Mqabba and Lija earn a point in spectacular fashion

Mqabba 3

Lija A 3

The close to impossible weather conditions did not stop Lija and Mqabba from producing a sixgoal thriller that left the few brave spectators fully impressed.

Mqabba were in front after barely four minutes play when Arilson Mello Da Silva scored after pouncing on a Babic short clearance.

Lija were back on level terms on 20 minutes when Beu passed towards Abubaker Bello-Osagie who shot home from close range.

Lija continued to attack as they were playing the better football. But on 33 minutes Mqabba were back in front when Paul Chimezie headed home from close range following a corner action.

Just before the end of the first half Lija again drew level for the second time in the match when Leon Muscat first-timed beautifully home an Erjon Beu corner.

Five minutes from the restart Lija were in front for the first time in the game when Mqabba custodian Callus managed to block the advancing Schembri, but the ball fell in Beu’s path and the Albanian starlet had little difficulty in putting at the back of the net.

Mqabba pushed desperately forward in the remaining minutes but had to wait till the 88th minute to snatch a point when substitute Luca Casha scored from close range.

Mqabba: C. Callus, G. Gesualdi, M. Bonnici, A. Mello da Silva, K. Cutajar, L. Vella Critien, M. Borg, P. Chimezie, J. Nwoba (L. Casha), G. Adamovic, L. Micallef

Lija A: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar, P. Babic, L. Muscat (M. Vella), E. Beu, L.J. Schembri, A. Galea (A. Sammut), M. Clinch, A. Bello Osagie (J. Garcia Vidal), Y. Tonna, A. Borg Referee: Alex Johnson