Pieta H 2
Sirens 0
Inspired by a polished display from starlet Jan Busuttil, Pieta overcame the stiff challenge offered by Sirens to bounce to second place and maintain the promotion challenge. Pieta were worthy winners displaying some good flowing football in the process.
As expected Pieta took control of the match in the opening stages and had an Artiaga header saved by Marmara. The same Sirens custodian blocked a Neil Pace Cocks drive on 15 minutes. Pieta ere unlucky on 19 minutes when a Dylan Agius scorcher smashed against the crossbar.
On 24 minutes Sirens jhad their first attempt at goal when a Ryan Previ header was blocked on the goal line by Grech and from the rebound Azzopardi fired over the bar from an ideal position.
On 27 minutes Pieta took the lead when Jan Busuttil dribbled his way inside the penalty area to beat Marmara with a low drive. Sirens had a good reaction and near the end of the first half went close with efforts from Daniel Agius going slightly over the bar.
Seven minutes into the second half Pieta doubled the score when Busuttil passed towards Gabriel Mensah who shot home from an acute angle with a low drive. Sirens tried to get back in the game but Pieta easily controlled the match and even had some scoring opportunities in their breaks.
Pieta H: J. Chircop St.John, T. Bartolo, C. Degabriele (S. Bartolo 89 min), A. Mizzi, G. Mensah, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius, J. Ihaya Irimiya (A. White 84 min), C. Grech, J. Busuttil (N. Pisani 89 min), J.M. Artiaga.
Sirens: R. Marmara, D. Sant, R. Previ, B. Kremenovic, L. Zammit, I. Curmi (J. Zammit 75 min), J.N. Azzopardi, E. Goodman, K. Etim (E. Fieromosca 64 min), D. Agius, M. Micallef.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Melita closer to relegation as they fail to beat ten-man Vittoriosa
Melita 2
Vittoriosa S 2
A last gasp equaliser saved Melita yesterday against ten-man Vittoriosa, but with this result Melita moved closer to the big drop to second Division football next season. Melita needed badly the three points at stake, but failed miserably against a gallant Vittoriosa side, and now the Amateurs need a sporting miracle to survive.
Melita took the lead after only nine minutes play when Luke Micallef and Jean Pierre Attard combined well with the latter hitting home from close range. Minutes later Vittoriosa went close with Liam Gauci anticipated by the gaolkeeper.
On 16 minutes Vittoriosa obtained the equaliser when Arakawa crossed towards Ogunuppe who failed to connect, but Liam Gauci was on hand to fire home. For the rest of the first half the match was a balanced affair but scoring actions were practically nil.
Eleven minutes into the second half Vittoriosa were down to ten men when Andre Farrugia was shown a second yellow card. However Melita failed to capitalise and Vittoriosa continued to dictate, creating the better scoring chances.
On 89 minutes Vittoriosa forged ahead when Jo Jo Ogunuppe shot home from close range. Melita pushed desperately forward and managed to obtain at least an equaliser deep in stoppage time when Emilio Cornago found the back of the net with a grounder from close range.
Melita: N. Grima, M. Galea, J. Abela, A. Mizzi, R. Parrado, E. Cornago, T. Singleton, J.P. Attard, L. Micallef, M. Russo (L. Mifsud 81 min), N. Bradshaw (A. Borg Olivier 46 min).
Vittoriosa S: D. Galea, C. Spiteri, A. Farrugia, D. Fava, I. Abela, K. Degiorgio, T. Abela Wilson, T. Arakawa, J. Ogonuppe, F. Arriagada Mella (E. Mbong 75 min), L. Gauci (J. Pace 62 min).
Referee: Jude Ameen Utulu
Marsa recover to grab decisive victory
Rabat A 2
Marsa 4
Marsa were made to fight hard by already relegated side Rabat Ajax in an exciting match, with the Redblues finally emerging winners to grab three points that could prove to be decisive for Marsa in their fight against relegation.
Marsa have now moved a point above Zabbar and opened a six-point gap over second from bottom side Melita.
Marsa were obliged to win this game and after only nine minutes they took the lead when Mark Gauci fired home a precise grounder. Marsa continued to attack and Lapira was denied by a fine Zammit save.
But on 16 minutes Rabat drew level when Aidan azzopardi finished off a Luke Cauchi cross.
On the resumption Rabat stunned their opponents when Larens vella was tripped inside the area and from the resultant penalty Joseph Caruana made no mistake. But Marsa's shock lasted only five minutes as they drew level on 53 minutes when Mark gauci scored a beauty from the edge of the area.
Marsa were now all over their opponents in search of a awinner and on 61 minutes they regained the lead when substitute Dylan Pirotta scored with a grounder. On 73 minutes Marsa put the issue beyond doubt when Dylan Pirotta was tripped by Falzon and from the resultant penalty Luka Mijic put the game to bed.
Rabat A: A. Zammit, N. Attard, J. Caruana, D. Falzon, S. Abela, S. Gauci, A. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti, N. Ciantar (K. Camilleri 80 min), L. Cauchi, L. Vella.
Marsa: W. Galea, E. Grech (D. Pirotta 46 min), N. Micallef, A. Caruana, V. Stanic, J. Farrugia, M. Camilleri, M. Gauci, R. de Fex Marriaga (M. Platisa 85 min), P. Lapira (R. Mercieca 69 min), L. Mijic.
Referee: Clayton Pisani