Zabbar SP 2
San Gwann 4
San Gwann beat Zabbar 4-2 after completely dominating their opponents in the second half after a balanced and keenly contested first fourty five minutes. Sergio Hili was San Gwann’s best, scoring a brace and winning the penalty that gave San Gwann a third lead in the second half, a lead that pushed them to their fifth successive victory.
For Zabbar a disappointing result that leaves hovering dangerously above the relegation zone, but yesterday it was not one of the best performances by Alfred Attard’s side, with too many mishaps in defence.
San Gwann took the lead in their first attack on eight minutes when Godwin Henshaw took full advantage of a defensive mishap between goalkeeper Grech and central defender Pulis, taking possession of the ball and placing it at the back of the net.
Zabbar went in search for an immediate equaliser and managed to put the ball at the back of the net but Silva Canas was in an offside position. On 13 minutes San gwann increased thei lead when Sergio Hili was left completely unmarked inside the Zabbar penalty area, and the striker mad no mistake with a low drive that finished in the far corner.
On 27 minutes Zabbar were back in business when Kurt Borg’s cross from the right towards the unmarked Silva Canas was voluntarily handled by Ryan Zammit and from the resultant penalty the same Kurt Borg made no mistake with a low drive.
Eight minutes later Zabbar were back on level terms when a Christian Stewart harmless effort from the edge of the area was fumbled by goalkeeper Bartolo with the ball finishing incredibly at the back of the net. Just before the break San Gwann went close again with a Kyle Gatt shot skimming the crossbar.
On the resumption, San Gwann created the first danger with a Sergio Hili solo run and a fierce drive that was brilliantly saved by Grech. San gwann dictated matters in this second half an deservedly took the lead on 67 minutes when Sergio Hili was floored by goalkeeper Grech and from the penalty spot Mario Arieta Suarez made no mistake with a low drive.
Two minutes later San Gwann were denied by a Grech save off Henshaw, with the same goalkeeper saving another effort from Sergio Hili. On 78 minutes San Gwann sealed the issue with a fourth goal. Gatt passed towards Henshaw who rounded the goalkeeper before passing towards Sergio Hili who easily slotted home in an empty net.
Two minutes later San Gwann went close a fifth goal with a Henshaw header saved by grech with the ball finishing against the crossbar.
Żabbar SP: J. Grech, K. Borg (M. Micallef 80 min), A. Pulis, C. Magro, K. Sacco (K. Cutajar 46 min), C. Camilleri, D. Pace (A. Azzopardi 76 min), C. Stewart, N. Silva Canas, S. Diacono, S. Cesare.
San Gwann: E. Bartolo, M. Arieta Suarez (A. Cachia 72 min), C. Gauci, A. Borg, D. Fenech (S. Ogundare 82 min), G. Henshaw, J. Azzopardi, K. Gatt, S. Hili (G. Pace 86 min), R. Zammit, T. Lopes De Souza.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Rabat A 0
Qormi 2
League leaders Qormi were made to work hard more than expected from bottom of the table side Rabat.
Qormi had to wait till the second half to take the lead and till practically the final whistle to kill the game with a second goal.
Qormi thus moved closer to promotion as they re-established their six-point cushion over Mqabba and Pieta who grabbed the three points on Friday.
Qormi were rather dull in the first half with the wooden spoonists showing the better ideas.
On eleven minutes ex-Rabat goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi saved the day when he denied Wayne Borg.
Rabat were also unlucky on 38 minutes when the inspired Wayne Borg hit the crossbar with a fierce drive from the edge of the area and from the rebound Aidan Azzopardi’s header went slightly over the bar.
It was a different story in the second half as Qormi were more aggressive and went in search of an opener.
In the opening stages Qormi had several attempts at goal but the Rabat custodian denied Yankam, Saliroli and Matombo.
On the hour Vella denied Qormi striker Chris Vella with another good save, but three minutes later Qormi finally broke the deadlock.
Chris Matombo passed towards Tensior Guzman who in turn released substitute Luke Busuttil who slotted home.
Qormi continued to insist in attack with Vella again outstanding on Guzman and Dejan Vukovic.
Two minutes from time Rabat almost drew level with a Shaun Gauci shot well saved by Azzopardi and on 90 minutes Qormi put the game to bed when another substitute, Shamison Zammit beat Vella with a grounder.
Rabat A: J.M. Vella, J. Caruana, N. Ciantar, S. Gauci, Z. Tanti, L. Vella, S. Abela (M. Scicluna 85 min), N. Attard, A. Azzopardi (L. Cauchi 67 min), W. Borg, G. Bugeja.
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, A. Abela, A. Cassar, N. Ghio, B. Grech, T. Guzman (S. Zammit 88 min), C. Matombo, J. Salaroli (I. Zammit 72 min), C. Vella (L. Busuttil 55 min), D. Vukovic, Y. Yankam.
Referee: Darko Stankovic