Mqabba 2
Marsa 1
A last gasp header from league top scorer Paul Chimezie was enough to put Mqabba back on winning track against relegation troubled Marsa. The match was keenly contested and Marsa deserved to gain a point from this match.
In fact after obtaining the equaliser through Mijic early in the second half, Marsa pleyed the better football but were dealt the fatal blow two minutes from time.
The first half was a balanced affair with Marsa giving their opponents a hard time. Mqabba were still smarting from their shock defeat against San Gwann in mid-week, and on the other hand Marsa were brimming with confidence after their victory against Zabbar.
Marsa had the first attempts in the opening fifteen minutes with shoths from Paul Lapira and Mijic going wide. On the other end Trebovac tested Micallef. In the last quarter of an hour of the first half Mqabba showed some superiority and the Marsa custodian made a great save off a Trebovac grounder.
From the resultant corner Mqabba took the lead when Brandon Muscat’s shot came in Gesualdi’s path who controlled the ball before firing low into the net. Marsa made an immediate reaction with Platisa hitting wide after beating a couple of defenders and on 42 minutes a Lapira drive went wide.
On the resumption Mqabba went on the attack, but Marsa quickly took control and with the introduction of De Fex Marriaga they pushed forward for the equaliser. They obtained it on 55 minutes when Luka Mijic headed home a De Fex Marriaga corner.
Marsa were now playing better and almost took the lead on 70 minutes when Lapira passed towards the unmarked Mijic who was denied by a desperate Debono sortie. Two minutes from time however Mqabba scored the winner when Ojoula headed towards Paul Chimezie on the far post and the Mqabba top scorer made mistake with another header.
Mqabba: J. Debono, L. Vella Critien (G. Micallef 46 min), R. Tanti, N. Ojoula, G. Gesualdi, M. Borg, B. Muscat, K. Cutajar, P. Chimezie, L. Micallef (M. Ciantar 73 min), T. Trebovac (A. Saindou Ahamad 62 min).
Marsa: S. Micallef, E. Grech (D. Pirotta 55 min), N. Micallef, M. Busuttil, V. Stanic, A. Caruana, J. Farrugia (R. Mercieca 80 min), M. Camilleri, P. Lapira, M. Platisa (R. De Fex Marriaga 55 min), L. Mijic.
Referee: Alex Johnson
Qrendi claim it in second half
Rabat A 0
Qrendi 2
Qrendi scored two goals in the second half to chalk up its sixth victory of the season.
Against the bottom of the table side Qrendi were worthy winners even though their performance never reached high standards.
In the first half Qrendi had their best chance on 25 minutes when a Kenneth Abela header beat goalkeeper Vella but defender Dylan Falzon blocked on the goal line.
In the second half Qrendi were more determined and took the lead after two minutes when Emerson Amaira headed home following a corner action.
Rabat had some opportunities, the best of which Through Nicolai Attard who was blocked in time by the goalkeeper.
Qrendi however always had the edge and Dasser Sammut had a good effort blocked by the goalkeeper.
However Qrendi had to wait till tje 90 th minute to seal the issue with a second goal when substitute Aaron Agius crossed towards other substitute Souza Martins Da Silva who slotted home.
Rabat A: J.M. Vella, N. Attard (L. Farrugia 88 min), J. Caruana, S. Gauci (M. Scicluna 57 min), S. Abela, G. Bugeja, A. Azzopardi, W. Borg, N. Ciantar, D. Falzon, Z. Tanti (K. Camilleri 88 min).
Qrendi: J. Azzopardi, M. Farrugia, D. Santos Da Hora (J. Souza Martins Da Silva 72 min), Z. Bowman, D. Sammut, L. Scorfna, E. Amaira, M. Barbara (T. D’Amato 89 min), S. Nakamura (A. Agius 68 min), K. Abela, D. Martini
Referee: Mario Apap
Two late own goals wipe out Zebbug’s hopes
Zebbug R 0
Vittoriosa S 2
Two late own goals scored by the same player Gary Camilleri were fatal for Zebbug Rangers as they were defeated by Vittoriosa Stars. The defeat practically wipes out Zebbug’s residual hopes of fighting for at least the thitd place in the standings.
The match was a balanced affair with Vittoriosa having more scoring opportunities, and in the end they were rewarded with two gift goals.
Zebbug did the early running and had two good scoring opportunities inside the first ten minutes through Arilson Mello da Silva and Larson Mallia. On 13 minutes Vittoriosa went close with a Duncan Pisani header, with the same player going close again seven minutes later.
On 29 minutes Vittoriosa went close again with a good run from Ogunuppe on the right with his cross serving Duncan Pisani whose point blank effort was brilliantly saved by Jeffrey Farrugia.
On 36 minutes Vittoriosa came close again with a personal move by Francesco Arriagada Mella who had his final shot saved by Farrugia.
Both teams continued to play offensive football on the resumption with Vittoriosa missing a sitter on 72 minutes when Ogunuppe failed to score after an impressive run. Eight minutes from time Vittoriosa forged ahead when Gary Camilleri put at the back of his own net in an attempt to intercept a dangerous Duncan Pisani cross.
In stoppage time Zebbug were reduced to ten men when Francesco Gusman was shown a second yellow card and just before the final whistle Vittoriosa doubled the score with yet another own goal again scored by Gary Camilleri.
Żebbuġ R: J. Farrugia, G. Camilleri, S. Schembri, M. Bonnici, F. Guzman, R. da Silva Gomes, C. Gauci, A. Curmi (R. Micallef 64 min), K. Zammit (L. Gatt 83 min), L. Mallia, A. Mello da Silva.
Vittoriosa S: K. Magri, D. Pisani, C. Spiteri, D. Fava, I. Abela, T. Arakawa, A. Farrugia, K. Degiorgio, J. Ogonuppe, D. Tabone (L. Gauci 56 min), F. Arriagada Mella (J. Pace 83 min).
Referee: Ishmael Barbara
Impressive San Gwann make it seven in a row
Pieta H 1
San Gwann 3
San Gwann are now surely the team of the moment. Yesterday’s victory agaiunst second placed Pieta was their seventh consecutive victory, and it came just four days after yet another stunning victory against other promotion contenders Mqabba.
San Gwann are now in the promotion race, a mere four points behind Pieta and Mqabba who remain in second place.
For Pieta it was a missed golden opportunity to retain the three point lead over Mqabba.
Pieta however had a good start and took the lead on 22 minutes when when Lawrence Chiedozie hit home with a low drive.
San Gwann went for an immediate but had to wait till the 38 th minute to obtain the equaliser when Godwin Henshaw dribbled past a defender in the heart of the Pieta penalty area, before hitting home with a fierce drive.
Two minutes into the second half San Gwann took the lead when when Mario Arieta Suarez shot home from close range following a Hili cross from the right.
The game was now an open contest with both sides missing golden opportunites in fron of goal.
On 73 minutes San Gwann sealed the issue with a third goal when Kyle Gatt beat Montfort with a low drive.
Pieta H: M. Montfort, A. White, G. Mensah, C. Grech, J. Irimiya (J.M. Artiaga 64 min), Q. Bregman (C. Gauci 80 min), D. Agius, N. Pace Cocks, L. Chiedozie, J. Busuttil, T. Bartolo.
San Gwann: E. Bartolo, S. Hili (J. Bowman 90 min), G. Henshaw, R. Zammit, M. Arieta Suarez (S. Ogundare 86 min), T. Lopes de Souza, K. Gatt, J. Azzopardi, A. Borg, A. Cachia (A. Abela 90 min), C. Gauci.
Referee: Clayton Pisani