Naxxar Lions 3
Rocha Da Silva 11; Bellia 85 pen; Reano 87 pen;
Vittoriosa Stars 3
Brincat 36; Guerrero 50, 74 pen;

Naxxar Lions converted two penalties in the final five minutes to earn a point after their match against fellows-in-distress Vittoriosa Stars ended 3-3.

It was a dramatic Relegation Pool encounter that saw the Lions take the early initiative when Andre Rocha Da Silva put them ahead after 11 minutes.

But Vittoriosa slowly came more into the picture and, inspired by the continuous running of Oscar Guerrero and Marcelo Pereira, managed to turn the tide in their favour.

After Clive Brincat had brought them level late in the first half, the Stars looked on the brink of a vital victory when Guerrero scored twice to put them 3-1 ahead.

However, the Lions refused to throw in the towel and their late reaction yielded two penalties which helped them restore parity and avoid a damaging defeat.

The stalemate did little to boost either side’s relegation hopes as Naxxar remained third bottom on 17 points, three ahead of Vittoriosa who stay in the red zone.

Naxxar coach Winston Muscat was forced to reshuffle his pack as he had three first-team players –Brazilian defender Thiago, Andrew Decesare and Angus Buhagiar – serving a one-match ban.

Kurt Drago was given the nod to replace Thiago at the heart of defence while John Debono and Andre Rocha Da Silva filled the void left by Decesare and Buhagiar.

Striker Terrence Scerri was on the bench with Daren Falzon filling the central striking role while Filip Stojanovic started in midfield.

Oliver Spiteri, the Vittoriosa coach, also had his fair share of selection problems as Filipe Aguiar, Ousman Sidibe and Federico Santaguida were ruled out by suspension. Francisco Arriagada, Clive Spiteri and Samir Arab were roped into the first team.

Naxxar drew first blood on 11 minutes. They were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area and Gilmar’s effort hit the wall. From the rebound, Rocha Da Silva produced an overhead shot that flew past goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

On 23 minutes, Naxxar threatened again when Gilmar chipped the ball towards Falzon who quickly squared to Rocha Da Silva but the latter’s shot was neutralised by Muscat.

Vittoriosa then won a free-kick on the right. Guerrero’s cross found Pereira who nodded the ball towards Leonardo Torri but the Italian was anticipated by Stojanovic who cleared the danger.

Vittoriosa drew level nine minutes from half-time.

Guerrero supplied a fine cross from a free-kick and Brincat anticipated his marker to head past Julian Azzopardi.

David Reano almost gifted Vittoriosa a second on 41 minutes when he lost possession to Guerrero who exchanged passes with Arriagada but Naxxar’s Argentine defender made up for his mistake as he cleared the Brazilian’s effort off the line.

Two minutes into the second half, Naxxar should have regained the lead when Gilmar stole possession in midfield and ran into the area before teeing up the unmarked Falzon who saw his shot blocked by Muscat.

The Lions paid dearly for that miss as three minutes later, it was the Stars who took the lead.

Gilbert Martin sped clear on the left before sliding the ball towards Guerrero who kept his cool to hit past Azzopardi.

The Naxxar coach tried to add more flair to his team’s engine room when he withdrew Stojanovic for Milan Vignjevic.

The woodwork denied the Lions an equaliser when, from Gilmar’s free-kick, Bellia chipped the ball towards Rocha Da Silva whose header hit the upright.

However, it was the Stars who moved 3-1 up on 74 minutes when Pereira fell after being sandwiched by Drago and Reano inside the area and the referee pointed to the stop.

Guerrero stepped up for the penalty and fired past Azzopardi.

Nine minutes from time, Muscat misjudged Gilmar’s cross from a corner with the ball falling to Falzon whose drive was cleared off the line.

Muscat committed another howler four minutes later when he failed to clear Juergen Debono’s cross with Vignjevic seizing possession only to be upended by the Stars goalkeeper.

From the penalty, Bellia drilled the ball home.

More drama was in store as three minutes from time Samir Arab was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the Stars box and the referee ordered another penalty.

Reano sent Muscat the wrong way to make it 3-3.

Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-5, R. Bakare-5, V. Bellia-6.5, R. Cassar-5 (78 Juergen Debono), Gilmar-6, John Debono-4.5 (78 T. Scerri), K. Drago-5, D. Falzon-5, D. Reano-5.5, A. Rocha Da Silva-6, F. Stojanovic-6 (62 M. Vignjevic-6).

Vittoriosa Stars
M. Muscat-4, L. Vella Critien-5, L. Torri-6, C. Sammut-6.5 (75 S. Bamba), Samir Arab-5, G. Martin-6.5 (67 Siraj Arab), O. Guerrero-7.5, C. Spiteri-6, M. Pereira-6, C. Brincat-6, F. Arriagada-6.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Yellow cards: Vella Critien; Drago; Reano; Guerrero; Muscat; Torri; Brincat; Siraj Arab; Gilmar.

BOV player of the match: Oscar Guerrero (Vittoriosa Stars).

Attendance: 572.

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Birkirkara	26	21	2	3	61	22	37
Valletta	26	19	4	3	61	19	35
Hibernians	27	18	2	7	67	35	33
Sliema	27	13	9	5	51	32	27
Mosta	27	14	4	9	53	45	27
Balzan	27	8	4	15	30	49	14
Tarxien	27	8	5	14	39	48	21
Floriana	26	10	5	11	37	43	18
Qormi	27	7	4	16	43	54	17
Naxxar Lions	27	8	6	13	34	51	17
Vittoriosa	27	6	5	16	33	60	14
Rabat Ajax	26	1	4	21	19	70	4