Late Galea goals dent Lija's hopes

Rabat Ajax 2
Lija Athletic 2

Lija Athletic's hopes of playing Premier League football next season suffered a severe blow yesterday when they were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by the already-relegated Rabat Ajax.

Lija seemed cruising to three useful points when they took a 2-0 first-half lead. However, their rhythm suffered badly after the break with Rabat launching a strong reaction that produced two late goals which left Lija's dreams in tatters.

Lija are now joint leaders with St Patrick with 29 points, one ahead of Mqabba.

Mqabba play their final match this morning and if they take maximum spoils from Senglea they would leave Lija with no other option but to beat Mosta in a tricky match next week.

Lija made all the early running. On 15 minutes, Glenn Barry served Paul Camilleri who shot wide. Camilleri, however, made up for that miss four minutes later when he headed home a Gordon Camenzuli cross past a helpless Jonathan Azzopardi.

On 20 minutes, Lija were close to a second when Camilleri put Barry in an inviting position but the Lija forward blasted against the side-netting.

Rabat rarely threatened Agius' goal at that stage. Instead, it was Lija who found the net again when on 37 minutes Barry rounded Azzopardi before depositing the ball into an empty net.

Mano Micallef almost made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time but shot tamely in Azzopardi's hands after dribbling expertly past three defenders.

Lija replaced the hard-working Camenzuli with Alan Ellul after the break. This move backfired for Lija however as they lost their superiority in midfield as Rabat started to push forward with more purpose.

Two Michael Micallef shots from the distance finished over but Lija almost sealed the issue on 75 minutes. Barry dashed into the area turned past Azzopardi but his shot was cleared off the line by Christopher Schembri.

Rabat's efforts were rewarded on 83 minutes when substitute Adam Smeir released Galea whose first-time shot gave Agius no chance.

The Lija fans grew anxious as the minutes ticked away and their fears came to reality in time added on.

Alan Zahra drifted a ball inside the area, the Lija backline failed to clear and Galea again took his chance to beat Agius for a second time.

Lija were stunned and their ambitions jolted. With Mosta next they have to regain composure in time to save their season.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, E. Muscat, A. Borg, M. Micallef, C. Schembri, J. Tonna, D. Galea, J. Caruana, A. Zahra, J. Farrugia (A. Smeir), U. Engoya Onesime.

Lija: S. Agius, D. Okeke, S. Ciscaldi, R. Mifsud, J.P. Scerri, D. Scerri, M. Micallef (R. Grech), G. Camenzuli (A. Ellul), G. Barry, P. Camilleri (E. Navarro), D. Cosaitis.

Referee: J.R. Attard.

Marsa 1
San Gwann 1

An Ibrahim Tarek goal a minute from time denied San Gwann from a crucial victory as the Division One strugglers had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

The Saints were only seconds away from three vital points that would have seen them opening a three-point lead over next-from-bottom Tarxien. In the end, they could only move a point clear and now must beat Naxxar in their remaining match to beat the drop.

Marsa were a shadow of the side that had impressed so much in their wins over Naxxar and Senglea. But despite a low-key performance they still managed to save a point and preserve an unbeaten record in the second round.

They started strongly, pinning their opponents in their own half even though they rarely tested goalkeeper Chris Cini. However, it was San Gwann who took the lead after 15 minutes when Sciberras beat his marker to head past Jason Cordina.

San Gwann should have scored a second on 31 minutes when Decesare put Achokwu through but the Nigerian shot wide with only Cordina to beat.

Martin had a good chance to equalise on 34 minutes when spotted by Ryan Bonnici but his lob finished out. For the second straight match Marsa were then forced to replace the unfit Sunday Eboh who limped out injured.

In the second half, San Gwann looked determined to score an early 'killer goal'. They almost reached their objective but Sciberras' scorcher hit the upright.

In the 57th minute Cini came to San Gwann's rescue when he palmed away Darren Vella's low drive. Marsa were applying all the pressure now but on 65 minutes Achokwu should have done better when he pounced on some hesitant defending from Marsa but was blocked in time by Cordina.

Marsa then had Buttigieg sent off for dissent but San Gwann failed to profit from their numerical advantage. Instead, it was Marsa who pushed forward in search of a draw. Late in the match, Tarek pounced on a poor clearance and hammered the ball home.

The San Gwann clan was frustrated but, at least, their fate is still in their own hands.

Marsa: J. Cordina, J. Buttigieg, D. Vella, R. Bonnici, A. Mifsud, L. Grima, G. Martin, D. Gatt, I. Tarek, J. Casha (J.P. Zammit), S. Eboh (M. Corbalan, R. Micallef).

San Gwann: C. Cini, A. Gatt, J. Farrugia, A. Saliba, G. Magri, W. Spiteri (C. Agius), K. Loughborough, A. Decesare, C. Gatt (M. Psaila), K. Sciberras (A. Gambin), J. Achokwu.

Referee: Paul Caruana.