Naxxar Lions fight back to bag first win in Closing Round

NAXXAR LIONS 2

Vitinho 66, Vinicius 79

ŻABBAR ST PATRICK 1

Cejas 50

Naxxar Lions came from behind to defeat Żabbar in a contest that burst into life after the interval, with both sides throwing caution to the wind in search of a first win in the Closing Round.

Żabbar struck first moments after the restart, but Naxxar responded immediately, turning the tables on their opponents to seal a fourth victory in five matches since Winston Muscat took charge.

With Kean Scicluna and Ryan Scicluna suspended, Im Young-won and Jake Micallef were restored to the starting line-up after making cameo appearances against Sliema Wanderers, while Miro Soldo made his debut for Żabbar.

Naxxar, also made two changes from the side that lost to Floriana, with Cedric Kontchou replacing Edison Farias as Louis Pahama also made his debut.

The Lions began on the front foot and went close after 18 minutes when Louis Pahama sent a spectacular scissor-kick over the bar. They continued to apply pressure soon after, with Vinicius narrowly missing the target as his cross-shot flashed just wide of the far post.

Żabbar’s response arrived shortly before the interval, when Mayron headed wide from a Mario Fontanella corner in what proved to be their best opening of the half.

St Patrick made a bright start into the second half as Pedro Cejas tested Matthias Debono with a rising shot that the goalkeeper did well to smother.

Cejas continued to be a constant threat and was rewarded moments later, embarking on a fine solo run that saw him round Debono before calmly slotting the ball into the net.

On 60 minutes, Naxxar reacted and Zabbar goalkeeper Ignacio Colombo denied Vitinho twice in quick succession.  Minutes later, Colombo tipped the ball over the post from another attempt by Vitinho. But the Brazilian emerged the winner in what developed into a personal duel with the Zabbar goalkeeper when the Brazilian hit a low drive into the corner.

The Lions finally turned around the tide on 78 minutes in a devastating counter-attack with Vitinho setting up Vinicius who hit a cute lob over Colombo.

Seven minutes from time, Cejas hit a free-kick over the wall, which finished just wide. In stoppage time, Debono produced a smart block to save Cejas’s volley, effectively exhausting Zabbar’s residual hopes.