Naxxar Lions secured a crucial 2–1 victory over Żabbar St. Patrick to move within a single point of the Saints and Mosta in the battle to avoid finishing second from bottom.
With Tarxien Rainbows already mathematically relegated and confirmed in last place, Sunday’s final round of matches in the Bottom 6 will decide who ends the season second from bottom. Żabbar St. Patrick face Gżira United, Mosta take on Hibernians, while Naxxar Lions meet Tarxien Rainbows.
Żabbar handed a debut to goalkeeper Ignacio Colombo and welcomed back Vinicius De Paiva in the starting line-up. Nicholas James Agius replaced the suspended Mayron, while Brian Gambarte started on the bench.
Naxxar made five changes from the side that defeated Mosta in their previous outing, with JP Iseppe and Christopher Fourmy making their first appearances under coach Winston Muscat.
Żabbar created the first danger after eight minutes when Pedro Cejas’ diagonal effort from the right was deflected behind for a corner.
However, it was Naxxar who broke the deadlock on 32 minutes. Vinicius Baiano released Gustavo Felipe down the left, and from his low cross Christopher Fourmy flicked the ball home from close range.
The Lions doubled their advantage a minute before the interval. Joao Victor sent Vinicius Baiano clear on the left and the Brazilian advanced before firing a fine shot from the edge of the area past Colombo.
Naxxar nearly added a third in stoppage time when Joao Victor crossed from the right, but Vinicius Baiano narrowly failed to connect.
Żabbar pulled one back seven minutes into the second half. After Pedro Cejas appeared to be fouled inside the area, an FVS review resulted in a penalty, which Mario Fontanella confidently converted.
Joao Victor went close for Naxxar on 67 minutes with a shot from the edge of the area that drifted just wide. Three minutes later, Edson Farias set up Fourmy, whose effort from the right was deflected out for a corner.
Żabbar threatened again on 75 minutes when Nicholas James Agius fired narrowly wide, while a minute later Joao Victor’s diagonal shot skimmed past the post at the other end.
In the dying moments, Żabbar came agonisingly close to equalising. Jurgen Pisani found Mario Fontanella in the area, but his overhead kick from close range was blocked behind for a corner.
ŻABBAR ST. PATRICK 1
NAXXAR LIONS 2
Fontanella 52’ (pen)
Fourmy 32’, Vinicius 44’
Sports Editor
Veteran Journalist
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