St. George’s 5
Fgura U. 1
Relegated St George’s achieved their first win this season in the match against Fgura.
Even though Fgura played well, St George’s excelled and dominated throughout the whole 90 minutes.
St George’s opened the score on the 25th minute when GARY TANTI successfully shot low past several Fgura defenders and goalkeeper Brandon Bartolo from a notable distance.
On the 53rd minute St George’s doubled the score when JOSEPH FARRUGIA scored with a low angled shot.
OSI LUCKY AGBOEBINNA made them three on the 67th when he took off and dribbled past a Fgura defender before surprising Bartolo with a high shot from close range.
Fgura’s KEITH DARMANIN reduced the gap on the 74th when he placed at the back of the net a penalty which was granted due to the Saints’ Emanuel Sevasta’s foul.
St George’s replied a minute later with a rising shot scored by MAURO BRINCAT. On the 81st St George’s sealed the win when OSI LUCKY AGBOEBINNA found Fgura’s defence lacking and blasted home his stylish double.
On the 90th Fgura ended with 10 players when substitute Neil Curmi was sent off.
St George’s: Ryan Marmara’, Emanuel Sevasta, Ryan Previ, Gianluca Vella, Gary Tanti (Chris Ciappara), Joseph Farrugia (Anthony Bonello), Emerson Amaira, Mauro Brincat (Glenn Chircop), Steve Agius, Wayne Sciberras, Osi Lucky Agboebinna
Fgura U.: Brandon Bartolo, Neville Zerafa (Lee Roy Bonett), Robert Adami, Martin Portelli, Heatcliff Schembri (Neil Curmi), Michael Zammit (Christian Briffa), Keith Darmanin, Matthew Spiteri, Gilbert Martin, Josef Dalli, Lydon Vella
Referee: Glenn Tonna
Zebbug 4
St Venera 2
Zebbug made an incredible comeback on Saturday afternoon, when after being 2-0 down till 25 minutes before the end, they managed to score four goals within 15 minutes, to turn the match around for a final score of 4-2, taking a well-deserved the three points home.
Santa Venera opened the scoring 21 minutes into the match, when after a misunderstanding between goalkeeper Spiteri and D’Agostino in their own area, ADAM WINGFIELD owned the ball, went past the same goalkeeper, and tapped the ball at the back of the unattended net.
St Venera increase their lead on 60 minutes, when Wileman saw his shot being blocked by goalkeeper Cuschieri, but NATHAN CARUANA’s low shot from the rebound beat the opposing defence.
Zebbug’s impressive comeback started after 63 minutes of play, when from a direct freekick from outside the area, ALAN TABONE took St Venera’s defence by surprise.
Zebbug equalised 15 minutes from time, when MAURIZIO BRITTO took advantage of a misunderstanding amongst the opposing defence and fired home.
They took the lead for the first time in the match 15 minutes from time, when goalkeeper Cuschieri did not hold a shot by Agius, and from the rebound CHARLON SAMMUT tapped the ball home.
Zebbug sealed the match two minutes later, when Spiteri crossed for MAURIZIO BRITTO to beat Cuschieri for the second time with a powerful first-timer.
Zebbug: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica, L. Camilleri, R. Spiteri, M. Farrugia, L. J. Agius, C. Sammut (K. Vella), A. Tabone (J. Agius), D. D’Agostino, M. Britto
St Venera: W. Cuschieri, A. Wingfield (J. Taliana), D. Zammit, E. J. Wileman, R. Borg, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, D. Calleja, L. Desira (J. Zammit), N. Caruana, D. Rapa
Referee: Paul Apap
Mellieha 1
Mgarr 0
Mellieha had a positive start to the season, when they beat Mgarr with the minimal score of 1-0. Mellieha, who have had two very positive consecutive seasons, missing promotion only in the last matches of both seasons, are hoping this season to be finally their turn.
The first chance of the match game after 11 minutes of play, when after fleeing Mellieha’s defence, Abela crossed towards Camilleri, whose shot skimmed the upright.
