Marsa-Lija A           0-3

Marsa: K. Brincat, M. Busuttil, S. Eboh (P. Anizoba 59'), R. de Fex Marriaga, M. Gauci, S. Darmanin (R. Gafa 70'), A. Seret, E. Cutajar, N. Micallef, A. Agius, L. Chiedozie.

Lija A: Z. Valletta, J. Cassar, P. Borg, E. Beu, A. Sammut, A. Borg, A. Bello Osagie (K. Kuroki 83'), P. Soares Gusso, R. Sammut (D. Mintoff 65'), A. Azzopardi (N. Bugeja 72').

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Scorers: Abubaker Bello-Osagie 44' 49', Antoine Ellul 92'

Although playing practically the whole encounter with a man less, Lija were still good enough to beat a sorry Marsa side and move to safer waters in the table.

It was a welcome win for Lija who were smarting from two successive defeates, but on the other hand for Marsa this was another setback as they have now only collected two points from their last seven matches.

It was an uphill task for Lija who were down to ten by the twelfth minute when Patrick Borg was off for a foul on Chiedozie who was heading for goal. It was an open contest but Lija forged ahead before the break through Bello Osagie with the same player doubling the score four minutes into the second half.

M arsa never recovered from this double blow and Lija sealed the issue with an Ellul goal in stoppage time.

 

Mqabba-Sirens       1-2

Mqabba: J. Debono, R. da Silva Gomes, I. Curmi, G. Micallef (C. Cutajar), T. Augusto Leite (M. Kayumba), B. Grech (M. Camilleri), C. Vella, D. Azzopardi, F. Gusman, D. Vukovic, L. Suma.

Sirens: M. Montfort, K. Farrugia, R. Mandic, D. Sant, R. Grech, M. Del Negro, M. Antonio Morgon, A. Manuel Bustos, C. Gauci, A. Ige, J. Nwoba (L. Galea).

Referee: Michele Scarpino (San Marino)

Scorers: John Nwoba 45', 60' (S), Rafael Da Silva Gomes 78' (M)

Sirens chalked up their second successive win beating Mqabba by the odd goal in three to move to second place a mere point nehind leaders Santa Lucija.

Vince Carbonaro's side is now in full challenge for the promotion race. The side is playing well, with Nwoba and Adeshina Ige forming a deadly pair in attack, with the former netting both his side's goals on Saturday.

For Mqabba, this defeat, the third one on the trot, leaves them far from the top positions. The side played well against Sirens but the goal just before the break was fundamental for their defeat.

The game was a balanced affair but Nwoba's double before the break and on the hour made the difference.

 

Vittoriosa S-Zejtun C       1-1

Vittoriosa S: C. Cassar, C. Spiteri, R. Previ (J. Pace), K. Degiorgio, L. Casha, G. Sultana, J. Ogonuppe, T. Abela Wilson, P. Papadakis, N. Ojuola, J. Briffa.

Zejun C: G. Zammit, C. Giordemaina, E. Vella, A. Carabott, A. Smeir, J. Castano, D. Albanese, B. Farrugia, N. Tabone, R. Spiteri (J. Sato), G. Azzopardi.

Referee: Ishmael Barbara

Scorers: Johan Castano 45' pen (Z), Joseph Ogunnupe 56' pen (V)

Two penalties, one in each half, decided this keenly contested encounter between two sides that wanted the three points at stake. The result is another huge disappointment for Zejtun who simply cannot make ends meet as they are now in deep relegation trouble.

Zejtun held the edge especially in the first half, in which they showed the better ideas and were unlucky too hitting the upright through Castano. They took a deserved lead on the stroke of half time with Castano scoring from the spot.

However on the resumption Vittoriosa were more aggressive and obtained the equaliser through another penalty on 56 minutes.

Both sides had near misses near the end but the end result was a fair one.

 

Gudja U-Santa Lucija       1-1

Gudja U: F. Tabone, L. Martinelli, J. Bondin, M. Bonnici, M. Attard, F. Aboulezz, S. Diacono, J. Lima Siqueira, J. Farrugia, A. Marshall, R. Kooh Sohna.

Santa Lucija: R. Caruana, M. Caruana, N. Spiteri, J. Usuga, P. Lapira (M. Desira Buttigieg 67'), K. Ante Rosero (I. de rocha Souza 73'), A. Martinelli, B. Paiber, J.P. Teixeira Maia, L. Galea, N. Borg.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Scorers: Jackson Lima 66' (G), Matteo Desira Buttigieg 79' (SL)

For the second consecutive game, league leaders Santa Lucija had to settle for a draw, this time blocked by a stubborn Gudja side. The leaders now have their lead reduced to a mere point, over another surprise promoted side Sirens.

The result was a fair one, in a very tight and keenly contested clash. In the first half both defences were supreme and scoring opportunities were scarce, with Santa Lucija having the better chances in the last portion.

On the resumption play was more flowing and on 66 minutes Gudja broke the deadlock with an impressive Jackson Lima freekick. The league leaders had an effective reaction obtaining the equaliser through Desira Buttigieg eleven minutes from time, and also going close to a winner with a Texeira Maia effort cleared off the goal line and a Souza shot hitting the crossbar.

 

Zebbug R-San Gwann        0-1

Zebbug R: J. Borg, D. Fava, R. Vella, H. Vella, D. Pace, S. Buhagiar, A. Curmi, T. Rodrigo dos Santos, C. Brincat, J. Caetano da Silva, J. Farrugia.

San Gwann: M. Mestrovic, J. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, A. Cachia, A. Borg (A. Abela 88'), G. Zammit, C. Gauci, K. Gatt, J. Tanti (K. Bailey 90'), P. Kanzurov (N. Abouhaisa 75'), No Melo Ferreira.

Referee: Timothy Frank Reoch (Gibraltar)

Scorer: Petar Kanzurov 38'

San Gwann finally obtained their first victory of the season beating Zebbug by a solitary first half goal. It was a rather scrappy game at times, with the goal scored by San Gwann in the first half, practically being the only attempt at goal.

This goal came on 37 minutes when a Kanzurov deflected shot completely deceived the Zebbug custodian.

As expected Zebbug surged forward in the second half, but they coul not find a way past a well organised San Gwann rearguard. Zebbug intensified their pressure in the final part of the game, risking to suffer a second goal in San Gwann's breaks.

However the score remained unchanged as San Gwann had finally something to cheer about.