St George’s 0
Lija Athletic 0
Lija Athletic and St George’s failed to make up ground on the other promotion contenders after sharing the spoils in a goalless stalemate at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.
It was a balanced encounter but Lija were left to rue a series of missed opportunities as they failed to take the three points that would have taken them to within two points of Mosta and three behind Mqabba and Melita, who are joint-second.
For their part, St George’s, who are six points off the second-placed duo, failed to show their usual flair and power.
It was the Saints who made the better start to the game. After two minutes, Marco Milutinovic headed just wide from Gary Inguanez’s free-kick. Four minutes later, Josef Dalli was wide with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Lija took the initiative as the first half moved on. In the 16th minute, Antoine Sacco’s header, from a Mark Potezika cross, was well saved by Thomas Galea in the St George’s goal. The Lija striker had another header going wide in the 23rd minute from a Keith Darmanin corner.
Marco Gerada’s side continued to dominate possession. Beppe Antignolo played a good one-two with Potezika but the latter’s curling effort was saved by Galea who palmed the ball away for a corner.
From the resultant corner, taken by Antignolo, Johann Spiteri nodded just wide. Lija threatened again in first-half stoppage time when Andrè Scicluna’s header was again tipped away by the Saints’ custodian.
St George’s showed signs of improvement at the start of the second half. On 54 minutes, Inguanez’s free-kick smacked against the crossbar with the ball dropping wide.
Lija rallied. They attacked relentlessly in the remaining minutes but their pressure was ineffective.
They could have snatched a late winner in stoppage time. Amid a melee in the Saints’ box, the ball rolled into the path of Admir Dzanovic but his fierce shot from inside the area was blocked by the crowded St George’s defence.
St George’s: T. Galea, N. Caruana, T. Farrugia, M. Milutinovic, E. Sevasta, E. Amaira, L. Agius, G. Inguanez, M. Barbara (G. Bonello), J. Ruiz, J. Dalli.
Lija: S. Mintoff, J. Spiteri, D. Scerri, A. Sacco (M. Camilleri), M. Potezika (A. Buhagiar), K. Darmanin, K. Formosa, A. Scicluna, A. Dzanovic, B. Antignolo (W. Borg St John), M. Fleri Soler.
Referee: Tristan Farrugia Cann.
Man of the match: Admir Dzanovic (Lija).