Gudja United 0
Lija Athletic 4
Lija Athletic broke little sweat to overcome the challenge of struggling Gudja United at the Centenary Stadium, yesterday.
It was a commanding performance from Lija who now move up to fourth in the standings while Gudja remain rooted to the bottom of the standings after conceding their fifth successive defeat.
Lija were all over their opponents in the first half. Lee Joe Schembri threatened after six minutes but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Daniel Balzan, the Gudja goalkeeper.
Brian Spiteri’s side continued to run the show and on 23 minutes Beppe Antignolo’s first-time effort finished inches wide.
On the half hour, Ige Adeshina’s point-blank header was somehow pushed over by Balzan.
Four minutes later, Balzan misjudged Taliana’s cross but Schembri’s effort was cleared off the line by Christopher Grech.
Lija were finally rewarded for their efforts on 39 minutes when Adeshina played in Jorge Garcia Vidal who blasted home from close in.
The second half followed the same script. On 48 minutes Schembri saw his effort saved by Balzan.
Gudja responded on 55 minutes when a Clifford strike was saved by Luke Bonnici.
Lija doubled their lead nine minutes later when Antignolo beat Balzan from just outside the area.
More woes followed for Gudja as, on 70 minutes, Predrag Babic fired the ball into the net from a free-kick.
Gudja were denied a consolation goal on 79 minutes when Daniel Bonnici’s cross-shot had the better of Bonnici but the ball came off the bar.
Lija completed the rout in stoppage time when Balzan failed to hold on to Schembri’s shot and in came Adeshina to fire home.
Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Giordemaina, P. Babic, P. Borg, R. Taliana (A. Galea), L.J. Schembri T. Clinch (L. Muscat) A. Caruana, B. Antignolo, J. Garcia Vidal (N. Formosa), A. Ige.
Gudja: D. Balzan, S. Micallef, D. Bonnici, C. Grech, E. Azzopardi, R. Perkins (D. Martini), G. Chircop, M. Schembri, J. Ciantar (A. Cutajar), J. Clifford, I. El Bouch (J. Waseem).
Referee: Ismael Barbara.
Man of the match: Lee Joe Schembri (Lija Athletic).