MELITA 1ST DIV LEAGUE

HANDSOME WIN PUTS NADUR AT THE TOP AT THE END OF FIRST ROUND

SANNAT LIONS FC ... (J. Camilleri 34’, S. Rais 43’)

P. Galea, A. Debono, F. Debono (P. Spiteri), M. Azzopardi, B. Njoku, M. Formosa, J. Portelli, N. Filipov, S.Rais (N. Micallef), F. De Andrade, J. Camilleri.

(C. Antunes 47’, 77’, 82’; A. Portelli 65, S. Attard 67’, K. Russell 79’)

S. Sultana, P. Camilleri (C. Mercieca), M. Portelli (R. Meilaq), P. Buttigieg, A. Simoncic, S. Attard, J. Meilaq, J. Buttigieg (G. Hili), C. Antunes, A. Portelli, K. Russell.

  Nadur Youngsters registered an impressive win over Sannat Lions in their last match of the first round so that they made sure to end leader at the end of the first round.  Nadur’s victory matured following a determined reaction during the second period.  In fact the Youngsters ended the first half with a two-goal deficit but scored six goals without any reply after the break turn the result in their favour and make sure of the victory well before the final whistle.  The protagonist for Nadur was Brazilian striker Claudio Antunes who registered a hat-trick while British striker Kyle Russell scored his first goal since he joined the Nadur at the beginning of the season.  Sannat probably compromised the result of this match during the break at half time.  They were the better side during the first period where they took a deserved lead.  However, they lost concentration after the break and failed to resist Nadur’s pressure to recover the score.

  Sannat had a better start and in the 5^th minute a header by Fernando de Andrade ended wide.  Nadur started to share play as time passed by and on 10 minutes an effort by Josef Buttigieg following a pass by Antunes missed the target.  One minute later Sannat’s goalie Paul Galea saved a header by Anthony Portelli from a free kick by Simoncic.  In the 22^nd minute Sannat were again dangerous through an angled shot by John Camilleri that ended wide and two minutes later Nadur replied with a free kick by Simoncic that was cleared by goalie Galea and from the rebound Antunes concluded high.  In the 25^th minute Sannat lost a golden scoring opportunity when John Camilleri unmarked Nikolai Filipov in the area but the latter concluded incredibly wide with an open goal at his mercy.  However, Sannat opened the score in the 34^th minute through a spectacular volley by John Camilleri from an angled position that ended at the top corner of the second post of goal. 

  Nadur replied on 39 minutes through a header by Saviour Attard from a corner action that ended high and one minute later goalie Galea saved with difficulty a free kick by Simoncic. Sannat, put pressure over their opponents in the dying moments of the first half and on 41 minutes a shot by Jason Portelli ended wide and one minute later goalie Steve Sultana saved a shot by Nikolai Filipov.  The Lions doubled the score in the 43^rd minute through an excellent header by veteran Sabri Rais following a corner kick by Jason Portelli.

  Nadur came out more aggressive for the second period and re-opened the issue in the second minute of play.  Sannat’s rearguard failed to clear a weak attempt by Simoncic, the ball arrived to Claudio Antunes who controlled easily and placed past goalie Galea with a low shot.  Nadur increased their efforts while Sannat suffered a shocked that compromised the play in the following minutes.  Nadur went very close to level the score on 55 minutes.  Goalie Paul Galea turned in corner a cross-shot by Antunes and from the resultant corner kick by Simoncic, Sannat’s rearguard hesitated to clear the danger but Nadur’s striker did not manage to guide the ball in goal from the melee at the goalmouth.  Less than a minute later the same situation at Sannat’s goalmouth resulted from a free kick by Simoncic but once again the Youngsters failed to convert a favourable situation. 

  Nadur’s pressure was rewarded on 65 minutes when Jeffrey Meilaq entered the area from the right and from his low shot Anthony Portelli was well placed to guide the ball in goal from close distance.  Nadur turned the result in their favour two minutes later through a close ranged header by Saviou Attard from a free kick by Alex Simoncic that surprised Sannat’s rearguard.  Nadur were now in the driving seat and ten minutes later they increased the score as Claudio Antunes won a tussle with Njoku at the edge of the area and the Brazilian striker netted easily with a low shot.  Sannat replied with a long ranged shot by Jason Portelli ended high.  The score became 5-2 for Nadur on 79 minutes with a goal by Kyle Russell following a cross from the left by Antunes.  The same Antunes registered a personal hat-trick and sealed the issue on 82^nd minute with a fine lob from an angled position.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

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