Swieqi U-Santa Lucia      2-2

Swieqi U: J.C. Debattista, K. Muscat, L. Scicluna, S. Suraka (H. Hansberg 58’), G. Bugaeja, S. Bugeja, G. Calabretta (K. Ekezie 91’), V. Olowoyo, M. Farrugia, E. Ayorinde (S. Ibrahim 67’), D. Borg.

Santa Lucia: R. Caruana, M. Caruana, N. Spiteri, J. Usaga Mendoza (I. Martinez 83’), J. Suda (M. Desira Buttigieg 66’), B. Paiber, P. Teixeira Maia, I. De Rocha Souza (K. Ante Rosero 68’), L. Galea, K. Camilleri, N. Borg.

Referee: Daniel Portelli

Santa Lucia were blocked to yet another draw yesterday, their fourth consecutive one, this time against the in-form Swieqi side. Swieiq, like Santa Lucia newly promoted to this category are in top form and came into this match after four consecutive victories.

They proved their woth yesterday too, twice taking the lead, but twice Santa Lucia fought back to earn a deservde draw. It was an exciting draw  which left the few spectators present on the edge of their seats.

Swieiq took the lead on 19 minutes with a precise grounder by Ayorinde, and Santa Lucia had to wait till the hour to draw level with a Jurgen Suda strike. On 70 minutes Swieqi restored their lead after a blunder by the Santa Lucia goalkeeper, but two minutes later Santa Lucia drew level with the best goal of the bunch scored by Teixeira Maia.

Minutes later Santa Lucia almost won it too but Paiber’s bombshell smashed against the crossbar.

 

Marsa-Zejtun C 0-3

Marsa: K. Brincat, J. Bonello, N. Mocyk (L. Chiedozie 46’), L. Friggieri, M. Gauci, A. Sreti Ali, R. De Fex Marriaga, S. Darmanin (J. Theuma 46’), P. Anizoba (S. Briffa 74’), N. Micallef, R. Gafa.

Żejtun C: G. Zammit, C. Giordemaina, E. Vella, A. Smeir (I. Azzopardi 84’), J. Castano, D. Albanese, J. Dias (V. Geraskins 76’), B. Farrugia, N. Tabone, R. Spiteri, A. Farrugia.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Scorers: Johan Castano 19’, 77’, 92’ pen

Zejtun obtained their second win of the season beating bottom of the table side Marsa thanks to a hat trick from Johan Castano. Zejtun were by far the better team and their win could have been even bigger had Zejtun taken all the chances that came their way.

Zejtun were the better team in the first half as they dominated play for long stretches with the Marsa defence in constant check. On 12 minutes Zejtun went close to take the lead when Adam Smeir’s lob beat the Marsa custodian but Neil Micallef cleared the ball off the goal line.

On 19 minutes Zejtun broke the deadlock when from a good Ryan Spiteri cross, Johan Castano headed beautifully home. Four minutes later Smeir was denied by a good Brincat save and also a Castano goal disallowed.

In the second half Zejtun continued to dictate and added further goals with castano doubling the score on 77 minutes and sealing the issue converting a penalty in stoppage time. Both teams finished the match with ten players with Zejtun captain Neil Tabone sent off on 81 minutes and Marsa’s John Bonello sent off in added time.