Qrendi maintained alive hopes of avoiding relegation as they defeated Lija Athletic 5-4 in a nine-goal thriller at the Centenary Stadium on Friday in one of the matches from the BOV Challenge League Play-Out.

Suleiman Jalu put Qrendi ahead on the 10th and Christian Mercieca doubled the score on the 25th but goals by Duvan Mosquera on the37th and Kotaro Kishi three minutes later restored equilibrium. Kotaro Kishi put Lija ahead on the 58th but seven minutes later, Christian Mercieca made it 3-3. Duvan Mosquera scored a fourth goal for Lija eight minutes from time but Henrique de Souza Maciel levelled matters on the 85th and Claudio Antunes Pavlidis notched the winner two minutes in added time.

Mtarfa came from behind to beat Mqabba 2-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Ronald Maklysten Melo Costa put Mqabba ahead on the 36th but Matthew Camilleri equalised on the 54th and Genesis Fernandes de Andrade made it 2-1 on the 90th.

A goal by Bledi Alla on the 71st handed Attard a narrow win over Centenary Stadium while in another match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, St. Andrews and Swieqi United shared the spoils in a goalless draw.

Swieqi lead the way with 41 points, followed by St. Andrews on 39, Fgura 35, Lija 33, Marsa 31, Attard 30, Qrendi 27, San Gwann 25, Marsaskala 24, Mqabba 21, Mtarfa and Vittoriosa 20.

Meanwhile in the Top 6, Naxxar Lions defeated Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 at the Centenary Stadium.

Joel Ellul put Naxxar ahead on the half hour and although Junior Conceicao Cabral equalised on the 65th, Robinson Blandon Rendon notched the winner on the 75th.

Sliema lead the way with 65 points, followed by Naxxar on 57, Zejtun 41, Tarxien 39, Melita 31 and Zurrieq 29.

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