St. Andrews deepen Pembroke’s crisis

Pembroke Athleta are getting closer to play First Division next season as they were dominated and humiliated by St. Andrews. The final score had also a twist to it, as Pembroke had to play 75 minutes with ten men. This was the eight consecutive defeat for a team that looks that he’s giving up to at least play the playoff to keep their Premier League status. On the other hand, this win secured mathematically that St. Andrews will play again in the highest division of Maltese football. St. Andrews coach Danilo Doncic welcomed back Bong Won Che while goalkeeper Dean Sciberras made his debut as he was preferred to Jake Galea. On the side, Pembroke Artim Shaqiri made three changes, as Adrian Borg, Daniane Jawad and Go Nagaoka replaced Filippo Scozzese, Tyron Fenech and Raphael Kooh Sohna respectively. St. Andrews were given a penalty after sixteen minutes as referee Stefan Pace ordered a penalty after deciding that Radovnikovic fouled Kyrian Nwoko inside the penalty area after he came face to face with the goalkeeper. Apart from the penalty, the Croatian defender was given marching orders. After long protests by Pembroke, the shot by Ivan Paz hit the post, and entered in the net after it hit Roppas. St. Andrews doubled their lead just before the end of the first half, as Friggieri passed to Dale Camilleri who managed to beat Roppas in his left corner with a precise shot. Luxol started the second half as they ended the first, and made it 30, as Friggieri served an assist, this time to captain Joseph Farrugia, and the midfielder scored the third goal with no pressure. The score continued to change, and on the hour mark, Aidan Friggieri was rewarded for his efforts as he scored after receiving the ball from Nwoko. Pembroke looked depleted, and it was no surprise that St. Andrews scored the fifth goal when from a free-kick by Paz, Bong Won Che was the quickest to score with a good header. There was still time for a sixth goal, as from another pass by Aidan Friggieri, substitute Jacob Walker dribbled past Iraklis Roppas and Zoran Levnaic to score his second goal of the league also against Pembroke.