Dingli S 1

Mqabba 0

Dingli Swallows registered their first win of the season beating Mqabba with a Senior David header eight minutes from time.

The match was very balanced but Dingli had more of the ball and had more scoring opportunities, missing some sitters in the process.

On the other hand Mqabba are themselves in search of their first victory, and were unlucky in the second half when they hit the crossbar from a freekick.

Mqabba dominated the first minutes of the match and went close with an Anizoba header that was saved by Farrugia, and a Spasov shot that slightly missed the base of the upright.

Dingli hit back with a Leontiev Konda freekick that missed the upright. Dingli were now playing better and Reuben Vella passed towards David whose angled shot missed the base of the upright by a whisker.

On 33 minutes Leontiev Konda did everything well when he dribbled past two defenders, but all alone in front of Calleja shot miserably and the Mqabba custodian could easily save. On 34 minutes Senior David dribbled past goalkeeper Calleja, dribbled past defender Bonnici but was blocked in time by Azzopardi when attempting to shoot at goal.

Dingli continued to push forward and Calleja saved a close range header by Senior David. In the dying minutes of the first half Dingli missed another good opportunity when Leontiev Konda anticipated Calleja but failed to hit the ball home.

On the resumption Mqabba made two changes with Mark Anthony Psaila and Abeeb Psaila coming in for Camoin and Spasov. But Dingli still kept the upper hand and Senior David again dribbled past Calleja but yet again he failed to score from an angle with an open goal at his mercy.

On 65 minutes a David Azzopardi freekick was deflected by the Dingli defensive wall, but Farrugia managed to block the shot. On the other end Calleja saved a shot on the turn by Rio Micallef.

On 71 minutes mqabba had a fast break with Lattes passing to Anizoba who hesitated in front of goal and his effort was saved by Farrugia.

Four minutes later Calleja saved a David grounder and on the other end Mqabba were unlucky when a Clayton Micallef freekick slammed against the crossbar. From the resultant corner Williams failed to connect in front of goal.

Eight minutes from time Dingli scored the winner when Senior David anticipated Kris Calleja who completely mistimed his sortie and the Nigerian striker headed the ball home.

Mqabba pushed everything forward in the dying minutes but failed to save the match even though they went close in stoppage time when Anizoba had a goal disallowed.

Dingli S: J. Farrugia, R. Briffa, L. Konda, R. Vella (A. Portelli 85 min), K. Formosa, S. David, B. Guga, E. Muscat (R. Micallef 60 min), E. Farrugia, E. Grech, L. Micallef (F. Cauchi 89min).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, J. Anegbe, A. Caligari, D. Azzopardi, C. Camoin (M.A. Psaila 46 min), S. Spasov (A. Williams 46 min), M. Bonnici, C. Micallef, P. Anizoba, E. Lattes.

Referee: Philip Farrugia