Ten-man Gharghur stun leaders

Naxxar L Gharghur 2 4

Ten-man bottom of the table side Gharghur obtained a stunning derby victory over league leaders Naxxar, scoring four goals in the second half in probably the biggest upset of the season.

Gharghur played their best game of the season against their neighbours and rivals to gain three valuable points with which they now join Fgura at the bottom of the table. For Naxxar it was a humiliating experience as they were outclassed in the second half, with De Lima Nicolau, Muda Fagbeja and Luke Busuttil, playing a blinder, the latter two scoring a brace each.

Naxxar started like a house on fire storming forward in search of a valuable early goal.

Inside the opening five minutes, they had two great scoring opportunites with Duane Bonnici shooting over the bar and with a Messias shot missing the base of the upright by a whisker.

On ten minutes, a Jurgen Debono freekick went slightly over the bar and five minutes Naxxar won a penalty when Ryan Cassar was pulled down by Mino Sota and from the penalty spot Yuri Messias scored his 19th goal of the season.

After this goal Naxxar sat on their laurels and Gharghur pushed forward creating some good scoring opportunities with Luke Busuttil their most dangerous player.

A Busuttil header went slightly wide and on 23 minutes Omar Borg turned into a corner a Lee Galea dipper.

Seven minutes from the break Gharghur went close again with Luke Busuttil’s drive brilliantly saved by Omar Borg.

Two minutes into the second half Gharghur obtained a deserved equaliser when De Lima Nicolau passed towards Muda Fagbeja who fired low past a helpless Borg. On 55 minutes Gharghur scored again when Fagbeja and De Lima Nicolau created havoc in the Naxxar rearguard, with Omar Borg partially blocking the ball and from the rebound Luke Busuttil fired in the roof of the net.

Naxxar went close to an equaliser on 69 minutes when a Yuri Messias freekick smashed against the crossbar.

On 72 minutes Gharghur were reduced to ten men when Isaac Chircop was sent off for dissent.

But five minutes from time they scored a third when De Lima Nicolau passed towards Muda Fagbeja who drilled low into the net.

Deep in stoppage time, Gharghur scored a fourth when Luke Busuttil dribbled past goalkeeper Borg before putting the ball at the back of the net.

Sixty seconds later Naxxar pulled one back when Lubos Adamec headed home.

Naxxar L: O. Borg, N. Spiteri, M. Fenech (J. Ellul), D. Bonnici (L.J. Agius), R. Cassar, John Debono, R. Grech, L. Andriuoli (S. Guevara Munoz), Jurgen Debono, L. Adamec, Y. Messias.

Gharghur: Z. Valletta, L. Galea, K. Fedele, D. Camilleri, J. Azzopardi, M. Sota, I. Chircop, M. Fagbeja (K. Conti), E. De Lima Nicolau (C. Gie), L. Vella, L. Busuttil.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit Naxxar L Senglea A Qormi Vittoriosa S Lija A Mqabba Pieta H Sirens Marsa Melita Zebbug R Rabat A Fgura U Gharghur PW D L F A Pts 21 12 3 6 47 30 39 20 11 5 4 44 16 38 20 11 5 4 27 19 38 20 11 3 6 42 26 36 20 10 6 4 45 29 36 20 10 5 5 30 22 35 20 9 2 9 35 29 29 20 9 2 9 31 33 29 21 7 3 11 29 34 24 21 6 6 9 22 30 24 20 5 6 9 28 33 21 21 6 3 12 25 35 21 21 3 6 12 14 41 15 21 4 3 14 21 53 15