SANNAT LIONS FC ...  (53' M.MUSCAT, 84' E. GRIMA, 90+1' F. DE ANDRADE)

D Bajada, P Spiteri, F Debono (S Rais), J Agius, C de Oliveira, A Debono, M Cutajar, E Grima (N Micallef), M Muscat, K Merceica, F de Andrade

D Gauci, P Attard, A Tramboo, J Bartolo (A Mutalib), L Blanco de Castro, J Attard, VJ Saliba, L Buttigieg, S Sultana, M Buhagiar, N Sultana

     Our Lions registered their third win against Xaghra United this season and moved temporally to the second place on the table.  The Lions opened more offensive and scored in the second minute but De Andrade’s effort was disallowed for an offside.  The Lions continued to dominate the match but it was Xaghra that hit the crossbar in the first period.  At the end of the first period Xaghra were reduced to ten men.  Our Lions opened the score early in the second half by a spectacular goal of Mark Muscat.  Than the Lions relaxed a bit and it was goalie Demise Bajada that restored the lead with fine saves.  The Lions took control again of the match and with spectacular play they increased the lead by another two goals, by Errol Grima and by Fernando De Andrade.

     Play was quite entertaining during the first period with various scoring opportunities. Xaghra had the first scoring opportunity in the 7^th minute through a low shot by Johann Attard that was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. The Lions replied with a free kick by Cristiano de Oliveira that missed the target. In the 9^th minute an effort by Xaghra’s Johann Attard ended just over the crossbar and one minute later Sannat’s Mark Muscat had a good shot that ended wide. In the 13^th minute Xaghra were unlucky when a shot from an angled position by Mark Buhagiar hit the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten. Sannat were dangerous in the 20^th minute when Fernando de Andrade entered the area, dribbled tow defenders but concluded badly with an open goal at his mercy. Sannat’s Paul Spiteri had a free kick in the 23^rd minute that ended high, while a free kick by Xaghra’s Blanco de Castro was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada. The same Blanco de Castro saved his goal in the 32^nd minute when he cleared off the fatal line a close ranged effort by Errol Grima. Three minutes later Xaghra’s goalie Gauci made a difficult save following an attempt by De Andrade and later a shot by Frank Debono from a cross by Errol Grima shaved the crossbar. In the 39^th minute Xaghra’s Alex Tramboo had a shot from a clearance by the defence that ended just over the crossbar and in the 44^th minute an attempt by Sannat’s de Andrade just missed the crossbar. In the first minute of stoppage time of the first half Xaghra ended with a player less on the field when Victor John Saliba was sent off for a second caution.

    In the following minutes the same goalie Bajada blocked a close ranged effort by Shaun Sultana. Sannat regained command of play in the dying moments. In the 81^st minute Xaghra’s goalie Donald Gauci saved a good effort by substitute Sabri Rais and from the rebound Mark Muscat concluded badly in front of an open goal. One minute later the same Gauci save in corner an attempt by Kenneth Mercieca. Sannat doubled the score in the 84^th minute through a header by Errol Grima following a corner by Paul Spiteri. Xaghra could have scored a consolation goal in the 89^th minute but a shot by Larry Buttigieg ended wide. Sannat sealed the issue in the first minute of stoppage time through a low shot by Fernando de Andrade who was released in the area by Errol Grima. Referee:  Paul Apap

MATCH PHOTO GALLERY

Copyright Philip Cassar