Dominant Lija win with a goal in each half

Lija A 2 Fgura U 0

Lija dominated from start to finish to score a goal in each half to beat Fgura and move to fourth place in the standings with 13 points.

Erjon Beu and Paolo Dandolo were arguably Lija’s best players, but the whole side was in good shape yesterday and there was no doubt who would emerge winners with struggling Fgura stumbling to their third successive defeat.

Lija were the better team in the opening minutes of the match going close with an Erjon Beu freekick which was well saved by the Fgura goalkeeper, with the same Beu hitting wide when well placed on nine minutes.

Fgura’s first attempt at goal came on 11 minutes with Waseem Jadean’s effort slightly missing the target. Lija took the lead on 20 minutes with a good move between Ige and Beu with the ball finishing in Dandolo’s path who fired low into the net past Camilleri.

Four minutes later Lija were very unlucky not to double the score when when Paolo Dandolo’s fierce drive was stopped by the upright. Lija continued to press forward in search of the second goal with Bello Oasagie going close on 39 minutes.

Just before the break, Fgura goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri kept his side in the game with a brilliant save off a Paolo Dandolo header following an Erjon Beu well taken freekick.

On the resumption Lija continued to control the proceedings with Fgura goalkeeper Matthew Camilleri again saving his side off a Predrag Babic freekick. On 65 minutes Fgura went close with a great ballistic effort from Galea that just went off target.

Fifteen minutes from time an Uzeh shot sailed over the bar and sixty seconds later Erjon Beu sealed the issue for Lija after a good run that left the Fgura defence reeling.

Deep in stoppage time Fgura were rather unlucky not to score when a Fexmarriaga freekick slammed against the crossbar.

Lija: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, L. Muscat, D. Scerri, E. Beu, A. Galea (B. Antignolo), M. Clinch, B. Jaccarini, P. Dandolo (A. Sammut), A. Bello Osagie (L.J. Schembri), A. Ige

Fgura: M. Camilleri, D. Aquilina, J. Dalli, E. Uzeh, M. Caruana, D. Agius, R. Spiteri, C. Fenech, D. Cachia (W. Chircop), W. Jadean, V. Dos Sontas (R.J. De Fexmarriaga)

Referee: Matthew Degabriele