ONVOL 1ST DIVISION LEAGUE

THE LIONS SECURE THIRD SPOT WITH A FINE VICTORY OVER THE BLACKS

D Bajada, A Debono (C Mercieca), F Debono (N Micallef), C de Oliveira, P Spiteri, J Agius, K Mercieca, M Cutajar, M Muscat, E Grima, F de Andrade.

V Agius, B Meilak (K Hili), D Agius (D Debattista), M Cremona, C Mercieca, S Azzopardi, V Tovares, C Tabone, F Apap (S Vassallo), D Okanu, J Camilleri.

Sannat Lions took revenge for the two defeats conceded against Ghajnsielem in the championship in the previous two rounds with a deserved victory on the last day of the campaign.  With the points obtained Sannat obtained more than they needed to defend their third spot on the final table.  Ghajnsielem were surprised by Sannat’s play and practically compromised their chances to challenge the same Lions for the third spot with a disappointing performance during the first period.  The protagonist in Sannat’s victory was undoubtedly Brazilian striker Fernando de Andrade who scored a hat-trick  and ended up the top-scorer of the Division I championship with twenty-four goals, one more than Ricardo Saverino of Victoria Hotspurs.

          Sannat could have opened the score in the first minte of play but Kenneth Mercieca’s angled shot hit the side of the net.  Two minutes later an effort by Fernando de Andrade who released himself in the area with a personal action was cleared off the fatal line by Martin Merceica with the goalkeeper beaten.  The same de Andrade a shot form an ideal position following a move by Errol Grima that ended just high.  The Blacks replied in the 11^th minute with an attempt by Dominic Okanu that just missed the target.  Ghajnsielem’s goalie Victor Agius was called to make a difficult save one minute later to stop a shot by Mark Muscat following a cross by Kenneth Mercieca.  In the 15^th minute Ghajnsielem went very close to open the score but Dominic Okanu’s header from a corner action hit the crossbar.

          In the 16^th minute Sannat’s Mario Cutajar had a shot that was saved with difficulty by goalie Victor Agius.  Two minutes later Ghajnsielem’s Dominic Okanu had a long ranged shot partially saved by goalie Demis Bajada and from the rebound Ferdindo Apap’s shot hit the base of the post.  The Lions opened the score in the 24^th minute with a close ranged header by Fernando de Andrade following a cross from the left by Errol Grima.  Ghajnsielem’s reaction was sterile and four minutes later goalie Agius denied Fernando de Andrade from doubling the score with a close rnaged shot following a confused action in the area.  The asme goalkeeper made another difficult save in the 33^rd minute following a shot by Errol Grima.  However, Sannat doubled the score one minute later.  Mark Muscat passed from the right, lobbed over the goalkeeper form an angled position and Fernando de Andrade netted with a tap-in.  Ghajnsielem replied in the 41^st minute with a long ranged free kick by Brian Meilak that was well saved by goalie Demis Bajada and just before half time Ghajnsielem’s goalie Victor Agius deflected with difficult in corner a strike by Fernando de Andrade following a pass by Kenneth Merceica.

          On the resumption Sannat’s Kenneth Merceica failed to connect to an inviting pass by Mark Muscat.  Ghajnsielem went close to re-open the issue in the 47^th minute with a header by Dominic Okanu that ended wide from a corner action.  Minutes later it was Jeremy Camilleri who headed wide a free kick by Brian Meilak.  In the 69^th minute it was Sannat’s defender Justin Agius who cleared off the line a header by Victor Tovares from a corner action.  The same Tovares was unlucky four minutes later when his low shot from outside the area hit the base of the post and from the rebound substitute Shannon Vassallo’s shot was deflected in corner.  Sannat sealed the issue with a third goal scored in the 79^th minute.  It was Fernando de Andrade who placed in goal with a fine lob after defending a difficult ball in Ghajnsielem’s area.  The same de Andrade could have increased the score but on two separate occasions it was goalie Victor Agius who made difficult saves to keep the defeat a respectable one.  Seconds before the final whistle an attempt to score a consolation goal by Dominic Okanu ended just over the crossbar.

Referee: Saviour Tanti 

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