Mqabba-Lija A        3-1

Mqabba: F. Tabone, L. Farrugia, D. Micallef, J.C. Martins, G. Micallef, A. Ferreira, C. Vella, D. Azzopardi (B. Grech 46'), F. Gusman, N. Micallef, L. Suma.

Lija A: L. Bonnici, J. Cassar, L. Muscat, D. Scerri, E. Beu, A. Azzopardi (D. Mintoff 83'), A. Borg (R. Sammut 46'), A. Bello-Osagie, M. Clinch, C. Gauci, K. Kuroki.

Referee: Paul Toledo

Scorers: David Azzopardi 34' (M), Erjon Beu 43' pen (L), Chris Vella 77' (M), Alexsandro Ferreira 81' (M)

Mqabba registered their second successive win beating Lija with two late goals. This win lifts Mqabba to a healthier position as they now have a three-point lead over San Gwann in the lower part of the table.

The match was a balanced affair with Lija having more of the ball, but Mqabba were deadly in front of goal and took advantage of the chances that came their way.

After a quite start Mqabba took the lead on 34 minutes through David Azzopardi but just before the break Lija were awarded a penalty for a foul on Bello-Osagie, and Erjon Beu converted in style from the penalty spot.

In the second half Lija again held territorial advantage but Mqabba struck twice late in the game with two well taken goals to put the issue beyond doubt. Chris Vella put at the back of the net on 77 minutes after a slick move with Ferreira, and the same Ferreira headed beutifully home a Gianfranco Micallef freekick four minutes later.

 

Zebbug R-Vittoriosa S       1-1

Żebbuġ R: J. Borg, D. Fava, R. Vella, H. Vella, S. Buhagiar, B. Muscat, T. Dos Santos Rodrigo, C. Brincat (D. Pace 80’), J. Caetano Da Silva, J. Farrugia (I. De Rocha Souza 60’), G. Da Sousa Braga.

Vittoriosa S: C. Cassar, I. Abela, D. Pisani (I. Curmi 81’), K. Degiorgio, J. Ogunnupe, J. Briffa, P. Papadakis, N. Ojuola, D. Tabone, L. Casha, T. Abela Wilson.

Referee: Ezekiel Barbara

Scorers: Caetano da Silva 6’ pen (Z), Panagotis Papadakis 19’ (V)

Although playing for aroun 70 minutes with a man less, Zebbug Rangers proved a point yesterday against Vittoriosa, even finishing as the better side on the field of play.

The game wasa buzzing with action in the opening stages with Zebbug taking an early lead thorugh a Caetano Da Silva penalty and Vittoriosa getting the equaliser on 19 minutes when Papadakis shot home from close range.

Then on 23 minutes Zebbug were down to ten men when De Souza Braga received a second booking for elbowing an opponent and was sent off.

However especially in the second half, Zebbug were the better team and the Vittoriosa custodian Cassar made two heroic saves near the end to save his side.

There were even seven and a half minutes of stoppage time as the game was interrupted for around six minutes in the early minutes of the second half, when a number of flood lights suddenly switched off.

 

Naxxar L-Santa Lucia        2-2

Naxxar L: O. Borg, R. Mercieca, M. Fenech, M. Mifsud, E. Cerqueira Farias, J. Debono, R. Cassar, J. Ellul, S. Nanapere, B. Essel, S. Meilak.

Santa Lucia: R. Caruana, M. Caruana, J. Usuga Mendoza, P. Lapira (M. Desira Buttigieg 58’), N. Micallef (D. Vukovic 51’), K. Ante Rosero, K. Pulo, M. Guillari (L. Diego Segura 57’), L. Galea, K. Camilleri, N. Borg.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Scorers: Jurgen Debono 54’ (N), Lee Galea 78’ (SL), Jackson Usaga Mendoza 84’ (SL), Omar Borg 93’ (N)

Naxxar goalkeeper Omar Borg saved the day for Naxxar yesterday when he scored the equaliser deep in stoppage time to earn a precious point for his side.

The match burst to life in the second half after a rather drab first half. Santa Lucia who lost their second posititon in the standings after suffering two successive defeats, looked heading for an important win, but Borg’s stunning equaliser dented Santa Lucia’s hopes.

Naxxar took an early second half lead when Jurgen Debono drilled home from an ideal position, but Santa Lucia turned the tide in their favour with goals from Lee Galea and an Usaga Mendoza penalty.

Naxxar pushed everything forward in the remaining minutes and were rewarded in stoppage time when Omar Borg headed home the equaliser.