Pembroke A 1
Vittoriosa S 1
Pembroke wasted several scoring opportunities especially in the first half, and finally had to recover in the second half to settle for a draw.
The result still leaves Pembroke in relegation trouble as they still need some points in their last four matches to put their minds at rest.
Pembroke should have scored as early as the fifth minute but Yanis Tonna missed from an ideal position.
After several other near misses from Pembroke through Misan, Priso and Triganza, Vittoriosa took the lead against the run of play Jo Jo Opunuppe ran to along ball from midfield, dribbled past the goalkeeper before putting at the back of the net.
Five minutes into the second half Pembroke surged forward and after only five minutes missed a sitter in fron of goal after an inviting pass from Doding Priso.
On 71 minutes Pembroke obtained a deserved eqauliser when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza was again put through by Priso, and this time the Pembroke striker made no mistake.
Pembroke A: K. Gerada, A. Hili, N. Grech (T. Grech 79 min), M.A. Borg, C. Alves De Souza, D. Cachia, M. Mifsud, I. Misan, D. Priso (A. Gilloga 88 min), J.P. Mifsud Triganza, Y. Tonna (Z. Grech 46 min)
Vittoriosa S: K. Magri, T. Arakawa, A. Farrugia, F. Arriagada Mella (O. Obiefule 79 min), T. Abela Wilson, K. Degiorgio, L. Gauci (L. Baldacchino 73 min), C. Spiteri, D. Fava, J. Ogunuppe, I. Abela.
Referee: Mario Apap
Zebbug see off Qrendi with two late goals
Qrendi 0
Zebbug R 2
Zebbug scored two goals in the last ten minutes of the game to beat Qrendi and return to winning ways. Zebbug can still be considered with an outside chance of making it to the Premier even though the last results dented much of their aspirations.
The match was a balanced affair with Qrendi showing better ideas especiually in the first half. Qrendi’s first attempt came on 24 minutes with a Dylan Zarb header just missing the target and on 33 minutes a Mark Barbara grounder went inches wide. Just before the break Zebbug went close with efforts from Clifford Gauci and Arilson Mello da Silva just missing the target.
Five minutes from the restart Zebbug were again close to take the lead but Kurt Zammit’s shot missed the upright by a whisker, and on the other end a Kenneth Abela header was well saved by Farrugia.
On 71 minutes Qrendi were unlucky when a Nakamura scorher slammed against the crossbar. Nine minutes from time Zebbug broke the deadlock when Gary Camilleri headed home from close range to make amends for the two own goals netted in Zebbug’s last outing.
On 88 minutes Zebbug sealed the issue when Larson Mallia’s drive was partially blocked by Azzopardi and from the rebound Leighton Grech drilled the ball home.
Qrendi: J. Azzopardi, M. Farrugia, D. Santos da Hora (J. Sousa Martins da Silva 75 min), Z. Bowman, L. Scorfna, E. Amaira, M. Barbara, D. Zarb (T. D’Amato 77 min), S. Nakamura (P. Mrvic 86 min), K. Abela, D. Martini.
Żebbuġ R: J. Farrugia, G. Camilleri, S. Schembri, M. Bonnici, R. da Silva Gomes, C. Gauci, A. Curmi, K. Zammit (W. Camilleri 90 min), L. Mallia, A. Mello da Silva (T. Hili 88 min), L. Grech.
Referee: Alex Johnson
Qormi move closer to promotion
Qormi 2
Melita 1
Qormi stayed firmly at the top of the standings beating lowly Melita by the odd goal in three.
Qormi obtained their victory after a first half scare in which Melita took the lead. With this victory Qormi moved closer to promotion to the elite of local football and on the other hand this defeat puts Melita in further trouble.
To be fair Melita displayed one of the their best recent performances and took the lead on 25 minutes when Fabian Lufi headed home past Azzopardi following a Nicholas Bradshaw freekick.
On 32 minutes Melita almost doubled the score when Jamie Azzopardi saved his side with a brilliant side off Luke Micallef shot.
On the resumption Qormi went on te rampage and obtained the equaliser when Alan Abela headed home from a corner action.
Two minutes later Qormi took the lead when from a Salaroli corner, Michael Camilleri scored what proved to be the winner.
Qormi missed an easy chance to score a third minutes later but Gusman fired over the bar from a Yannick Yankam pass.
Eleven minutes from time Melita were reduced to ten men when Fabian Lufi received a second booking.
Qormi: J. Azzopardi, N. Ghio (I. Zammit 65 min) , C. Matombo (J. Salaroli 46 min), Y. Yankam, B. Grech, J. Caetano da Silva, A. Abela, I. Micallef (C. Vella 46 min), D. Vukovic, T. Gusman, M. Camilleri.
Melita: N. Grima, M. Galea (M. Cassar 58 min), F. Lufi, D. Cutajar, R. Parrado, E. Cornago, T. Singleton, J.P. Attard, L. Micallef, A. Borg Olivier (K. Mohnani 75 min), N. Bradshaw.
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Zejtun move third with yet another victory
Zabbar SP 1
Zejtun C 4
Zejtun continued with their surge towards the top positions with yet another win, this time over relegation worried Zabbar.
It was another solid display from Zejtun who with this victory have joined Mqabba in third position in ther standings, two points behimnd second placed Pieta, and two points above the ever surprising San Gwann.
For Zabbar another disappointing result, but once again Alfred Attard’s boys gave another spirited display, but at the end they were soundly beaten.
With four matches remaining Zejtun can be considered as one of the main favourites for promotion, being the most in form side from the leading pack.
Zejtun went all out for an early goal and took an immediate lead after only four minutes play when Yessous Camilleri passed towards Johan Alberto Castano who from an acute angle fired a fierce drive that finished in the top corner of the net.
But Zejtun’s joy was shortlived as three minutes later Zabbar were back on level terms.
On a Shalon Diacono freekick, Zejtun goalkeeper Zarb completely missed his sortie and Gaetano Adamo was on hand to head the ball home.
Zejtiun however were not dishearetd by this setback and on 38 minutes were back in front when Andrea Scozzese scored from close range.
In the second half Zejtun continued to hold the upper hand and scored a third on 71 minutes through Castano.
Ten minutes from time El Hussieny scored the fourth with a shot from the edge of the area.
Żabbar: J. Grech; C, Camilleri, G.Adamo (J. Debono), S. Pace Briffa, C. Magro, K. Sacco, S. Diacono (G. Tabone), A. Azzopardi (K. Borg), K. Cutjar, D. Pace, N.L. Silva Canas
Żejtun: D. Zarb, A. Carabott (K. Spagnol), N. Tabone, E. Vella, J. Castano (S. Nanapere), D. Albanese, R. Dalli, K. Buttigieg, A. Smeir, A. Scozzese (O. Elhussieny), Y. Camilleri
Referee: Glenn Tonna