Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/922844
maltatoday SUNDAY 7 JANUARY 2018 Sports 52 FOOTBALL Mosta outclass Lija Athletic Sliema held by Naxxar Lions Mosta returned to winning ways with a 5-1 win over Lija Athletic Sliema Wanderers lost another two vital points as they were held in a 1-1 draw by Naxxar Lions Mosta .......................... 5 Lija Athletic .................. 1 WARREN ZAMMIT MOSTA went ahead on the 37th minute. From a free-kick, Alex Wendel Dos Santos fired a shot that gave Luke Bonnici no chance. Lija equalised one minute prior to half time. Following a short clearance by Mosta's defenders, Rafael Kooh Sohna saw his close range shot going past Andreas Vella. Mosta regained the lead on the 63rd minute. Jan Tanti delivered a cross in the direction of Leonardo Henrique Ferreira who headed the ball inside the net. Johann Scicluna's side increased their advantage on the 74th min- ute. Ousmane Sidibe brought down Dos Santos inside the pen- alty area and the referee ordered a penalty. In addition, he also sent off Lija's player. Dos Santos took charge of the spot kick and con- verted. Five minutes later, Dos Santos converted another penalty for Mosta after Predrag Babic fouled Jan Tanti inside the penalty area. Mosta added another on the 80th minute. Dos Santos served Ferreira and the latter placed the ball inside the net. Lija Athletic starting line-up: Luke Bonnici, Predrag Babic, Pat- rick Borg, Erjon Beu, Rafael Kooh Sohna, Aaron Sammut, Leon Muscat, Clinch McAllister, Aid- en Galea, Kei Hirose, Ousmane Sidibe Mosta starting line-up: Andreas Vella, Alex Wendel Dos Santos, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira, Da- vid Edison Bilbao Zarate, Kurt Magro, Ivan Maric, Tyrone Far- rugia, Dexter Xuereb, Davide Mansi, David Ifeanyi Nworah, Giovanni Nuti Referee: Etienne Mangion Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Theodore Zammit Fourth Official: Philip Farrugia BOV Player of the Match: Alex Wendel Dos Santos (Mosta) Sliema Wanderers ........... 1 Naxxar Lions ................... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT SLIEMA went ahead after ten minutes. Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte's shot took a deflection off a defender and went into the path of Mark Scerri who placed the ball inside the net. The Wanderers had another op- portunity on the 22nd minute. John Mintoff 's cross was met by Michele Sansone whose header was neu- tralised by Christoph Nicht. Naxxar nearly equalised on the 33rd minute when Jean Diego Mo- ser sent a shot from inside the pen- alty area hit the woodwork. Five minutes later, Frank Temile's shot from the edge of the penalty area was parried by Nicht. On the 45th minute, Rodrigo Le- andro Da Costa saw his effort from a free-kick being neutralised by Glenn Zammit. Naxxar equalised on the 65th minute. Yuri De Jesus Messias hit a powerful drive from distance that gave Glenn Zammit no chance. Oliver Spiteri's side went close again on the 68th minute. Follow- ing a corner, Mailson Souza Duarte Junior saw his shot being parried by Zammit. On the 77th minute, Messias at- tempted another shot from dis- tance that ended up over. The Lions kept on insisting and created another chance on the 87th minute. Following another corner, Daren Falzon headed off target. In the additional time given by the referee, Jean Diego Moser hit a low shot from outside the penalty area that sailed slightly off target. Following this result, Naxxar are now one point ahead of St An- drews, while Sliema Wanderers remained fifth with twenty-five points. Sliema Wanderers starting line-up: Glenn Zammit, Mattias Mucciardi, Goran Adamovic, Frank Temile, Michele Sansone (Peter Xuereb – 79), Frenci Qeros (Ryan Spiteri – 79), Stefano Bianchardi, Mark Scerri, John Mintoff, Ricardo Calixto Cor- rea Duarte, Jonathan Pearson Naxxar Lions starting line-up: Christoph Nicht, Rafael Santos Henriques Caetano, Mailson Souza Duarte Junior, Jean Diego Moser, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon, Duane Bonnici (Joel Ellul- 84), Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Angus Buhagiar, Rodrigo Leandro Da Costa (Mark Fenech- 57), Yuri De Jesus Messias Referee: Sandro Spiteri Assistant Referees: Christopher Francalanza, Ryan Aquilina Fourth Official: Stefan Pace Yellow Cards: Mark Scerri (Sliema), Frank Temile (Sliema), Stefano Bi- anchardi (Sliema), Angus Buhagiar (Naxxar), Ricardo Calixto Correa Duarte (Sliema), Jonathan Pearson (Sliema) BOV Player of the Match: Yuri De Jesus Messias (Naxxar Lions) PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG