Melita First Division League - Match 1

Sannat Lions - 0 vs Nadur Youngsters FC - 1

Nadur Youngsters had an encouraging start to the championship and obtained a close win over Sannat Lions.  Nadur held territorial supremacy for long stretches during the match but failed to produce good scoring opportunities.  However they managed to clinch the three points at stake by capitalizing of some hesitation at Sannat’s rearguard from a set piece.  On the other hand Sannat suffered during the initial stages but managed to recover and also produced some good open scoring chances that could have earned them at least a point from this encounter.

The Youngsters had a better start and produced some pressure on Sannat’s rearguard.  In the 5th minute Sannat’s defender Peter Buttigieg cleared in time a dangerous cross from the right by Anthony Portelli and five minutes later the same Portelli failed to take advantage following some hesitation at Sannat’s rearguard.  On 16 minutes a shot from long distance by Nadur’s Josef Buttigieg ended just wide.  The Lions settled better as time passed by an started to operate dangerous breaks through Diego Petriaggi and Eric Nwankwo.  However, Nadur went again close to scoring on 29 minutes but Shaun Muscat concluded wide from close distance a cross by Josef Buttigieg.  Minutes later the same Muscat lobbed weak from an ideal position and goalie Parnis saved without difficulty.  On 33 minutes Sannat ad a goal by Eric Nwankwo disallowed for an offside infringement following a lob by Petriaggi that passed over the goalkeeper.  Four minutes later Sannat lost a golden scoring opportunity when Petriaggi entered the area in a fast break but he passed the ball to Eric Nwankwo instead of addressing the ball towards goal so that the latter missed the opportunity to convert.

In the third minute of play of the second period Sannat could have opened the score but Noel Borg failed to conclude a melee in Nadur’s area following a corner kick by Petriaggi.  Nadur replied on the hour of play through a free kick by Milos Stojanovic that ended just high.  In the 76th minute Sannat’s skipper Mark Muscat produced a fast break and unmarked Petriaggi but the latter incredibly lobbed wide from the edge of the area.  The Lions were punished for the missed chance as Nadur scored the goal that decided the issue two minutes later.  It was Milos Stojanovic who surprised Sannat’s rearguard with a fine header following a long ranged free kick by Charles Mercieca.  Sannat tried to produce a reaction and on 80 minutes Nadur’s goalie Victor Agius was called to make a difficult save to deny Dylan Muscat from scoring.  Two minutes later Mark had another long ranged attempt that missed the target.  Sannat’s last opportunity to save the result arrived in the second minute of stoppage time when a shot on the run by Petriaggi ended inches high.

Sunday 2nd October 2011 at 16:00 pm.
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Scorers: Milos Stojanovic 78' (N)
Nadur Formation: Victor Agius, Brian Meilaq, Josef Buttigieg, Charles Mercieca, Paul Camilleri, Saviour Attard (Chris Debono), Milos Stojanovic, Jeffery Meilaq, Shaun Muscat (Joseph Grima), Anthony Portelli (Ryan Meilaq), Joseph Grima (Christian Debono)
Coach: Frank Muscat.
Assistant Coach: Joseph Bajada.