Mqabba-Vittoriosa S. 0-0
Mqabba: J. Debono, R. Da Silva Gomes, L. Mallia, D. Vukovic, G. Micallef (W. Borg 67'), B. Grech, C. Vella, D. Azzopardi, F. Gusman, M. Kayumba (T. A. Leite 78'), L. Suma.
Vittoriosa S: C. Cassar, C. Spiteri (D. Tabone 37'), K. Degiorgio, G. Sultana (T. Abela Wilson 82'), J. Ogunnupe, A. Cilia Mumford (J.C. Cesare 88'), J. Briffa, J. Pace, R. Previ, N. Ojuola, M. De Souza Diaz.
Referee: Darryl Agius
Mqabba and Vittoriosa fired blanks yesterday evening in a drab affair which only came to life in the second half when Mqabba increased the pressure but to no avail.
In the second half Mqabba were more menacing with striker Lamim Suma having two shots going over the bar from an ideal position. Mqabba almost scored on 66 minutes when a Chris Vella effort was cleared off the goal line by Jesmar Briffa with goalkeeper Cassar beaten.
Thirteen minutes from time Vittoriosa were reduced to ten men when De Souza Diaz was shown a second yellow card for a simulation inside the Mqabba penalty area. Mqabba pushed forward in the remaining minutes but the Stars defended well to earn a deserved point.
San Gwann-Swieqi 1-3
San Ġwann: A. Camilleri, K. Bailey (J.N. Azzopardi 85’), J. Azzopardi, J. Bowman (N. Abouhaisa 78’), R. Zammit, A. Cachia, A. Borg (P. Kanzurov 85’), K. Gatt, J. Tanti, N. Melo Ferreira, G. Henshaw.
Swieqi U: J.C. Debattista, K. Muscat, J. Cassar, L. Scicluna (G. Bugeja 76’), K. Sultana, D. Borg, V. Olowoyo Kayode, S. Bugeja, I. Margarit (K. Ekezye 55’), J. Scerri (M. Vella 55’), T. Ayorinde.
Referee: Daniel Portelli
Swieqi United had a dream debut yesterday in their first ever appearance in Division One, beating San Gwann 3-1 with their hero Mirco Vella who was introduced as a substitute early in the second half, scoring Swieqi’s three goals.
San Gwann had showed the better ideas especially in the first half with Bailey going close with a header, and with Jan Tanti hitting the crossbar from a freekick.
Pon the resumption the game was more balanced even though San Gwann still held a slight edge over their opponents. However on 77 minutes substitute Mirco Vella scored a stunner from the edge of the area to break the deadlock.
Until San gwann what was happening theyr were 2-0 down as Mirco Vella struck again, this time luck was on his side with his deflected shot deceiving Camilleri. San Gwann were back in business four minutes from time when Kyle Gatt headed home a Jan Tanti freekick.
In the remnaing minutes both team were down to ten with Swieqi’s Kristian Sultana and San Gwann’s Ryan Zammit being sent off. On 97 minutes Mirco Vella sealed the issue with his third goal, another great goal direct from a a freekick.