Naxxar Lions with more work to do after frustrating draw against Marsaxlokk

MARSAXLOKK 1

Quitongo  63

NAXXAR LIONS 1

Haber 55

MARSAXLOKK

M. Drobnjak, K. Micallef, Y. Messias, J. Arias, J. Quitongo, E. Lucas, A. De Aguiar, E. Pena Beltre, L. Aguirre, R. Scicluna.

NAXXAR LIONS

M. Debono, T. Yamaguchi, N. Pace Cocks, R. Cassar, G.Barbosa, L. De Almeida, Westherley, F.Barbosa, D. Jackson, Y. Ito.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Yellow cards: Caxambu, De Almeida, Barbosa, Arias, Lopes.

Naxxar and Marsaxlokk cancelled each other out in a 1-1 draw, a result that does little to improve either side’s placing in the standings.

Żabbar St Patrick’s win over Melita on Saturday meant that Naxxar slipped into  the bottom two places and needed a win over Marsaxlokk to leapfrog the Saints.

But the point gained left them a point behind Żabbar and need to win their final fixture to stay out of the relegation zone.

On their part, Enzo Potenza’s side knew that that a victory would see them starting on top in the direct clash with Gzira on the final day of the Bottom 6 and they started with verve.

Yuri Messias’s corner after four minutes was met with a full-blooded left foot strike by Leonardo Aguirre that flew over the bar. It was the signal for Marsaxlokk’s first real spell of pressure. Matthias Debono showed incredible bravery to block Alex de Aguiar’s strike.

In what developed as personal duel with Brazilian forward, Debono produced another smart save on 36 minutes from de Aguiar’s low drive.

Playing with the wind behind their back, Naxxar tried to catch Marsaxlokk with some devastating counter-attack but Francis Jno-Baptiste shot straight at Marko Drobnjak.

For all their dominance, Marsaxlokk lacked the invention to break down a well-organised Naxxar defence.

And the Lions took the lead against the run of play.

A sweeping move saw Ryan Gilmour Cassar hit the ball into the opponents’ area and into the path of Kayne Haber who profited from a defensive mix-up to smack the ball home from close range.

Naxxar’s joy was short-lived as Ulises Arias provided a breakthrough for the south seasiders with his cross flying across the goalmouth with Jai Quintongo applying the finishing touch at the far post.

Marsxalokk continued pushing without creating clear-cut chances until Yuri Messias cut in from the left and unleashed an audacious lob over Debono that finished over the bar on 77 minutes.

In the end, both teams had to settle for a draw and having more work to do on the final day of the Opening Round.