Attard 1

Siggiewi 1

Attard and Siggiewi took a point each in a very balanced match which ended 1-1. This result meant a lot to Attard, who were still without a point this season.

The only action worthy of note in the first 45 minutes was produced by Siggiewi, when from a freekick by Camilleri, Farrugia’s shot went inches wide.

In the second half, both teams scored one goal each. Ten minutes after the break, Siggiewi took the lead, when from another freekick by Camilleri, this time Josef Vassallo beat Cini with a powerful shot.

Attard equalised less than two minutes later, when Agius’ back heel found Kayne Said, who in turn beat the goalkeeper with a strike at the top of the net.

Attard spent the last minutes of the match on the attack, and went close to hitting home 15 minutes before stoppage time, when Galea’s shot went high over the crossbar. Said was close to making them two for Attard, when five minutes before the end, his shot hit the post.

Attard: C. Cini, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, A. Gauci, D. Cachia, J. C. Cachia, D. Galea, R. Pilipov, K. Said, K. Zahra, C. Farrugia

Siggiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin (S. Delia), N. Galea, B. Bajada, M. Camilleri, M. Camilleri, K. Buhagiar (J. Shead), E. Cutajar, R. Farrugia (E. Bugeja), J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu

Luqa 2

Gharghur 2

Luqa gained a very important point against Gharghur, thanks to a brace by Lee Baldacchino, despite playing 55 minutes with 10 men, and the last quarter of an hour with nine players. Even if Gharghur had a good start, it was Luqa who dominated the second half and had the best scoring opportunities.

Gharghur were awarded a penalty after just seven minutes for Pemra’s handling in the box. From the spot, Roderick Debattista beat Psaila to put Gharghur in the lead.

Ten minutes before the break, Luqa were down to ten men, when George Frendo was sent off for dissent.

Luqa had a positive start to the second half, and in the 47th minute the game was levelled by Lee Baldacchino, who beat Zarb with a low shot on receiving from Pemra. Luqa’s efforts were cut short, when barely five minutes later, Chris Vella’s header from Gravata’s freekick put Gharghur in the lead again.

Fifteen minutes before stoppage time, Luqa had Randolph Pemra sent off, when he committed his second bookable offence.

This was not enough to discourage Luqa, because five minutes later, Lee Baldacchino beat Zarb for the second time, with a powerful shot from outside the penalty area.

Luqa had a very promising performance, leading to their second consecutive draw. Gharghur, on their part, had a somewhat disappointing day, where despite their numerical superiority, they failed to seal off the match.

Luqa: P. Psaila, J. Fenech, R. Pemra, A. Abdilla, F. Cauchi, J. Camilleri, A. Psaila (L. Vella), D. Agius (S. Costa Braziliho), L. Baldacchino, R. Debattista, G. Frendo

Gharghur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, C. Farrugia (I. Ebejer), R. Debattista, J. Debattista, I. Curmi (D. Brincat), K. Azzopardi, R. Gravata, C. Vella, B. Perry Alton

Referee: Fiodor Zammit

San Gwann 0

Gzira 0

Gzira and San Gwann gained a point each, as the match between the two teams did not produce any goals. Gzira were rarely on the attack, and were down to 10 men in the last two minutes of the game, when Karl Saliba was sent off.

The first opportunity for San Gwann came in the 36th minute, when a powerful shot by Cuschieri from outside the box was punched into a corner by the goalkeeper.

In the 52nd minute, Kalenga fled Gzira’s defence and found himself facing Agius, with the latter punching the ball away before San Gwann’s forward had a chance to strike.

The last 20 minutes were characterised by a series of offensive and dangerous fouls on both sides. In the 88th minute, substitute Karl Saliba was sent off for a serious foul on Xuereb.

