Keepers shine in stalemate
Lija Athletic 0Żejtun Corinthians 0 Lija Athletic and Żejtun Corinthians shared the spoils in an entertaining match which saw the two goalkeepers produce some fine saves. In the first half, Lija enjoyed more possession, especially in midfield. After...
Lija Athletic 0
Żejtun Corinthians 0
Lija Athletic and Żejtun Corinthians shared the spoils in an entertaining match which saw the two goalkeepers produce some fine saves.
In the first half, Lija enjoyed more possession, especially in midfield. After eight minutes, an Erjon Beu drive from outside the area was saved by Ranier Farrugia, the Żejtun goalkeeper.
Lija continued to press forward but their crosses from the flanks were easily dealt with by Farrugia.
Żejtun had their first shot at goal on 20 minutes, Charlo Magro’s free-kick missing the target by a whisker. Four minutes later, Joey Falzon’s team came close to taking the lead when Kalin Ganchev pounced on Gers Delia’s free-kick and tried to chip the ball into the net but Lija goalkeeper Ini Etim Aktpan palmed the ball to safety.
Żejtun began to gain confidence and in the 28th minute, Ganchev served Delia who was thwarted by the Lija goalkeeper.
After the change of ends, Żejtun’s Ryan Cauchi fired over from about 25 metres. On the hour, it was Aktpan who saved Lija as the agile goalkeeper deflected Cauchi’s attempt away for a corner after the latter had received from Delia. A minute later, Cauchi hit wide.
In the 63rd minute, Żejtun defender Magro failed to clear and the ball fell into the path of Gilbert Camilleri who was unmarked but Farrugia produced a spectacular save to deny the Lija midfielder.
Fourteen minutes from time, Lija’s Beu fired a shot from the edge of the area that ended wide.
As Lija were preparing to take a corner seven minutes from time, referee Fiodor Zammit dismissed Vince Camilleri for dissent as the Żejtun substitute was warming up behind his team’s goal.
Lija: E. Ini Aktpan, D. Scerri, E. Beu, B. Camilleri (E. Briffa), K. Darmanin, G. Camilleri, J.P. Scerri, B. Fenech (C. Giordmaina), A. Scicluna, M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige (A. Sacco).
Żejtun: R. Farrugia, K. Vassallo (A. Farrugia), M. Borg, C. Magro, E. Azzopardi, R. Cauchi, J. Abela, N. Filipov, K. Ganchev, G. Delia, K. Abela (C. Formosa).
Referee: Fiodor Zammit
Man of the match: Ini Etim Aktpan (Lija A.)
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Pietà Hotspurs | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
| Żejtun Cor. | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Rabat Ajax | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| Birżebbuġa SP | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Vittoriosa Stars | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 7 |
| Melita | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| St Andrews | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Dingli S. | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Lija Athletic | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| St George’s | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Naxxar Lions | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 3 |
| St Patrick | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 1 |