Qrendi hit six past San Gwann
Qrendi-San Gwann 6-3
Qrendi: J. Farrugia, D. Micallef, B. Bondin, C. Caruana (D. Zarb 60'), N. Falzon, R. Dalli (D. Sammut 16'), Z. Bowman, J. Spiteri, J.P. Da Silva Vargas, C. Quaranta (M. Reid 66'), J. Silveira Da Silva.
San Gwann: A. Camilleri, K. Bailey, J. Azzopardi (J.P. Attard 55'), J.N. Azzopardi (J. Bowman 73'), R. Zammit, A. Cachia, A. Borg, R. Rodrigues Ledesma (P. Kunzarov 55'), K. Gatt, J. Tanti, G. Henshaw.
Referee: Mario Apap
Scorers: Dasser Sammut 17' (Q), R.P. Rodrigues Ledesma 30' (SG), Christian Caruana 38' (Q), Joao Pedro Da Silva Vargas 43' (Q), Ciro Quaranta 45', 50' (Q), Godwin Henshaw 65' pen (SG), Jan Tanti 67' (SG), Marlon Reid 72' (Q)
Qrendi put up an impressive display yesterday to hit six past bottom of the table side San Gwann in a rather spectaculkar game with some breath taking goals.
For San Gwann this was the fourth consecutive defeat in as many matches as they remain firmly at the bottom of the table. Their defensive set up yesterday left much to be desired as Qrendi gave a five star performance.
Da Silva Silveira and Christian Caruna were outstanding for Qrendi, with Italian import Ciro Quaranta scoring two spectacular goals apart from showing some neat touches during the match. Qrendi are showing remarkeable improvement over their first outings and will surely be a hard nut to crack.
Santa Lucija stay on top
Santa Lucija-Naxxar L 4-1
Santa Luċija: R. Caruana, M. Caruana, N. Spiteri, J. Usuga, K. Ante Rosero, J. Magri Overend (A. Martinelli 79'), B. Paiber, P. Teixeira Maia (M. Desira Buttigieg 82'), L. Galea, K. Camilleri, N. Borg (P. Lapira 66').
Naxxar L: S. Micallef, M. Fenech, M. Mifsud (G. Grima 81'), J. Debono, D. Bonnici, R. Cassar, J. Ellul (R. Mercieca 22'), A. Buhagiar, D. Belhadj, S. Meilak, M. Belhadj (J. Grech 84').
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Scorers: Jean Patrick Teixeira Maia 9' pen, 77' (SL), Brandon Paiber 19' (SL), Jurgen Debono 70' (N), Kevin Ante Rosero 75' (SL)
Santa Lucija stayed on top of the standing with another impressive display of attacking football, inflicting the first defeat of the season on Naxxar Lions.
Steve D'Amato's side was handicapped early in the game when Angus Buhagiar was sent off in the penaly action on nine minutes, a penalty that led to Santa Lucija's lead.
Santa Lucija never looked back after this lead, even though ten men Naxxar never threw in the towel, even missing a penalty before the end of the first half.
Half way through the second half the Lions pulled one back, and shortly afterwards even Santa Lucija were dwon to ten men, but the league leaders sealed the issue with two late goals, with Teixeira Maia again in the spotlight.
Mqabba's best not enough
Lija A-Mqabba 1-1
Lija A: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar, L. Muscat (P. Borg), D. Scerri, E. Beu, A. Sammut, A. Borg, P. Soares Gusso, A. Azzopardi (D. Mintoff), A. Galea (L.J. Schembri), K. Kuroki.
Mqabba: J. Debono, R. Da Silva Gomes, L. Mallia, D. Vukovic, T. Leite (G. Micallef), B. Grech, W. Borg, C. Vella, D. Azzopardi, F. Gusman, L. Suma.
Referee: Emanuel Grech
Scorers: Erjon Beu 9' (L), Lamin Suma 46' (M)
Mqabba arguably produced their best performance of the season, but in the end they failed to beat Lija and had to settle for a draw.
It was another interesting encounter with Lija taking an early lead with a majestic freekick scored by their best player Erjon Beu. This goal upset Mqabba's plans and Lija had their best patch even having some opportunities to double the score.
But it was Mqabba's match in the second part of the first half and especially in the second fourty five minutes. Mqabba obtained a deserved equaliser at the start of the second half with a well taken goal by Suma, and then took full control of the match, pushing Lija in their own penalty area but to no avail.
Zebbug claim first win
Vittoriosa S-Zebbug R 1-2
Vittoriosa S: J. Pisani, R. Previ, K. Degiorgio, J. Ogonuppe, J. Briffa, J. Pace (A. Cilia Mumford 21'), N. Ojuola, J.C. Galea, M. de Souza Dias (E. Mbong 85'), D. Tabone (J.C. Cesare 81'), T. Abela Wilson.
Żebbuġ R: J. Borg, D. Fava, S. Schembri, R. Vella, H. Vella, S. Buhagiar (N. Lahrach 59'), A. Curmi, T. Rodrigo (K. Tanti 90'), C. Brincat, J. Caetano da Silva, R. Micallef (J. Farrugia 78').
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Two goals from striker Ryan Micallef, one in each half, gave Zebbug rangers their first win of the season and infliocted the first defeat on Vittoriosa. It was a keenly contested affair but Micallef's brace finally tilted the balance in favour of the Yellow-Greens.
Zebbug took an early ninth minute lead when Ryan Micallef scored from an acute angle, and Vittoriosa took some time to settle down.
However in the second period Vittoriosa were more determined and aggressive and levelled matters on 47 minutes with an Ojuola header.
Half way through the second half Zebbug scored what proved to be the winner when Ryan Micallef did all the running, rounded the goalkeeper and planted the ball at the back of the net.
Pembroke make it two in a row
Marsa-Pembroke A 1-3
Marsa: A. Roppas, S. Darmanin (E. Bonello 28'), M. Busuttil, R. De Fex Marriaga, M. Gauci, C. Cassar, E. Cutajar, W. Chircop (L. Friggieri 77'), N. Micallef, A. Agius, L. Chiedozie (N. Mocyk 56')
Pembroke A: A. Chetcuti, M. Focsa, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, Z. Grech, M. Da Rosa Wilmsen (C. Psaila 92'), D. Cachia, A. Hili, N. Grech, M.A. Borg, Y. Tonna (T. Fenech 77'), G. Claudio Da Silva (I. Misan 69')
Referee: Stefan Pace
Scorers: Yanis Tonna 41', 56' (P), Mark Gauci 45' (M), Igor Misan 75' (M)
Pembroke made it two in a row yesterday beating Marsa 3-1, four days after their derby victory against Swieqi United.
It was a well deserved victory for Pembroke against a never say die Marsa side, who gave their all yesterday but had to bow out empty handed. Pembroke showed the better ideas with Yanis Tonna in top shape, scoreing two well taken goals that paved the way for Pembroke's victory.
Marsa were unlucky not to forge ahead in the first half when Chiedozie rattled the crossbar, with the same player unfortuanately for the Red Blues, limping off early in the second half.