Naxxar win to live another day
Hibernians failed to lift themselves into fourth place in the standings after being held to a 2-2 draw by relegation-threatened neighbours Tarxien Rainbows in yesterday afternoon’s second derby at Ta’ Qali.
As they stand, European qualification, something the Paolites have been chasing since coach Mario Muscat took over after the side fell short of the title challenge and was knocked out of the Trophy, might elude them.
Naxxar Lions won this scrappy derby against struggling neighbours Mosta with a goal in each half to keep their slim hopes of salvation alive. Following St Andrews’ win on Saturday, the Lions needed a win to avoid automatic relegation.
This defeat extended Mosta’s miserable league run of eight winless matches. Yesterday they offered little risposte and failed to get back to terms after falling behind early. They ended the match with nine men after Mansi and Magro were both sent off for second cautions. Mosta are now only two points above the place.
After a cagey start, Naxxar began to settle well into the match and had already gone close with longrange efforts from Messias and Bustos before taking the lead after play-off 18 minutes. Grech’s cross was headed by Belhadj in the path of Jurgen Debono who hit low at the far post of keeper Andreas Vella.
Naxxar kept showing the better ideas. Midway through the half, a Messias rising shot was held out by the stretched Mosta keeper.
Past the half hour, Mosta, who had been struggling to create any chances of note, almost equalised after the Naxxar keeper Polli failed to clear a Veronese free kick but Xuereb was unable to put his effort on target from a promising position.
Mosta were always unnerved when their opponents broke and could have been undone on the stroke of halftime.
Grech played a long balll inside the Mosta area, with Bustos beating the offside trap, but, alone in front of the goalkeeper, failed to conlcude and the chance went to waste.
Mosta introduced Jan Tanti and even Calvin Camilleri in the second half but, with Ferreira largely anonymous, they had neither the craft nor the pace to threaten and Naxxar could defend their lead with minimal difficulty.
Mosta came up with a Mansi routine header from a Veronese corner on 75 minutes.
But Naxxar were utterly domi- nant in the game’s late stages. Mosta keeper Vella saved Bonnici’s powerful drive in two attempts before blocking Messias, who had come face to face with him inside the area.
Seven minutes from the end, Mosta had defender Mansi sent off for a second caution. Naxxar immediately capitalised two minutes later. Messias advanced towards goal, played the ball forward to Daniel Bustos who finished off in style.
And Mosta’s misery was complete when captain Magro was also sent off for a second caution with two minutes remaining.
Standings
Valletta Balzan Gzira Birkirkara Hibernians Floriana Sliema Hamrun Senglea A. St. Andrews Mosta Tarxien Naxxar Lions Lija Athletic P W D L F APts 25 16 7 2 38 10 55 25 16 7 2 42 18 55 25 15 6 4 51 31 51 25 14 2 9 40 26 44 25 12 7 6 42 16 43 25 11 10 4 42 16 43 25 11 7 7 35 25 40 25 10 5 10 37 29 35 25 7 5 13 29 44 26 25 6 5 14 21 41 23 25 6 5 14 27 52 23 25 6 4 15 34 56 22 25 4 7 14 24 41 19 25 1 3 21 21 78 6