Naxxar Lions end winning drought with victory over Melita

MELITA 0

NAXXAR LIONS 3

Micallef 5

Garcia Nogueira 66 pen

Motta 86og

MELITA

G. Mizzi, Aldair (70 D. Xuereb), G. Barone, JP Attard, K. Mohnani, A. Penha de Costa, M. Debattista (70 N. Cutajar), A. Borg Olivier, A. Yepez, K. Bondin (74 A. Attard), H. Motta.

NAXXAR LIONS

M. Debono, N. Micallef, N. Pace Cocks (88 Pace Cocks), E. Farias (88 O. Opajobi), K. Haber (82 G. Bonanno), G. Cassar, G. Barbosa, W. Nogueira, F. Pereira, D. Jackson (88 S. Camilleri), Y. Ito.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Yellow cards: Attard, Pereira, Debono, Mohnani, Motta, Aldair, Ito, Yepez, Cutajar.

Missed penalty: Da Costa Penha (24).

Naxxar Lions moved out of the bottom two for the first time in three months with a comfortable win over rivals Melita.

It was the Lions’ first win since their derby win against Mosta last August.

Neil Micallef and Garcia Nogueira grabbed the goals while Henrique Motta committed an own goal late in the game.

In the end it proved an easy win for Naxxar who caught the eye with some fancy touches and crisp passing.

Naxxar Lions had lost their last two Premier League games and failed to win any of their previous ten matches while not scoring a goal in their last three, but they were quickly on top here.

Nikolai Micallef ran on to a shot by Fernando Barbosa which was deflected into his path and bundled the ball over the line from close range.

Despite coming from a 3-1 victory over Żabbar St Patrick, Melita did not seem to be at the races in the early stages.

But on 19 minutes, the ball fell to Andre Penha da Costa on the edge of the box but Naxxar Lions goalkeeper Matthias Debono pushed the Brazilian’s shot straight out to Jesus Andres Yepez.

However, the Venezuelan forward was unable to take advantage as the goalkeeper reacted well to save a second goalbound effort.

But from their first meaningful attack, Clive Mizzi’s side almost found themselves level, Penha da Costa’s pace and trickery gave him space on the left flank and was floored by Degran Jackson inside the area.

The Brazilian striker picked himself up to take the spot kick. But he slipped as he planted his standing foot and the ball crashed against the bar.

Naxxar kept coming forward however and they were quickly back in front. Kayne Haber hammered a shot against the bar after 27 minutes.

Shy the half hour mark, the Naxxar goalkeeper must have feared the worst when he hauled Penha da Costa down just outside the box as the Brazilian striker tried to outsprint the onrushing goalkeeper.

But the goalkeeper was only shown a yellow card, despite appearing to deny the forward a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

Things got better for Naxxar after the break when Barbosa went for a bouncing ball into the box and the Melita goalkeeper inexplicably barged into the Brazilian striker, giving referee Philip Farrugia little option but to point the spot.

Westherley Nogueira Garcia stepped up to bury the penalty and doubled the Lions’ advantage.

Four minutes from time, Naxxar made it 3-0.

Neil Pace Cocks embarked on  a mazy run, Melita defender Henrique Motta panicked at the midfielder’s shot and diverted it pasy the hapless Mizzi.