Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/949290
maltatoday SUNDAY 4 MARCH 2018 57 FOOTBALL Sports PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG Birkirkara edge past Lija Athletic Birkirkara kept their unbeaten run going after securing a 2-1 win over Lija Athletic Lija Athletic .......... 1 Birkirkara ............. 2 WARREN ZAMMIT THE stripes went ahead two minutes into the second half. Following a defensive mistake, Srdjan Dimitrov went inside the penalty area before sending the ball to- wards Jake Grech who slot- ted it inside the net. Lija equalised on the 71st minute. Raphael Kooh Soh- na went past Birkirkara's defence and placed the ball behind Kristijan Naumovs- ki. However, Lija's equaliser only lasted two minutes as Birkirkara scored again on the 73rd minute. Edward Herrera received the ball from Terence Agius and finished inside the net from close range. Birkirkara starting line- up: Kristijan Naumovski, Nikola Vukanac, Fernando Barbosa Perreira, Mislav Andelkovic, Srdjan Dim- itrov, Walder Jesus Acosta Ferreira, Edward Herrera, Cain Attard, Kurt Zammit, Ryan Scicluna, Jake Grech Lija Athletic starting line-up: Luke Bonnici, Mc- Allister Clinch, Patrick Borg , Daniel Scerri, Leejoe Schembri, Aaron Sammut, Raphael Alain Kooh Sona, Ousmane Sidibe, Kei Hi- rose, Erjon Beu, Ryan Sam- mut. Referee: Matthew Degabri- ele Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista Fourth Of ficial: Fyodor Zammit Naxxar Lions .................................... 0 St Andrews ...................................... 0 WARREN ZAMMIT NAXXAR created the first opportunity on goal after twenty-eight minutes. Yuri Messias hit a shot from a free-kick that was parried for a cor- ner by Matthew Calleja Cremona. On the 39th minute, Calleja Cremona was on the alert once more to deny Manolito Micallef. St Andrews responded in the early stages of the second half. Martin Davis went on the right flank and sent a cross that was met by Degran Jackson who headed the ball slightly over. Jackson went close again on the 55th minute. The Jamaican player fired a shot that was neu- tralised by Cristoph Nicht. The Saints were reduced to ten men on the 81st minute as Jackson was sent off after being shown his second yellow card by the referee. Following today's results, there are only two points dividing St Andrews, Naxxar Lions and Tarxien Rainbows. One of these sides will have to be relegated together with Lija Athletic. St Andrews starting line-up: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Adrian Borg, Misael Miranda Gomez, Joseph Farrugia, Jason Vandelannoite, Matthew Gauci, Martin Davis, Ricardo Martin, Kemmu Degran Jackson, Kemar Reid, Travis Blagrove Naxxar Lions starting line-up: Christoph Nicht, Rafael Santos Henriques Caetano, Mailson Sou- za Duarte Junior, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Duane Bonnici, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Daniel Mateo Bustos, Matheus Verissimo Casarotto, Ousseynou Elhadji Ndoye, Yuri De Jesus Messias Referee: Mario Apap Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Peter Ab- ela Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri BOV Player of the Match: Joseph Farrugia (St Andrews) Naxxar and St Andrews share the spoils in a goalless draw The race against relegation is still wide open as Naxxar Lions and St Andrews shared the spoils in a goalless draw PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG