Naxxar Lions 2
Melita 2

Manwel Ramon Sierra Camacho missed a penalty deep into stoppage time and now Melita will have to delay their promotion celebrations to the last match of the season as yesterday they hit back from two goals down to finally settle for a 2-2 draw with Naxxar.

Melita only need a draw from their remaining game against the already-promoted Rabat next weekend as third-placed Pieta will have to win their next two matches to force a decider.

Naxxar confirmed they are the most in-form side at present in this division as Winston Muscat’s side also disrupted Rabat’s party by beating them a few weeks back.

Rabat, however, went on to secure promotion on Friday but Melita, six points ahead of Pieta, still have to sweat it out against the Magpies as Pieta play Lija today and Żejtun on Saturday.

Melita started the game on the attack and went close to opening the score when a shot by Luke Micallef flashed just wide.

Naxxar, too, had a good opportunity to take an early lead when Darren Falzon was left alone in the box but his shot went off range.

At the other end, Luke Micallef had an overhead kick going over.

Martin Gregory’s Amateurs should opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Julian Galea ended up in the clear but his shot just missed the post.

It was Naxxar who took the lead four minutes before half-time when a scorcher by Andrea Farrugia from just outside the box left Matthew Sapiano with no chance... one of the best goals of the season, if not the best.

Soon after the restart, Falzon picked up a long clearance from his defence but hit badly also due to the marking of Sierra Camacho and George Gribbon.

On 50 minutes, Sierra Camacho saw his free-kick from well outside the area saved by Julian Azzopardi before the Lions made it 2-0 when a Victor Bellia delivery hit the crossbar and from the rebound Osi Agboebina turned well to shoot home with Sapiano trying in vain to stop the ball from crossing the line.

Melita surged forward in numbers now but it was Naxxar who kept creating the best scoring opportunities.

John Debono’s header, from a Lydon Micallef cross, was superbly saved by Sapiano and two minutes later, following a short clearance by the Melita keeper, Bellia lobbed the ball inches wide of the desired target.

Melita’s revival started on 72 minutes when Julian Galea tapped the ball home from close range after a Sierra Camacho cross was nodded into his path by Tobias Terpougoff.

Four minutes later the score became 2-2. Gribbon picked up a ball outside the area following a melee, dribbled past a defender and placed the ball beyond Azzo-pardi from just inside the area.

The drama was not over though as two minutes into added time Nicolo Baldacchino was tripped in the Naxxar box by Azzopardi and a penalty was given.

Sierra Camacho stepped up for the spot-kick but incredibly blasted high and wide to the utter despair of the Melita clan.

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, A. Farrugia, L. Micallef, K. Drago (A. Da Silva), R. Schembri, K. Farrugia, V. Bellia, J. Debono, M. Macari, D. Falzon, O. Agboebina.

Melita: M. Sapiano, M.R. Sierra Camacho, G. Gibbon, M. Martin, M. Borg, K. Micallef (T. Terpougoff), J. Galea, L. Micallef, K. Vella Petroni, S. Galea (N. Baldacchino), J. Vukanic.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Best player: George Gribbon (Melita).

Standings


P W D L F A Pts
Rabat Ajax 21 14 3 4 26 11 45
Melita 21 13 5 3 45 23 44
Pietà 20 12 2 6 27 17 38
Naxxar 21 9 6 6 32 29 33
Vittoriosa 21 8 7 6 36 24 31
Żejtun 20 9 3 8 23 20 30
St Andrews 21 8 3 10 23 28 27
Lija Athletic 20 6 5 9 22 24 23
Birżebbuġa 21 7 2 12 30 38 23
Dingli 21 5 4 12 14 29 19
St Patrick 21 5 4 12 17 34 19
St George’s 20 4 4 12 16 34 16

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