Roaring Lions rekindle faint hopes

Naxxar Lions 6
Lija Athletic 0

While Naxxar Lions` days in the top flight may be numbered after numerous seasons of narrow escapes, yesterday the perennial strugglers displayed a cohesive performance albeit against already doomed Lija Athletic, to rekindle the faintest of hopes of a stunning recovery. However, even if the Lions manage to return maximum spoils from their last two outings, much depends on the result of the match between Lija and Marsa which could well seal Naxxar`s fate.

Although pre-match rumours hinted that Naxxar had parted company with all their foreign players, Daniel Nwoke was a surprise inclusion on the substitutes` bench. This agile player who powered four goals past Lija in the opening match of the campaign, was roped into the proceedings after the interval.

The Lions were definitely the more determined team on the pitch as they raced into a comfortable three-nil lead by the end of the first half. Daniel Bogdanovic tormented the Reds with some slick running and inch accurate passes which often left defenders chasing shadows.

The first half will surely make it to the record books as it was contested in front of empty terraces. Six goals may be considered as ample dividend in football, but in reality the match was shorn of any excitement even if Naxxar managed their most convincing scoreline this season.

In the opening minutes, Bogdanovic, Sixsmith and Bellia engineered a good move which paved the way for the latter to nip into the penalty area only to be denied in the nick of time by a timely tackle which deviated the ball into a corner.

The Lions stormed into the lead on 20 minutes. Bogdanovic flipped a corner kick into a crowded penalty area, the Reds` rearguard feebly tried to clear the danger and a stray ball fell into Adrian Farrugia`s path who smacked a whistling shot into the net.

Ten minutes later, Sixsmith displayed his skill of old when he beat the offside trap, outpaced the onrushing Agius and delivered home with a low shot.

The Athletics` anguish was further compounded when their custodian Simon Agius sustained an injury and limped off the pitch five minutes from half-time.

Substitute Kurt Pace had hardly settled in goal when he conceded Lija`s third goal. An energetic Sixsmith cashed in on a defensive blunder in mid-pitch and worked his way into the penalty area beating the stand-in keeper with ease.

The match was a rather quiet affair after the interval with hardly any action worth noting. On 78 minutes, substitute Nwoke was put through with an intelligent pass but the Nigerian opted for an elaborate move skewing the ball too far to his right before attempting an effort at goal that was somehow diverted into a corner.

Following this move, Bogdanovic took matters into his own hands with two well taken strikes in the space of five minutes. The promising striker who has set his sights on a foreign venture next season, outpaced Pace with an agile drill and lofted the ball into the net.

Five minutes later, the same player struck again. Some sloppy defending facilitated his task further as he nipped in from the left flank, pulled the ball towards the centre and disposed of Pace with a powerful shot.

Deep into added time, Farrugia added the final stroke of the brush to the picture with an accurate finish from close range which left the relegated, battered and bewildered Lija pondering on the cruel fate of the top flight.

Naxxar: M. Vella, J. Briffa, K. Schembri (C. Dimech), E. Lufi, C. Spiteri (D. Nwoke), A. Farrugia, V. Bellia (G. Camilleri), P. Sixsmith, K. Seychell, D. Bogdanovic, R. Schembri.

Lija: S. Agius (K. Pace), G. Lanzon, J. Cachia, O. Lovini, J.P. Desira (A. Muscat), G. Camenzuli, A. Tabone, G. Barry, R. Mifsud (I. Pelinku), B. Sammut, O. Spiteri.

Referee: M. Spiteri.

Scorers: Farrugia 20th 90th , Sixsmith 29th 42nd Bogdanovic 80th, 85th

Yellow Cards: K. Schembri

Rothmans Player Of The Match: D. Bogdanovic (Naxxar).