San Ġwann   1  :  1   Lija Athletic 

H.T.: 0 : 1

    24 Oct 2007 - 20.30hrs. - Centenary Stadium

  Match Report »

• Newly promoted teams, San Ġwann and Lija Athletic shared the spoils in a balanced encounter on a late October evening at the Centenary Stadium. The Saints started off as the better team when just after two minutes had ticked away, their David Cuschieri calibrated a menacing fierce volley that flew inches off the post.

• Eventually, the boys in checked red and white shirts came more into the picture and offered resistance to San Ġwann's initial pressure.

• After 21 minutes, the Lija defence was in imminent danger but thanks to a superb Josuel Caruana save and a crucial, timely Christian Agius intervention on the fatal line, the Lija rearguard somehow managed to avert the danger in three attempts.

• Against the run of play, the Athletic forged ahead on 28 minutes. Daniel Mizzi made a good run and opened the score for the Reds after coolly beating the Saints' goalie with a low drive, much to the surprise of the San Ġwann defence.

• Lija Athletic were the better team now and on 35 minutes, Raymond Borg's side could have made it 2-0 after the San Ġwann keeper fumbled the ball, but the Saint's rearguard somehow recovered.

• Three minutes later, San Ġwann's Marco Mercieca missed target by a whisker when his flicked shot sailed slightly wide.

« Half-time score: 0-1 »

• The second period was even more equilibrated, with chances of score alternating from one side to the other.

• Six minutes into the second half, Lija's Daniel Mizzi broke free from his marker after receiving a great Andrè Scicluna pass. His finishing volley flew slightly wide, however.

• The Reds had the illusion of a second goal when on 55 minutes, a Roderick Grech 'goal' was disallowed for an offside position.

• A minute later, R. Grech missed a sitter after failing to control the ball well, with only the keeper to beat.

• Lija were punished for these missed goal-scoring opportunities as the Yellow-Blues netted an equaliser in the 59th minute. The Lija rearguard was caught napping and Sergio Hili of San Ġwann found himself alone in front of the net and flicked the ball with a firm shot that beat J. Caruana, who was caught on the wrong foot - 1-1.

• On 71 minutes, the Lija goalie performed a marvellous save when punching away for a corner a violent distant volley.

• Two minutes from time, Daniel Mizzi of Lija Athletic shot high following a well-taken corner.

• At the end, both sides seemed to be happy with a point each.

« Full-time score: 1-1 »

 © Report by Samuel M. Cutajar

 Scorers »

28'	Daniel Mizzi (Lija Athletic)
59'	Sergio Hili (San Ġwann)

 Formations »

 SAN ĠWANN  D. Borda - A. Vella - C. Vella - M. Borda - M. Francica - L. Cumbo (85' R. Pace) - D. Cuschieri - J. Pace (67' F. Arcaini) - S. Hili - S. Vella - M. Mercieca.

 LIJA ATH.  J. Caruana - K. Borg - D. Mizzi - D. Gauci - R. Grech (90' S. Galea) - M. DeGabriele - P. Xuereb - N. Scerri - A. Scicluna - C. Agius - C. Genovese.

Referee »

 Glen Tonna

 Lija Athletic Player Of The Match »

 Matthew DeGabriele (13)

 Next Fixture »

 28-Nov-2007 :: vs Ħamrun Spartans U/18 :: 18.00hrs. :: Centenary Stadium

                © www.lijaathletic.com