Leaders stunned by ten-man Mqabba
Ten-man Mqabba staged a remarkable comeback in the second half to beat league leaders Naxxar in one of the biggest upsets this season. Although dominating most of the game Mqabba were reduced to ten men on 35 minutes and trailed by two goals at the interval.
But this did not stop Clive Mizzi’s boys who scored three goals in the space of seven minutes early in the second half to demolish Naxxar’s hopes. Brazilian Arilson Mello da Silva was Mqabba’s hero scoring a hat-trick, two of which from the penalty spot.
Mqabba dominated the early stages of the match with leaders Naxxar on the receiving end. After a couple of minutes a Paul Chimezie header slightly missed the upright and on twelve minutes Lyden Micallef tested Omar Borg with a central drive from a distance.
On 18 minutes Mqabba went close again with a Mauro Bonnici header that slightly missed the crossbar. Naxxar took the lead in their first good move upfront. Lorenzo Andriuoli passed towards Yuri Messias who was floored by Gesualdi as he was about to shoot at goal. Referee Mangion ordered the penalty and sent off the Mqabba central defender, with Yuri Messias sending Debono the wrong way from the penalty spot.
This double blow did not affect Mqabba who pushed forward and went close with a Luca Casha drive that slightly missed the base of the upright. On 43 minutes Naxxar doubled the score when an Andriuoli cross from the left was partially cleared by the Mqabba rearguard and Joel Ellul first timed beautifully home from the edge of the area.
Nine minutes into the second half Mqabba were back in business when from a Michael Borg cross from the left, Luca Casha headed beautifully home.
Four minutes later Mqabba were back on level terms when Luca Casha was pushed inside the area by Nocer Garcia and from the resultant penalty Arilson Mello Da Silva made no mistake.
On 61 minutes Mqabba were awarded another penalty when Chimezie was floored by Ryan Cassar and Arilson Mello scored again from the spot in an exact replica of the previous penalty. On 72 minutes Duane Bonnici beat the onrushing goalkeeper but Luke Vella Critien saved a certain goal.
Naxxar made a late desperate effort to save the match but Mqabba missed a glorious chance through Lyden Micallef. Three minutes from time Omar Borg saved Naxxar from further trouble when he denied Mello Da Silva.
In stoppage time Mqabba sealed the issue when Mello Da Silva scored his third goal with the Naxxar goalkeeper completely out of position.
Mqabba: J. Debono, G. Gesualdi, M. Bonnici, A. Mello Da Silva, L. Vella Critien, B. Muscat, M. Borg, P. Chimezie (J.J. Clifford), L. Micallef, G. Adamovic, L. Casha (D. Azzopardi).
Naxxar L: O. Borg, J. Ellul, John Debono, D. Bonnici, R. Cassar, M. Fenech, R. Grech, L. Andriuoli (D. Guevara Munoz)(S. Guevara Munoz), Jurgen Debono, L. Adamec, Y. Messias.
Referee: Etienne Mangion