The only goal of the match came on 35 minutes, when after a good run by Galea through the middle of Mgarr’s defence who passed to Simiana, his shot was temporarily saved by the goalkeeper, but from the rebound GIOVANNI GALEA tapped the ball home.
Mgarr had a good chance at equalising five minutes into the second half, when after a good run by Deguara, Zammit’s header was saved in style by Mellieha’s goalkeeper.
Mgarr had a good chance at saving the match five minutes from time, when after a cross by Said from outside the area, none of the Mgarr forwards rose high enough to head the ball home.
Mellieha: S. Gauci, L. Cauchi, M. Trapani, M. Vella, J. Zammit, D. Cauchi, W. Borg, K. Simiana (R. Cutajar), M. Calleja, G. Galea (M. Farrugia), W. Borg St. John
Mgarr: J. Muscat, A. Aquilina, M. Bugeja, K. Pace, B. Galea, C. Tabone, J. Said, I. Cutajar (Z. Vella), M. Deguara (L. Agius), S. Camilleri (J. P. Zammit), C. Abela
Referee: Jude Ameen Utulu
Gharghur 2
San Gwann 2
Gharghur and San Gwann kicked off the new season last Friday evening, with the encounter between the two resulting in a two-all draw.
Gharghur opened the scoring on the half-hour mark, when from a long-distance freekick by Cacciatolo, MARK GAUCI freed himself of his marker and directed a looping header at the back of the net.
San Gwann were back in the match on 53 minutes, when after a good run, Vella saw his shot being blocked by goalkeeper Carabott, only to have substitute GOZWE PACE tapping the ball home from the rebound.
Gharghur had an immediate reaction two minutes later, when Iliev was fouled in the area by goalkeeper Spiteri, for which the referee awarded a penalty. From the spot, the same STRATI ILIEV did not miss.
With 25 minutes to play, San Gwann manged to equalise for the second time in the match, when form a corner, JAMES BORG’s header took Gharghur’s defence by surprise as it soared to the back of the net.
Gharghur: D. Carabott, K. Galea, G. Fedele (C. Cachia), A. Briffa, S. Iliev, D. Camilleri, C. Cacciatolo (D. Sammut), M. Agius (D. Mamo), M. Gauci., C. Vella
San Gwann: D. Spiteri, G. Agius, B. Sciberras, M. Vassallo, M. Axiak, R. Zammit, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri (G. Pace), P. Xuereb, J. Borg, S. Vella (N. Goodlip)
Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Zurrieq 3
Msida S.J. 1
This was a balanced and keenly contested match in which both teams played well.
Msida were at a disadvantage since they made nearly half of the match playing with 10 players and their effort to beat Zurrieq was not enough.
Zurrieq took the lead on the 25th minute when STEVE AZZOPARDI beat Msida’s goalkeeper John Agius with a rising angled shot.
GLEN BONELLO scored Zurrieq’s second goal on the 41st minute when he took off from the edge of the area to score with a shot from a notable distance.
Msida replied three minutes later when Trevor Templeman’s free kick in the direction of the net found LEE BALDACCHINO who concluded with a header.
On the 61st minute Msida’s Stacey Vella was sent off when he was shown his second yellow card. On the 70th Johan Briffa’s excellent central shot was saved by Agius. Zurrieq made them three on the 77th minute when substitute DARKO STOJANOVIC scored an angled shot in an empty net, thus granting Zurrieq their first three points this season.
Zurrieq: Jeremy Alden, Dino Bonnici, Karl Sacco, Karl Magro, Joseph Lia, Matthew Cocks (Nicolas Abdilla), Johan Briffa, Christopher Farrugia (George Frendo), Sandro Costa Brazilino (Darko Stojanovic), Glen Bonello, Steve Azzopardi
Msida S.J.: John Agius Lesley Cassar, Stacy Vella, Matthew Borda, Trevor Templeman, Fernando D. De Andrade, Richard Attard, Lee Baldacchino, Wayne Buttigieg, Mauro Grioli (Ryan Xuereb), Shawn Magro
Referee: Andre’ Arciola