Lions back on track with second half goals

Naxxar Lions are temporarily back on top of the standings after beating Rabat 3-1 with second half goals to return to winning ways after two successive defeats.

Rabat gave a very good account of themselves especially in the first fourty five minutes but had to give in on the resumption as Naxxar went out for the kill.

After a balanced and rather drab first half, Naxxar took the lead on 57 minutes when a goalkeeper long kick was missed by the Rabat reaguard and Duane Bonnici was on hand to first time the ball home.

Naxxar were now in the driving seat with Rabat offering little or no resistance as the Lions continued to press for further goals.

On 73 minutes Naxxar put their minds at rest when they doubled the score. It was a great goal from their best scorer Yuri Messias who headed home a beauty following a Jurgen Debono freekick.

Ten minutes from time Naxxar made it three when one of their best Duane Bonnici raced past the Rabat defenders to first time home a good goal, for his second personal strike of the match.

Two minutes later Rabat scored a consolation goal when substitute Touray Ousman finished off a melee in front of the Naxxar goal.

Rabat A: S. Mintoff, L. Cauchi J. Caruana, S. Gauci, A. Smeir, G. Bugeja, E. Jay Goodman, D. Borg (T. Ousman), C. Vella, A. Azzopardi (N. Attard), D. Azzopardi

Naxxar L: O. Borg, R. Mercieca, M. Fenech, D. Bonnici, R. G. Cassar, John Debono, R. Grech (L. J. Agius), D. Nocera Garcia, Jurgen Debono, S. J. Guevara Munoz (J. Ellul), Y. Messias (L. Andriuoli) Referee: Mario Apap