ZEBBUG RANGERS 3
NAXXAR LIONS 3
Naxxar Lions failed to provide new coach Jesmond Zerafa with a dream start as they were held by Zebbug Rangers who staged another stirring fightback from 3-1 down to earn a point.
The opening minutes were short of goalmouth action as Naxxar easily withheld the Rangers’ efforts. That was until the 17th minute when Mattias Muchiardi sent Mauricio Britto clear of the Lions defence and deftly flicked the ball over Julian Azzopardi.
Naxxar looked shell-shocked but they gained an equaliser four minutes later in style. Gilmar pounced on a loose ball before curling a superb shot past the fingertips and into the top left hand corner.
It didn’t take the Lions long to take the lead as an electric interchange between Ryan Gilmour Cassar and Gueye unlocked the Zebbug defence with the Senegalese striker racing through the right channel before releasing Daren Falzon whose swerving shot had the better of Farrugia.
Six minutes from half-time, Naxxar pulled further clear when Clifford Gauci fouled the advancing Vella inside the box. Referee Adrian Azzopardi awarded Naxxar a penalty and Gueye drilled his shot past Farrugia.
Everyone probably thought that Gueye’s goal had settle the issue in Naxxar’s favour but the drama was not over yet.
A minute after half-time, Naxxar were dealt an unexpected blow when Andrew Scicluna was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Past the hour mark, Naxxar protested for a penalty when Gueye was tackled by Yessous Camilleri on the edge of the box but the referee was unmoved. The ball was moved quickly to the other side of the pitch when Britto ran into the penalty area and flicked a pass to Muchiardi who was brought down by Cassar in the box. From the ensuing spot-kick, Carlo Monti sent Azzopardi the wrong way.
With Naxxar now protecting a narrow lead, and with John Nwoba and Bojan Mamic on for the more-defensive minded Lee Agius and Polli, Zebbug sensed they could secure unlikely point and it duly arrived in the 72th minute. The towering Serbian striker powered his way through the Naxxar defence before lobbing the ball over the onrushing Azzopardi.