Pembroke come back from behind to put five past Naxxar

Pembroke put in a superb performance as they defeated Naxxar Lions 5-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

The situation does not look good for Naxxar as they remain at the bottom of the table without any points yet this season.

Pembroke started the match immediately on the attack, but it was Naxxar that managed to score the first goal.

On the 26th minute, Sead Hadzibulic served Richard Carlos Cardozo who then went on to beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia with his shot to give Naxxar the lead.

Pembroke’s Austin Martz went close to scoring on the 30th minute, but his shot hit the post.

Pembroke managed to score the equaliser on the 43rd minute. Gustavo Villalobos Carbajal served Kyle O’Brien with the latter beating goalkeeper Luke Pecorella with his powerful shot.

Pembroke’s dominance started to show and just three minutes after the start of the second half, they managed to take the lead for the first time in the match.

Austin Martz had his powerful shot partially saved by Naxxar’s Luke Pecorella and off the rebound, Leighton Grech easily placed the ball at the bacl of the net.

On the 67th minute, Leighton Grech entered the penalty area and was brought down by Angus Buhagiar, the latter was immediately sent off and Pembroke were awarded a penalty. From the penalty spot, Gustavo Villalobos beat goalkeeper Luke Pecorella to make the score 3-1.

Pembroke were now unstoppable and scored again on the 76th minute. Gustavo Villalobos Carbajal made his past his opponents to then to beat  Naxxar’s goalkeeper with an angled shot to make the score 4-1.

Substitute Lyden Micallef made sure Pembroke took all three points home on the 83rd minute when he made the sscore 5-1 when his low shot was deflected into goal by Naxxar’s defender.

NAXXAR LIONS Luke Pecorella, Andrew Scicluna, Luca Lodetti, Richard Carlos Cardozo, Daren Falzon, Sead Hadzibulic (53’ Duane Bonnici), Jurgen Debono (54’ Ishmael Grech), David Fenech, Angus Buhagiar, Emiliano Lattes, Armando Viera dos Santos (72’ Ryan Gilmour Cassar).

Subs not used: Julian Azzopardi, Zady Moise Gnenegbe, Arya Koorosh Haghighi, Ryan Mercieca.

Coach: Stefano Grima

PEMBROKE ATHLETA Matthew Farrugia, Zoran Levnajic, Alex Cini, Rennie Tanti, Owen Bugeja (73’ Lyden Micallef), Paltemio Barbetti, Kyle O’Brien, Ariel Laudisi, Gustavo Villalobos Carbajal (81’ Tyron Fenech), Austin Martz, Leighton Grech (68’ Siraj Arab Eddin).

Subs not used: Mario Muscat, Miguel Attard, Peter Paul Sammut, James Togbah.

Coach: Winston Muscat

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Paul Apap

Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi

Yellow Cards: Grech, Buhagiar

Red Cards: 67’ Angus Buhagiar

Scorers: 26’ Richard Carlos Cardozo, 43’ Kyle O’ Brien, 48’ Leighton Grech, 68’ Gustavo Villalobos pen, 76’ Gustavo Villalobos, 83’ Lyden Micallef

BOV Player of the Match: Gustavo Villalobos