Derby win keeps Naxxar hopes alive

Naxxar Lions returned to winning ways as they defeated Mosta 2-0 at the National Stadium in the derby to revive hopes of avoiding relegation.

The Lions are still second from bottom but now lie just two points behind Tarxien and four behind Mosta and St. Andrews. Next week, Tarxien and St. Andrews face each other in a direct clash, Naxxar meet Senglea and Mosta take on Sliema. One team will join Lija Athletic in Division 1 and another will have to take part in the Play-Off.

Naxxar took the lead on the 18th minute thanks to Jurgen Debono who placed the ball at the back of the net following a cross by Manolito Micallef and a header by Messias.

Seven minutes from time, Mosta had Davide Mansi sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul just outside the area.

The Lions took full advantage as they increased the lead two minutes later when Yuri de Jesus Messias served Daniel Mateo Bustos on the right and the latter slotted the ball past Andreas Vella.

Kurt Magro picked a second yellow card for handling the ball on the 87th minute leaving Mosta in nine men.

MOSTA Andreas Vella, Giovanni Nuti (46′ Jan Tanti), Massimo Sammartino, Thomas Veronese, Ivan Maric, Davide Mansi, Tyrone Farrugia, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira (87′ Jordan Vella), Dexter Xuereb, Kurt Magro, Damir Bartulovic (58′ Calvin Camilleri)
Subs not used: Dylan Ciappara, Jurgen Grech Nicholas Farrugia
Coach: Johann Scicluna

NAXXAR Luan Polli Gomes, Rafael Santos Henriques Caetano, Mailson Souza Duarte Junior, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef (88′ Mark Fenech), Duane Bonnici, Jurgen Debono (70′ Ryan Gilmour Cassar), Daniel Mateo Bustos (90+1′ Ruben Grima), Matheus Verissimo Casarotto, Djilali Belhadj, Yuri de Jesus Messias.
Subs not used: Andre Fenech, Paul Ellul, Joel Ellul, Angus Buhagiar.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Paul Apap, Peter Abela
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Mansi, Nuti, Magro, Bonnici, Bustos, Grech
Red Cards: 83′ Davide Mansi, 87 Kurt Magro
BOV Player of the Match: Daniel Mateo Bustos