Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/906955
maltatoday SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2017 Sports 56 FOOTBALL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG Oliver Spiteri beats rivals Mosta in debut match Naxxar Lions ...............2 Mosta .........................0 WARREN ZAMMIT MOSTA threatened Naxxar on the 8th minute. Leonardo Hen- rique Ferreira went on a great run down the right f lank before hitting a low shot that went wide. On the 23rd minute, Zac Brincat of Mosta fired a shot from outside the penalty area that was neutral- ised by Omar Borg. Johann Scicluna's side kept on insisting and went close again on the 36th minute. Thomas Veronese sent a shot from the left that failed to hit the target. Naxxar nearly went ahead on the 45th minute. De Jesus Messias fired a low shot from distance that hit the post. Three minutes into the second half, Naxxar went close again. Da- vid Nworah hit a shot from the left that went wide. Mosta replied on the 52nd min- ute. Veronese's cross was met by Tyron Farrugia who headed over. Oliver Spiteri's side hit back im- mediately. Daren Falzon delivered a cross in the direction of Daniel Mateo Bustos whose spectacular effort landed on top of the net. Moments later, Messias hit a powerful drive that forced a great save by Andreas Vella. This was the prelude for the goal as Naxxar broke the deadlock on the 66th minute. Following a free- kick, the ball fell for Scott James Fenwick and the latter finished past Vella. Naxxar kept on insisting and were denied by Vella once more on the 73rd minute. Falzon hit a pow- erful drive that was tipped behind by the Mosta goalkeeper. Things went from bad to worse for Mosta on the 85th minute when Ekani Jonas Rodriguez was sent off after receiving his second yellow card. The Lions were denied by the post on the 90th minute. Messias fired a strong shot that hit the up- right. In the additional time giv- en by the referee, Naxxar doubled their advantage. Duane Bonnici won the ball deep inside Naxxar's half, went through, and placed the ball past Vella. Following this result, Naxx- ar breathe a sigh of relief as they managed to climb ahead of St An- drews and Tarxien Rainbows. Mosta starting line-up: Andreas Vella, Leonardo Henrique Ferrei- ra, Zac Brincat, Thomas Veronese, Kurt Magri, Davide Mansi, Tyron Farrugia, David Nworah (Calvin Camilleri – 87), David Zarate Bilbao Edison, Ivan Maric, Ekani Jonas Rodriguez Naxxar starting line-up: Omar Borg, Scott James Fenwick (Du- ane Bonnici -78), Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon (Mark Fenech – 86), Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Daniel Mateo Bustos (Jur- gen Debono- 90), Angus Buhagiar, Elhadji Ousseynou Ndoye, Adrian Cascaval, Yuri De Jesus Messias Referee: Alan Mario Sant Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Darryl Agius Yellow Cards: Daren Falzon (Naxxar), Ekani Jonas Rodriguez (Mosta), Ivan Maric (Mosta), Kurt Magro (Mosta), Ekani Jonas Rod- riguez (Mosta), Thomas Veronese (Mosta), Duane Bonnici (Naxxar) Red Cards: Ekani Jonas Rodriguez (Mosta) BOV Player of the Match: Daren Falzon (Naxxar) Oliver Spiteri's debut as Naxxar coach couldn't be better as the Lions registered an important 2-0 win over rivals Mosta