The Magpies and Lions share the spoils in first big clash

Lions Gibraltar 1-1 Magpies

The second match in the Gibraltar Football League brought together two teams whose ambitions last season were to play European football, but who ultimately failed in their bids.

For Magpies, last season had been a transitional one, with Nathan Rooney having departed and the club’s new policy of aiming to play home-grown players seeing it make changes to its squad.

For Lions, who had also seen major changes under new management, last season had been one of strengthening their squad and moving away from their home-grown player policy. Yet they too fell short of mounting a serious enough challenge to finish among the top four.

The first of the “big clashes” of the season, with both sides having transitioned through the summer and made their own changes, this was to set the tone for what to expect in the bid to challenge for the four places in European football available this season.

Both teams had made changes to their team structure, notably both starting with the minimum number of home-grown players within their starting eleven. In all, with two matches played, Gibraltar football had seen just 12 players start from the 44 possible. A sign of the times as the focus by league clubs turns towards bidding for European places rather than the long-term development of the sport in Gibraltar.

With Gibraltar still living through its summer months, the Gibraltar Fair having also started this weekend, and the continued lack of interest from local fans in attending matches, it was no surprise to see once again empty stands, with just a handful of people watching.

Even Lions’ attempt to lift its supporter base through its social media exposure, with its supporters’ club, did little to change how many were willing to watch the match live at six in the afternoon.

Lions had the early chances, with an effort in the seventh minute seeing the ball blocked behind for a corner.

A second corner was sent too long to cause any problems for the Magpies defence.

The Magpies tested Lions keeper Skoda with a long-range effort just three minutes later, although it resulted in nothing more than an easy catch.

The first yellow card was produced after 14 minutes for Lee Seaton, the Lions captain, for a deliberate foul to stop a Magpies counter. The resulting free-kick was wasted with a lacklustre shot into the defensive wall.

The mistakes continued, with a back pass from Livingstone to Zappacosta seeing the subsequent clearance by the keeper blocked inside the six-yard box, with Magpies lucky that it was not deflected into the goal.

The opening 20 minutes saw end-to-end action, although with little quality to excite those watching. Neither side showed any initial evidence of having made significant enough changes to suggest they could challenge the top two sides in the league.

Magpies started to settle down and began to show more cohesiveness when moving forward. The Magpies were closing down quickly when defending, making it difficult for Lions to find a way past the second third of the pitch.

Although the summer heat was still present, the continuous breeze sweeping through Europa Point made it bearable enough not to have to call for cooling breaks, allowing the fluidity of the match to continue.

Once again, the first half was played with few stoppages because of those “fake” injuries which had for so long been played out in local football. The new rules of the game again having an impact on the fluidity of the match.

Lions were able to balance things out, with play for a prolonged period taking place through the middle third. Neither side found a way to really create an opportunity to break the deadlock as they entered the final five minutes of the first half.

It was not until the 41st minute that a cross/pass across the front of the goal forced Skoda to tip the ball over the bar for a corner. Again, nothing came from the resulting corner kick.

The first early chance at goal came in the 49th minute, just five minutes into the second half. Lions, breaking down the left flank, found a low cross into the path of their forward Revagliatte, with the tall striker stretching to poke the ball past Zappacosta.

There was an element of urgency in Magpies’ play as they searched to respond quickly. However, advancing their lines meant that Lions could also expose the gaps left behind and threaten to add to their tally.

Lions remained compact in defence, making it difficult for Magpies and exposing those gaps as they approached the hour mark.

The Magpies made changes, bringing youngster Lee Chipolina into the field. Whilst trying to pile the pressure at one end, Magpies were also being forced to backtrack to defend, stalling their pressure and forcing them to start again from the back.

It was an attempt from the top corner of the penalty box that forced Skoda to palm the ball around the post for a corner in the 64th minute. Just moments later, Ronco, as Lions tried to clear their lines, sent a shot just inches wide of the near post.

Just as quickly, Lions were again taking a pot shot at the other end.

Lions were happy to put bodies behind the ball to protect their lead and wait for a chance to counter.

With 72 minutes played, Magpies added to their attacking options with Del Rio introduced, with Lions having absorbed the pressure up to then quite effectively.

Del Rio was to make an immediate impact, sending a shot just over the bar.

The pressure from Magpies was to pay off as they struck their equaliser entering the final ten minutes.

The match was, however, to take a sudden turn as Magpies player Ronco was injured. The severity of his injury saw him stretchered off by paramedics and taken to hospital.

A long delay in resuming the match saw the final minutes played out with little energy, with players looking for the final whistle.

The match ended with the second one-all draw.