Swift turn... Naxxar’s Daren Falzon (right) races past St Andrew’s defender Clyde Cumbo. Photo: Matthew MirabelliSt Andrew’s 1
Desira Buttigieg 2;
Naxxar Lions 2
Debono 20; Rajovic 56;
The inclement weather offered a stark reminder that a hard winter beckons St Andrew’s and Naxxar Lions but the latter will be more optimistic about their prospects of avoiding the drop after winning yesterday’s basement clash.
Early days these may be but this had the feel of an early relegation tiff as these two teams occupied the bottom two spots in the Premier League standings.
Their mutual desire to collect maximum points was evident in an action-packed start that saw St Andrew’s seize an early lead but for the umpteenth time, they lacked the staying power and flair to take the spoils as Naxxar turned the tables on the embattled Saints who remain without a point after 10 games.
While St Andrew’s remain rooted to the bottom, Naxxar’s second win lifted them above Qormi on six points, albeit the latter have a game in hand.
Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes as the heavy downpours flooded parts of the artificial surface of the Tedesco Stadium.
The game only went ahead after a lengthy pitch inspection.
St Andrew’s coach Wayne Attard awarded a debut to newly-signed defender Eloy Edu Nkene who took the place of striker Chris De Nguidjol as Matteo Desira Buttigieg was given the go-ahead to spearhead the team’s attack.
Nkene started in front of defence as Attard opted for 4-1-3-2 with Kyrian Nwoko flanking Desira Buttigieg.
Australian midfielder Richard Cardozo, suspended, and injured defender Luca Lodetti were the two notable absentees for Naxxar Lions.
Coach Clive Mizzi deployed his team in a 4-3-3 formation with Daren Falzon and Emiliano Lattes on the wings and Oussou Sidoine filling the central striker’s role.
The game was off to a fast start.
Within 12 seconds from Marco Borg’s initial whistle, Dale Camilleri, the St Andrew’s midfielder, had a low shot stopped by Julian Azzopardi, the Naxxar goalkeeper.
The Lions responded immediately. They should have taken the lead after two minutes as Lattes sped clear on the right and his low cross found Sidoine unmarked in the box but the Benin striker’s tame flick was saved by Kris Calleja.
It looked as though the delay and the soggy condition of the pitch alienated the players as both teams were very jittery at the back.
The Saints took advantage of this as they opened the scoring thanks to Desira Buttigieg who drove the ball into the low corner after Naxxar defender Blazo Rajovic failed to clear Matthew Guillaumier’s cross.
Naxxar forced a series of corners but Falzon’s dangerous crosses were cleared away by the Saints’ defence.
St Andrew’s almost went 2-0 up when Guillaumier, yesterday operating on the right of midfield, supplied another cross for Desira Buttigieg who controlled the ball but his drive was repelled by Azzopardi.
The match remained wide open. On 12 minutes, Angus Buhagiar’s forward pass found the Saints’ defence flat-footed as Lattes sprinted into the box but the winger fired against the side-netting.
Naxxar equalised on 20 minutes. It was a soft goal to concede for St Andrew’s as Jurgen Debono’s swerving cross-shot from a free-kick whizzed past a host of players and bounced past the diving Calleja.
Nwoko rifled wide for St Andrew’s before Debono threatened again with a dipping effort that landed wide of the far post.
The frequency of chances abated as the first half wore on. Debono was Naxxar’s most creative player with his intelligent incursions from midfield. Nine minutes from half-time, he latched on to Buhagiar’s pass but his rising shot was high.
David Fenech replaced Moises Gnenegbe at the start of the second half, adding steel to Naxxar’s midfield.
Ekene headed the ball off the line after Falzon’s looping cross soared above Calleja but, from the ensuing corner, Naxxar struck.
This time the cross came from Debono and Serbian Rajovic flashed in to direct a glancing header into the far corner.
St Andrew’s were struggling to make inroads in attack but with 18 minutes remaining, Nwoko raced into the box after receiving from Michael Johnson but his cross-shot was blocked by Azzopardi.
At the other end, Lattes should have sealed it for Naxxar after being released by Duane Bonnici but the Argentine hit straight at Calleja from a glorious position.
Naxxar were almost made to pay for this miss as Guillaumier collected a hasty clearance but his drive from just outside the box was deflected away for a corner.
St Andrew’s
K. Calleja-5, C. Cumbo-5, J. Williams-5, M Sehitaj-6, M. Johnson-6.5, E.E. Nkene-5.5, J. Farrugia-5 (65 J. Walker-6), D. Camilleri-5.5 (81 C. De Nguidjol), M. Guillaumier-6, M. Desira Buttigieg-6, K. Nwoko-6.5.
Naxxar Lions
J. Azzopardi-6, B. Rajovic-6, A. Scicluna-6, M. Gnenegbe-5 (46 D. Fenech-6.5), O. Sidoine-5 (62 D. Bonnici-6.5), D. Falzon-6.5 (83 M. Del Negro), J. Debono-7, I. Grech-6, A. Buhagiar-6.5, E. Lattes-5.5, Mandinho-6.5.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Yellow cards: Gnenegbe; Mandinho; Bonnici.
BOV player of the match: Jurgen Debono (Naxxar Lions).