Melita 3
Lija Athletic 1
Expectations were met yesterday as Melita saw off Lija Athletic to force a promotion decider against Mosta, to be played on Friday at the Victor Tedesco Stadium at 7 p.m.
Champions Balzan Youths and Mqabba had already secured their place in the BOV Premier League for next season but Melita and Mosta will face off for the third and final promotion slot after finishing joint-third on 32 points.
Melita again proved that they are one of the most accomplished sides in Division One. Their flowing football is a credit to this well-organised club.
Coached by former Malta international Martin Gregory, the Amateurs couldn’t have hoped for a better start as they took the lead inside the opening minutes. George Gribbon sprayed an excellent pass to Karl Vella Petroni whose cross from the right flank was headed in by Emilio Cornago San Pedro.
Lija responded in the fourth minute when Johann Spiteri nodded wide after getting first to Keith Darmanin’s free-kick. But it was Melita who continued to play the better football with San Pedro causing Lija all sorts of problems.
Melita came close to adding a second in the 20th minute. Receiving a pass from Vella Petroni, Kane Micallef hit a missile from inside the box but Sean Mintoff made a fine save, tipping the ball over the bar.
A Lija counter-attack opened up Melita in the 23rd minute. Martin Camilleri made a good run on the left flank before crossing for Admir Dzanovic who headed home to equalise for Lija.
Ten minutes later, Melita missed a sitter when Julian Galea drove wide from close in after a measured pass from Micallef in the Lija area.
A minute later, Andrea Spiteri beat the offside trap but his drive from just inside the area was pushed away for a corner by Melita goalkeeper Karl Zahra.
Melita wasted another inviting opportunity when San Pedro hit wide after Michael Martin’s header from Luca Martinelli’s throw-in caused a melee in the Lija box.
It was one-way traffic now as Gregory’s side continued with their onslaught. A minute later, Micallef’s first-time effort from the edge of the area sailed over the crossbar.
Lija could have gone in front three minutes into the second half but Marko Potezika, who had been put through by Antoine Sacco, was thwarted by Zahra.
On 51 minutes, Melita regained the lead. Micallef’s effort from just inside the area was beaten away by Mintoff in two attempts but the ball fell to Nicolò Baldacchino whose effort was handled on the line by Lija captain Daniel Scerri. Micallef put away the resultant penalty to fire Melita 2-1 up.
Five minutes later, Melita put the issue beyond doubt when Baldacchino headed home a Micallef cross from the left.
Four minutes from time, Lija’s Dzanovic let fly a missile from 30 metres out but Zahra turned the ball away for a corner to preserve Melita’s two-goal lead.
Melita: K. Zahra, R. Alhinho, L. Martinelli (M. Cachia), G. Gribbon, M. Martin (S. Galea), K. Micallef, N. Baldacchino (N. Rizzo), J. Galea, E. Cornago San Pedro, K. Vella Petroni, M. Batel.
Lija: S. Mintoff, A. Spiteri, M. Camilleri, D. Scerri, A. Sacco, M. Potezika (W. Borg St John), K. Darmanin (J.P. Scerri), J. Spiteri, A. Scicluna A. Dzanovic, M. Fleri Soler (B. Antignolo).
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Man of the match: Kane Micallef (Melita).