Naxxar Lions 5
Gudja United 5

(aet; 90 mins - 5-5; Naxxar win 5-4 on pens)

Naxxar Lions and Gudja United shared a staggering 10 goals in a thrilling promotion play-off at the Centenary Stadium yesterday but the Lions had the final say after winning a tense penalty shoot-out 5-4.

Keen to make amends for their agonising defeat to Żejtun Corinthians in the Div. Three Section B promotion decider, Naxxar dictated the run of play in the early stages with Victor Bellia having a good shot well saved by Matthew Xerxen.

However, it was Gudja who broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, Roderick Debattista scoring with a low angled shot.

On 19 minutes, Naxxar levelled the score thanks to Gilbert Camilleri who headed home from Darren Falzon's cross.

Two minutes past the half-hour, Naxxar went ahead thanks to a well-hit volley from Camilleri but barely four minutes later, Gudja made it 2-2. Trevor Thomas concluded a good move by Debattista with a clinical finish.

The game remained balanced but three minutes from half-time, Gudja regained the lead. Thomas scored his second goal of the game, beating Naxxar goalkeeper David Vella with a grounder.

Naxxar started the second half on the attack. After a few seconds, a free-kick taken by Kevin Fenech was turned around the post by the Gudja keeper. The Lions then wasted a clear opportunity when Glenn Magri headed wide from close range.

Much against the run of play, Gudja increased their lead on 66 minutes with Thomas completing his hat-trick with an excellent free-kick.

Two goals down, Naxxar kept their heads up but Xerxen continued to foil their efforts as he saved two attempts by Camilleri.

With 14 minutes left, Naxxar narrowed the deficit when Falzon forced his way through before serving Adrian Fenech who finally had the better of Xerxen. Barely two minutes later, Naxxar made it 4-4 courtesy of Bellia who headed Camilleri's inviting cross past Xerxen.

High on confidence after their two-goal burst, the Lions thought they had clinched it when, three minutes from time, Magri found the net to put them 5-4 ahead but in stoppage time, Gudja snatched a dramatic equaliser when a shot by Emerson Vella stunned Vella.

Gudja were the better team in extra-time but no goals were scored.

The match thus had to be decided via a penalty shoot-out and here Naxxar scored five, one more than Gudja, to secure promotion to Division Two. Naxxar goalkeeper David Vella atoned for his mistake in Gudja's fifth goal by saving the penalties taken by Xerxen and Jesmond Micallef.

Naxxar:
D. Vella, J. Agius, K. Fenech, G. Camilleri, D. Falzon (A. Farrugia), A. Fenech, K. Farrugia, V. Bellia, A. Catania (J. Zammit), S. Muscat (M. Del Negro), G. Magri.

Gudja:
M. Xerxen, C. Mangion (J. Zahra), E. Vella, J. Schembri, C. Galea, A. Cutajar (J. Micallef), E. Gauci, A. Guazzo, R. Debattista, D. Zammit (D. Agius), T. Thomas.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

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