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, G. Agius, M. Francica, D. Cosaitis, S. Vella (B. Borg), Q. Bregman, C. Pace, A. Borg, N. Kalenga (C. Cacciatolo), J. Borg, C. Cuschieri (P. Xuereb)

S. Agius, S. Pace, A. Ewuru, S. Shead (K. Saliba), M. Cocks, K. Bonello (A. Spiteri), R. Deguara, A. White, T. Micallef, R. G. Gonzales Alhinh, A. Galea (N. Gatt Coleiro)

Referee: Chris Lautier

Msida 4

Mellieha 1

Msida won their first match of the season after two defeats when they nailed Mellieha with a fine 4-1 win. For Mellieha this was their first defeat after two wins.

Msida took the lead after just three minutes when Alessandro Pirrone managed to beat the offside trap and with a low shot from the box put Msida in the lead.

After suffering the goal, Mellieha were better than their opponents and on the 20th minute a shot from Phil Taylor went close to an equaliser but the ball finished wide.

Msida went close to double on the 29th minute when a bad back-pass from David Cauchi almost finished in goal. On the 35th minute Msida doubled the score. First it was Matthew Vella who cleared the ball from the line. From the subsequent corner, Matthew Clarke rose high and with a fine header managed to put Msida 2-0 up.

Msida had a golden opportunity to close the game when on the 47th minute Pirrone controlled the ball on his chest but his shot went off target from the small box.

Mellieha reduced the gap after they were awarded a penalty. It was on the 59th minute when Loquete was fouled in the box. Referee Paul Caruana pointed to the spot and Wayne Borg St John converted the penalty.

Mellieha went close to equalise on the 70th minute when from a cross from Wayne Buttigieg, Wayne Borg St John headed off target from an ideal position.

From a goal missed a goal was scored at the other end as Msida made it 3-1. It was substitute Mario Crupi who scored from the edge of the box on the 72nd minute. Msida were reduced to 10 men when Matthew Borda was sent off.

Msida closed the game on the 79th minute when again it was Mario Crupi who scored a wonderful goal after a personal action.

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, O. Zammit, M. Borda, M. Clarke, W. Cosenza Quiah, M. Busuttil, A. Dalli, R. Xuereb, A. Pirrone, F. De Andrade

Mellieha: S. Gauci, M. Vella, W. Buttigieg, D. Cauchi, L. Cauchi, W. Borg, K. Fenech, K. Simiana (K. Gauci), P. Taylor, W. Borg St John, T. Loquete

Referee: Paul Caruana

Zebbug 1

St Venera 2

St Venera won their first match of the season when they managed to beat Zebbug to register their first points. For Zebbug this was their first defeat of the season after two draws.

Zebbug had their first opportunity after five minutes when Anyanwu had a shot which went off target. St Venera took the lead on the 34th minute when Rudi Carbonaro took advantage off an indecision from Mercieca.

On the 46th minute St Venera had a good opportunity to double but Carbonaro missed a chance near the posts.

On the 51st minute Santa Venera were given a penalty when goalkeeper James Mercieca fouled Dylan Mercieca. From the penalty spot, Stefan Farrugia converted his second penalty of the season.

On the 68th minute Cuschieri made a good save from a Nathan Caruana shot. Zebbug reduced the gap on the 70th minute when Nathan Caruana had a shot deflected which made it difficult for Cuschieri to save.

Zebbug were piling on the pressure now and after four consecutive corners, Anyanwu headed wide from close range. On the 77th minute substitute Mark Grech went close to regain the two-goal cushion but his shot went wide. Near the end of the match, Zebbug finished with 10 men after David Agius was sent off.

Zebbug: Ja. Mercieca, Jo. Mercieca (B. Chetcuti), M. Brincat, G. Mallia, D. Agius, R. Spiteri, N. Caruana, M. Farrugia, J. Felice (D. D’Agostino), C. Ciappara (J. Gerada), U. Anywanwu.

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Taliana (D. Calleja), J. Onouha, S. Farrugia, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili, R. Carbonaro, J. Zammit (D. Wingfield), R. Borg, D. Mercieca (M. Grech).

Referee: Luke Portelli