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Sannat Lions obtained an important win over title contenders
Ghajnsielem and with the three points obtained they moved
away from the bottom of the table. The two teams needed the
full points at stake for different ambitions as the Lions
were occupying the bottom of the table prior to this
encounter while Ghajnsielem had the possibility to take sole
leadership with a win.
Sannat’s win was a deserved one. They had an effective
deployment where the roles of Mario Azzopardi role in front
of the defense and Mousa Bamba in the midfield denied the
Blacks from producing fluent play. The Lions were
determined from the beginning, scored an early goal,
suffered during the last stages of the first half but
controlled play with authority for the whole second period.
Ghajnsielem on the other hand had a disappointing
performance. They were shocked as soon as they suffered the
early goal. Their immediate reaction was confusing and
ended up in erratic finishing. After the break they lost
composure and rarely went close to save the result.
The Blacks came out with the intention to put some pressure
over their opponents and in the 4th minute a shot from
outside the area by Thiago Dos Santos ended just high.
However, Sannat opened the score in their first approach to
Ghajnsielem’s area/ Fernando De Andrade released John
Camilleri and from the latter’s cross Errol Grima headed
past goalie Joseph Grech.
Ghajnsielem replied on 15 minutes through an effort by Dos
Santos that missed the target and on 26 minutes the same
Brazilian striker headed high a corner kick by Alex Simoncic.
Two minutes later Sannat’s Moussa Bamba risked an own goal
to deflect another corner kick by Simoncic and from the
resultant corner action Rodrigo Cariaga headed high. One
minute before the half hour of play an effort by Dos Santos
ended wide and Sannat replied two minutes later through a
shot by Sabri Rais from a cross by John Camilleri that was
blocked in corner. In the final stages of the first half
Ghajnsielem’s pressure over Sannat’s rearguard produced a
series of corner actions but the closest the Blacks went to
scoring was on 44 minutes when Mario Azzopardi’s cleared off
the fatal line to avoid a certain goal directly from
Simonic’s corner kick. In an immediate reply by Sannat
Ghajnsielem’s goalkeeper was called to make a good save to
block an effort by Moussa Bamba.
Sannat were in the driving seat after the break and gained
confidence as time passed by. Ghansielem were dangerous on
50 minute through a low cross shot by Dos Santos that was
cleared from the goalmouth by Paul Spiteri. On 57 minutes
Ghajnsielem’s keeper Joseph Grech kept his side in
contention when he blocked a low angled shot by Errol Grima
following a solo action. On the hour of play Ghajnsielem’s
Brian Meilak had a long ranged shot following a good move by
substitute Joe Attard.
On 71 minutes Sannat’s De Andrade had a direct free kick
that ended just over the crossbar and four minutes later a
direct corner kick by Errol Grima surprised goalie Grech who
managed to neutralize in two attempts. Sannat made sure of
the three points with a second goal scored six minutes from
time. Substitute Mark Muscat entered Ghajnsielem’s
territory with a personal action, released John Camilleri
who placed in goal with a low shot as goalie Grech went out
of his position in an attempt to clear the danger.
Sannat continued to control play until the final whistle
as Ghajnsielem could not recover to produce a desperate
attempt to save the match.
Referee: Paul Apap |
SANNAT LIONS FC
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GHAJNSIELEM
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