Dingli Swallows 1
Naxxar Lions 2
Darren Falzon’s last-gasp goal gave Naxxar their first points of the season in a match between two sides that had failed to avoid defeat in their first outing.
After a quiet start, both sides started creating goal-scoring op-portunities.
The first fell to Naxxar on 12 minutes when Sunday Eboh saw his half-volley deflected to a corner following an Ivanilson Serino Junior free-kick.
A minute later Gilbert Camilleri should have done better for the Lions when he headed Falzon’s delivery straight into the arms of goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.
Dingli hit back with a Senior David header that finished inches wide and a few minutes later David, again, just missed the target from the edge of the area following an inviting pass by Leontiev Konda.
On 26 minutes, Naxxar were awarded a penalty, a decision that brought some protests from Dingli.
Anthony Ewurun fell after making contact with Etienne Farrugia and the referee had no doubts about the spot-kick. Andre Rocha da Silva sent the keeper the wrong way to give the Lions the lead.
But the Swallows reacted immediately.
With only the goalkeeper to beat, Konda failed to find the net and on 35 minutes the scores became level again as David rose high to anticipate keeper Julian Azzopardi who had tried to cut a cross inside the Naxxar box.
The Lions were unlucky after the break when Ewurun left two defenders in his wake with some neat footwork but his shot smacked against the post.
At the other end, Konda’s effort from the distance was neutralised on the ground by the alert Lions goalkeeper.
As the minutes ticked by Naxxar increased the pace and on 75 minutes a Serino Junior shot from outside the box was kept out by Farrugia. The Swallows no.1 was at it again soon after, this time to keep out a menacing Pablo Doffo free-kick.
Naxxar’s aspirations were jolted on 86 minutes when Angus Buhagiar was sent off for a second bookable offence after a foul on David.
However, despite being a man down the Lions still succeeded in scoring a winner when Falzon freed himself in the Dingli box before slotting his shot over the onrushing Farrugia.
Deep into stoppage time Alex Portelli was sent off for Dingli, also for a double booking.
Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli, K. Pace, R. Micallef (J. Sapiano), L. Konda, K. Formosa, S. David, B. Guga, E. Farrugia, E. Grech, L. Micallef (F. Cauchi).
Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, A. Buhagiar, J. Vella, K. Drago (L. Micallef), S. Eboh, A. Rocha Da Silva (P. Doffo), V. Bellia, G. Camilleri (J. Debono), D. Falzon, A. Ewurun, I. Serino Junior.
Referee: Chris Lautier.
Man of the match: Senior David (Dingli Swallows).