G. Mizzi, A. Simanca (60 E. Attard), J.P. Attard, M. Debattista, M. Bovenkamp, D. Xuereb (89 J. Abela), J. Yepez (74 N. Cutajar), G. Barone, K. Bondin (74 C. Gyamfi), C. Sanchez, S. Martinez (60 K. Mohnani).
NAXXAR LIONS
M. Debono, N. Micallef, B. Sane, E. Bolanos (81 T. Yamaguchi), E. Farias (69 Y. Ito), H. Santos (81 J. Hernandez), H. Correia, M. Souza, F. Barbosa, G. Bonanno (81 J.P. Farrugia), J. Moura.
Naxxar Lions secured their Malta Premier status as a goal just before the end of the first half handed them a narrow win over Melita in a relegation decider.
Thus, Melita will be playing in the Challenge League next season after just one year among the elite.
The relegation decider was necessary after Naxxar had ended their Opening Round commitments in the bottom two places along with Balzan while Melita had placed last in the Closing Round with Balzan ending second from bottom.
Therefore, while Balzan were automatically relegated, a decider had to determine the second team to be relegated.
Although Melita had earned just one point from the Closing Round Bottom 6, they definitely went down fighting as they gave Naxxar Lions a hard time throughout the 90 minutes and had their fair share of scoring opportunities.
Melita had no less than six changes from the team which drew with Gżira United in their last league outing as Aldair Simanca, David Xuereb, Jesus Yepez, Gareth Barone, Santiago Martinez and Camilo Sanchez were all back in the starting line-up.
On the other hand, George Vella named an unchanged side for Naxxar with the exception of Giuseppe Bonanno who replaced the unavailable Neil Pace Cocks.
Naxxar had the first attempt at goal as Hugo Santos, served by Edson Farias from the right, had a shot from inside the area ending wide on six minutes.
Melita replied with a Matthew Debattista volley from the edge of the area which ended high.
Naxxar threatened once again on 33 minutes with an Edson Farias effort which was parried by Gosef Mizzi.
Three minutes in added time, Naxxar managed to take the lead. Farias delivered a freekick from the left and Hugo Santos headed home from close range.
In the second half, Melita went out in search of the equaliser and on 50 minutes, Camilo Sanchez had an angled shot which scraped past the post.
However six minutes later, Maicon Souza was unlucky to hit the upright for Naxxar with an angled shot.
Naxxar missed an incredible opportunity on 58 minutes when Farias sent Santos through on the right and the latter served Maicon who hit wide from the edge of the area when in front of the goalkeeper.
Melita hit back with a Sanchez effort, who rounded a defender on the right before hitting high from inside the area on the hou markr.
On 77 minutes, a fine cross by Debattista for Jean Pierre Attard was deflected into a corner by a defender and from the resulting corner by Debattista, Ensell Attard’s powerful shot was blocked by a defender.
Two minutes later, following a good move on the left, Ensell Attard provided Debattista with a good pass from the left, but his conclusion was deflected into a corner.
Four minutes from time, Matthias Debono performed a great save on a Collins Gyamfi header off a cross by Attard.
With Melita all out in search of equaliser, in added time, Naxxar went close to adding another but Maicon’s effort from outside the area was deflected into a corner.
