Santa Lucia-Vittoriosa S                 0-0

Santa Lucia: R. Caruana, C. Babilonia, M. Caruana, N. Spiteri, M. Desira Buttigieg (N. Borg 69'), J. Suda, K. Ante Rosero (I. De Rocha Souza 63'), B. Paiber, P. Teixeira Maia (W. Ibarra Martinez 85'), L. Galea, K. Camilleri.

Vittoriosa S: C. Cassar, C. Spiteri, R. Previ, K. Degiorgio (J.C. Cesare 92'), G. Sultana (A. Cilia Mumford 79'), J. Ogunnupe, J. Briffa, P. Papadakis, N. Ojuola, L. Casha, T. Abela Wilson (J. Pace 61')

Referee: Blerim Ziri (Albania)

Santa Lucia goalkeeper Ryan Caruana saved a penalty on 88 minutes to preserve his side's unbeaten run. Against a Vittoriosa gritty side, the leaders found the going hard and only came to life in the second half.

Vittoriosa were the better team in the first half and had the only shots at goal in the first fourty five minutes. With the strong wind at their backs the Stars held the initaive for long stretches wirh an Ogunnupe header and gorunder from the same player just missing the target.

Santa Lucia goalkeeper Ryan Caruana made two oustanding saves off a Papadakis scorcher, and just before the break denying Ogunnupe after a tremendous run by the Vittoriosa striker.

In the second half Santa Lucia had more of the ball and went close on 71 minutes when a Nick Borg bombshell slammed against the crossbar. But the best chance came to Vittoriosa when on 88 minutes Ogunnupe was floored by Babilonia, but the same Ogunnupe failed to beat Caruana from the penalty spot.

Nwoba strike puts Sirens on top

Sirens-Pembroke A         1-0

Sirens: M. Montfort, K. Farrugia, R. Mandic, D. Sant, R. Grech, M. Del Negro (M. Micallef), M. Morgon Filho (G. Spiteri), A. Bustos, C. Gauci, I. Adeshina, J. Nwoba (L. Galea).

Pembroke A: K. Gerada, J.P. Mifsud Triganza, D. Camilleri, Z. Grech, M. De Rosa Wilmsen (G. Muscat), D. Cachia (K. Borg), A. Hili, M.A. Borg, I. Misan (M. Focsa), Y. Tonna, G. Claudio da Silva.

Referee: Shaun Calleja

Scorer: John Nwoba 47’

A John Nwoba goal early in the second half was enough for Sirens to grab the much needed three points at stake and move to the top of the standings for the first time this season.

The side coached by Vince Carbonaro fully deserved the victory and took full advantage of Santa Lucia’s third successive draw to become the new league leaders.

Sirens took the game by storm in the first half, even though playing against the strong wind. Pembroke had to defend for long stretches especially in the opening stages and rarely hada glimpse of goal.

Nowba’s strike at the start of the first half proved to be decisive. Pembroke made a timid reaction and Sirens never let theri hold of the game slip their hands. Near the end Sirens even went close to a second goal but Gerada denied Luke Galea from a freekick.

 

Gudja beat Naxxar with Aboulezz hat trick

Naxxar L-Gudja U            1-3

Naxxar L: O. Borg, M. Fenech, M. Mifsud, D. Bonnici, R. Cassar, J. Ellul, C. Bugeja, A. Buhagiar, S. Nanapere, B. Essel, S. Meilak.

Gudja U: F. Tabone, L. Martinelli, J. Bondin, M. Attard (E. Vella 54'), J. Lima Siqueira, G. Chircop, A. Ramos, F. Aboulezz, S. Diacono (M. Bonnici 83'), J. Farrugia, A. Marshall.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann

Scorers: Firas Aboulezz 58', 71' 93' (G), Saturday Nanapere 77' (N)

Firas Aboulezz scored a hat trick yesterday as Gudja United defeated Naxxar Lions in an entertaining match. This victory lifts Gudja to third place in the standings, whilst for Naxxar this defeat means a stop to their positive run on three matches.

Both side had their fair of chances, with both sides hitting the post and producing some entertaining football. Al goals came in the second half with Aboulezz opening the score with a great effort from a distance, and doubling the score on 71 minutes after a good run by Jackson Lima.

Saturday Nanapere pulled on back with a great header, eleven minutes from time and pushed everything forward in search of the equaliser. But deep in stoppage time Aboulezz sealed the issue with a third goal.