St. Andrews return to winning ways

St. Andrews collected three precious points in the battle against relegation as they defeated Lija Athletic 2-1 at the National Stadium on Saturday to move fourth from bottom.

The Saints took the lead on the 36th minute when off a cross by Joseph Farrugia from the right, Kevaughn Atkinson beat goalkeeper Jonathan Martinelli from close range.

Eleven minutes in the second half, St. Andrews doubled the score thanks to Kevaughn Atkinson whose shot from the edge of the area

Lija pulled one back on the 70th minute when Erjon Beu, served by Bello-Osagie, beat Calleja Cremona with a diagonal shot from the right.

LIJA Jonathan Martinelli, Patrick Borg, Leon Muscat, Daniel Scerri, Abubakar Bello Osagie, Aaron Sammut, McAllister Clinch, Erjon Beu, Kei Hirose, Raphael Kooh Sohna (66′ Ryan Sammut), Ousmane Sidibe.
Subs not used: Luke Bonnici, Nigel Spiteri, Predrag Babic, Antoine Borg, Nigel Bugeja, Gabriel Borg.
Coach: Joseph Galea. Asst. Coach: Michael Mangion

ST. ANDREWS Matthew Calleja Cremona, Adrian Borg, Misael Miranda Gomez, Joseph Farrugia, Jason Vandelannoite, Ricardo Martin (73′ Marcus Grima), Matthew Gauci, Kevaughn Atkinson, Kemmu Degran Jackson (66′ Jacob Walker), Kemar Reid, Travis Blagrove.
Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Dejan Debono, Liam Grech, Jamie Magri Overend, Alex Satariano.
Coach: Michael Woods. Asst. Coach: Joseph Farrugia

Referee: Luis Miguel Do Nascimento Teixeira (AND)
Assistant Referees: Hugo Ricardo Jourdan Pereira, Marta San Juan (AND)
Fourth Official: Joan Guiu (AND)
Yellow Cards: Atkinson, Jackson, Clinch
BOV Player of the Match: Kevaughn Atkinson

At the Hibernians Stadium, an Amadou Samb brace gave Gzira United three precious points as they beat ten-man Naxxar Lions 2-0.

Gzira therefore maintain the challenge for a place in the UEFA Europa League as they register a third consecutive win to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches. For Naxxar, who remain second from bottom, this was the third consecutive defeat.

Naxxar had Daren Falzon sent off on the 14th minute. Amadou Samb converted a penalty on the 22nd minute to put the Maroons ahead and the Senegalese striker doubled the score with a header when served by Roderick Briffa on the 70th.

NAXXAR Luan Polli Gomes, Rafael Henqriques Santos Caetano, Mailson Souza Duarte Junior, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon, Duane Bonnici, Daniel Mateo Bustos (88′ Jurgen Debono), Mohamed Belhadj (60′ Ryan Gilmour Cassar), Djilali Belhadj (85′ Mark Fenech), Yuri de Jesus Messias.
Subs not used: Omar Borg, Joel Ellul, Angus Buhagiar, Ruben Grima.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

GZIRA Anthony Curmi, Roderick Briffa, Sacha Borg, Prince Mambouana, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Zachary Scerri, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Haruna Garba (65′ Kris Thackray), Andrew Cohen, Amadou Samb (85′ Nikolai Muscat), Emmanuel Okoye.
Subs not used: Justin Haber, Antonio Orlando de Queiroz Machedo Neto, Luca Brincat, Karl Pulo.
Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Jude Amin Utulu
Yellow Cards: Scerri, Okoye, Samb
Red Cards: 14′ Daren Falzon, 20′ Omar Borg