Naxxar threatened once again with a fine curling shot by Yasukaze Ito which ended wide for the Lions as the stalemate prevailed.