Lija Athletic 2
GĦargĦur 1
Division One leaders Lija Athletic just managed to scrape through to the fourth round of the U*Bet FA Trophy after a come-from-behind victory over Għargħur at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.
Substitute Rosalino De Almeida turned out to be his team’s hero yesterday after he came off the bench to grab the winner as Lija’s second-half pressure paid dividends.
Facing a Għargħur side currently sitting third-from-bottom in Division Two, Lija coach Brian Spiteri opted to leave on the bench the likes of Erjon Beu, Andrè Scicluna, Dejan Vukovic and Beppe Antignolo.
However, he was forced to change his plans when Għarghur took a first-half lead as he sent on Albanian striker Beu after the interval, and his introduction helped Lija to start firing on all cylinders and go on to win the match.
However, one must give credit to a brave Għargħur side, managed by Bulgarian duo George Draganov and Borislav Giorev, as they played some good football.
Għargħur stunned their opponents when they drew first blood after seven minutes, Strati Iliev heading the ball home from an Adrian Fenech free-kick.
Lija tried to respond with some fine attacking football especially from the left flank but the Għargħur rearguard showed great composure to maintain their advantage.
Lija’s best chance came on 25 minutes when Benjamin Camilleri drove the ball just wide from just inside the area after a good cross by Daniel Scerri.
Lija had a golden opportunity to equalise when they were awarded a penalty four minutes from the half-time break when Camilleri was brought down in the area by goalkeeper Dwayne Carabott who was lucky to receive a yellow card.
However, from the resultant penalty Camilleri saw his shot sail wide.
Lija came out attacking in the second half and on 56 minutes Beu’s first-time effort from well outside the box was turned to a corner by Carabott.
On 66 minutes Lija again came close when De Almeida saw his close-range effort deflected by a defender following some good work by Abdullahi Adeshina Ige.
A minute later Għargħur missed a sitter when Mauro Busuttil failed to score with only the Lija goalkeeper to beat following a Matthew Agius cross.
On 70 minutes Chris Vella’s effort from well outside the area just missed the target.
Lija’s pressure finally told eleven minutes from time when Beu unleashed a powerful piledriver from 25 metres that flew into the top corner.
That goal spurred Lija forward and they duly grabbed the winner on 90 minutes when De Almeida headed home from close in after an Abdullahi Adeshina Ige cross from the right flank.
Lija: L. Bonnici; C. Giordmaina, T. Fleri Soler, M. Fleri Soler, D. Scerri, E. Borg (E. Beu), E. Briffa (A. Scicluna) , B. Camilleri, B. Fenech, A. Ige, A. Sacco (R. De Almeida).
GĦargĦur: D. Carabott; D. Mamo, S. Iliev, K. Fedele, A. Briffa, D. Camilleri, A. Fenech, C. Vella, M. Agius, M. Busuttil (D. Sammut), N. Scerri (E. Vella).
Referee: Mario Apap.