Newly-promoted duo Gudja United and Santa Lucia maintained their unbeaten run as a penalty deep into stoppage time enabled Gudja to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Sunday.
For Gudja, this was the third consecutive draw while Santa Lucia add another point to their tally – a point which could have been three.
Santa Lucia took the lead four minutes from the end of the first half thanks to a powerful drive by Kevin Ante Rosero from outside the area which gave goalkeeper Jonathan Debono no chance.
Five minutes in added time, Gudja notched the equaliser when they were awarded a penalty after Rundell Winchester was brought down inside the area by Camilo Escobar and from the penalty spot, Alexandre Santana made no mistake.
GUDJA Jonathan Debono, Jonathan Bondin, Zachary Cassar (77’ Jurgen Farrugia), Aidan Friggieri (85’ Peter Paul Sammut), Rundell Winchester, Alexandre Carlos Santana, Gabriel Mensah, Anderson de Barros, Llywelyn Cremona (61’ Hubert Vella), Juan Andres Bolanos, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Timmy Aquilina, Dylan Grima, Anderson Meyar de Melo, Allan Ricardo Miranda.
Coach: Josef Mansueto
Asst. Coach: Thane MicallefSANTA LUCIA Ryan Caruana, Gabriel Bohrer Mentz, Jackson David Usuga Mendoza, Jamie Magri Overend (58’ Jamie Zerafa), Maycon de Jesus Santana (20’ Omar Elouni), Kevin Ante Rosero, Daniel Agius, Farid Zuniga, Camilo Escobar, Rei Tachikawa, Nick Borg (75′ Neil Micallef).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Adam Magri Overend, Neil Spiteri, Lee Galea.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri
Asst. Coach: Brian ChetcutiReferee: Eman Grech
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Slobodan Petrovic
Yellow Cards: Maycon, Grioli, Escobar, Mendoza, De Barros
BOV Player of the Match: Kevin Ante Rosero