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maltatoday SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER 2017 55 Naxxar Lions .............. 3 Floriana .................... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT NAXXAR made a f lying start to the match as they went ahead af- ter just four minutes. Scott James Fenwick received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and hit a powerful drive that went in- side the net. Matthew Grech denied Fen- wick from scoring again on the 8th minute. From a free-kick, Yuri De Jesus Messias delivered a cross that was met by the Eng- lish striker whose header forced a good save from Floriana's goal- keeper. Floriana replied on the 22nd minutes. Nicolas Chiesa fired a shot from a free-kick that failed to hit the target. The greens lost a golden op- portunity on the 23rd minute. Manolito Micallef f loored Mau- rizio Vella inside the penalty area and the referee signalled for a penalty. However, Steve Pisani's shot from the eleven metres mark was blocked by Christoph Nicht. Naxxar threatened again on the 34th minute. Messias hit a shot from distance that went high. On the 43rd minute, Daniel Mateo Bustos of Naxxar sent a shot from outside the penalty ar- ea that was neutralised by Grech. One minute into the second half, Daren Falzon of Naxxar saw his shot from inside the penalty area going marginally over. However, Floriana restored the equilibrium on the 49th minute through another penalty. Elhadyi Ousseynou Ndoye fouled Junin- ho Cabral inside the penalty area and the referee pointed towards the spot. In addition to the pen- alty, the referee also decided to send Ndoye off. This time, it was Mario Fonta- nella who took charge of the spot kick and the Italian forward saw his shot going past Nicht. Despite having an extra man on the pitch, Floriana failed to create opportunities on goal as Naxxar remained defensively or- ganised. On the 79th minute, Floriana's coach, Giovanni Tedesco was sent off the bench. A minute later, Floriana went close to score the winning goal. Juninho Cabral sent a cross to- wards the unmarked Fontanella whose effort went off target. A minute from time, Messias saw his shot from a free-kick landing on the roof of the net. The fourth official signalled five minutes of additional time in which Floriana still could not find a way past Naxxar as the game went into extra time. Naxxar regained the lead on the 93rd minute when Messias sent a pass towards Fenwick who went inside the penalty area and hit a low shot that gave Grech no chance. On the 109th minute, Micallef of Naxxar received the ball inside the penalty area and hit a shot that was neutralised by Grech. A minute later, Nicht was on the alert to deny Floriana. Substi- tute Leighton Grech hit a power- ful drive that was tipped behind by Nicht. On the 114th minute, Floriana's assistant coach, Jonathan Hol- land, was also sent off the bench. Naxxar sealed the issue on the 117th minute. Following a coun- ter attack, Messias went inside the penalty area and finished be- hind Grech to the joy of Naxxar's supporters. Naxxar Lions starting line-up: Christoph Nicht, Scott James Fenwick, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon (Ryan Gilmour Cassar- 52), Duane Bon- nici, Daniel Mateo Bustos (Mark Fenech – 77), Angus Buhagiar, El- hadji Ousseynou Ndoye, Adrian Cascaval, Yuri De Jesus Messias Floriana starting line-up: Mat- thew Grech, James Baldacchino, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg (Dylan Grima – 95), Mau- rizio Vela, Juninho Cabral, Alex Cini (Leighton Grech – 110), Ar- thur Oyama, Nicolas Chiesa (Ig- nacio Varela- 56), Mario FOnta- nella. Referee: Philip Farrugia Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spi- teri, Christopher Francalanza Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri Yellow Cards: Ryan Grech (Naxxar), Christoph Nicht (Naxxar), Alex Cini (Floriana), Enzo Ruiz (Floriana), Angus Bu- hagiar (Naxxar), Maurizio Vella (Floriana), Ignacio Varela (Flori- ana), Steve Pisani (Floriana) Red Cards: Elhadyi Ousseynou Ndoye (Naxxar) Sliema Wanderers ......... 3 St. Andrews.................... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT THE first half produced very few chances on goal with both teams sharing possession inside the cen- tre of the pitch. In fact, the few supporters present at the Hibs ground had to wait till the 26th minute to witness the first chance on goal. Kevaun Atkinson of St Andrews hit a shot from dis- tance that was neutralised by Glenn Zammit. The Wanderers replied on the 33rd minute. Frank Temile sent a cross in the direction of Jefferson De Assis whose effort went inside the net. However, the referee ruled out the goal due to a foul that took place inside the penalty area. The scenario changed completely in the second half as St Andrews forged ahead on the 46th minute. Aidan Friggieri delivered the ball towards Atkinson who went inside the penalty area and hit a low shot past Glenn Zammit. Sliema equalised on the 49th minute. From a corner, Temile de- livered a cross inside the penalty area that was met by Nikoale Mil- inceanu who headed the ball inside the net. John Buttigieg's side kept on in- sisting and threatened again on the 54th minute. Temile hit a shot from the left side of the penalty area that failed to hit the target. Ten minutes later, Sliema had a great chance to go ahead. Mil- inceanu was played through on goal, and the latter ran inside the penalty area, but found Yenz Cini in his way. On the 74th minute, De Assis went on the left side and delivered a dangerous cross that went across the frame of goal as Milinceanu failed to make contact with the ball. St Andrews responded on the 77th minute. Joseph Farrugia saw his shot from a free-kick hitting the upright and ending up over. Two minutes later, Milinceanu had another good chance as the Moldovian forward headed slightly over following a cross from the left. Sliema's efforts paid off on the 80th minute. Temile received the ball from Milinceanu and fired a low shot that went inside the bot- tom corner. De Assis sealed the issue for Sliema in the additional time. The Sliema forward went through goal and placed the ball behind Cini. St Andrews starting line-up: Yenz Cini, Adrian Borg, Travis Blagrove (Jacob Walker – 66), Tristan Grant, Matthew Gauci, Martin Davis (Al- exander Satariano – 87), Joseph Farrugia, Misael Miranda Gomez, Aidan Friggieri, Kyle Butler (Ke- mar David Reid – 54), Kevaun At- kinson Sliema Wanderers starting line- up: Glenn Zammit, Stefano Bian- cardi, Frank Temile, Peter Xuereb (Mark Scerri – 69), Jefferson De As- sis, John Mintoff, Michele Sansone (Gabriel Aquilina – 90), Matias Muchardi, Ricardo Calisto Correa, Goran Adamovic, Nikoale Mil- inceanu (Ryan Spiteri – 83) Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant Referees: Edward Spi- teri, Sammy Attard Fourth Official: Matthew Degabri- ele Yellow Cards: Kyle Butler (St An- drews), Kevaun Atkinson (St An- drews), Adrian Borg (St Andrews), John Mintoff (Sliema), Stefano Bi- ancardi (Sliema), Tristan Grant (St Andrews), Frank Temile (Sliema) Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Sliema come from behind to beat St Andrews Holders Floriana eliminated by Naxxar Lions Sliema Wanderers are through to the next round of the FA trophy following a hard fought 3-1 win over St Andrews Floriana are eliminated from the FA Trophy after suffering a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of Naxxar Lions