Sirens-Zebbug R 1-2
Sirens: M. Montfort, K. Farrugia, R. Mandic, D. Sant, R. Grech, M. Del Negro (R. Fenech 38’), M.A. Morgon Filho, M. Bustos (L. Mijic), C. Gauci, J. Nwoba (G. Gesualdi), A. Adeshina Ige.
Żebbuġ R: J. Borg, D. Fava, S. Schembri, R. Vella, H. Vella, S. Buhagiar, B. Muscat, C. Brincat, J. Caetano Da Silva, I. De Rocha Souza (S. Darmanin), G. De Souza Braga.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Scorers: Mattia Del Negro 31’ og (Z), John Nwoba 38’ (S), Igor De Rocha Souza 53’ (Z)
Tempers flared in the second half as league leaders Sirens suffered their second defeat of the season at the hands of Zebbug, in a match with four red cards, all in the second half, with Sirens finishing the match with eight players.
Zebbug took the lead in the first half thanks to an incredible own goal by Del Negro who headed beutifully at the back of his own net, leaving Montfort helpless. However Sirens drew level eight minutes later thanks to John Nwoba.
Zebbug showed the better ideas and scored the winner on 53 minutes with a De Rocha Souza header. Four nminutes later Sirens were down to ten when Ryan Grech was sent off, and minutes later Morgon Filho was also sent off leaving the leaders in nine.
But there was more to come as Zebbug captain Clive Brincat received the marching orders on 70 minutes. The fourth player to be sent off was Luka Mijic who received a second booking on 89 minutes.
Naxxar L-San Gwann 2-0
Naxxar L: O. Borg, M. Fenech, M. Mifsud, E. Cerqueira Farias, J. Debono, R. Cassar, J. Ellul, A. Buhagiar (R. Mercieca 46’), S. Nanapere, B. Essel, S. Meilak.
San Gwann: C. Formosa, J. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, A. Cachia (P. Kunzarov 77’), A. Borg, N. Abouhaisa (J.P. Attard 77’), C. Gauci, K. Gatt (S. Hili 70’), J. Tanti, N. Melo Ferreira, R. De Oliveira.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri
Scorers: Steve Meilak 84’, Mead Mifsud 92’
Naxxar left it late scoring two goals in the last six minutes of the match to beat lowly San Gwann to move to fourth place in the standings, five points behind third placed Santa Lucia who suffered a defeat against Mqabba on Saturday.
San Gwann remain in deep relegation trouble, third from bottom with a two-point advantage over Qrendi who were also beaten this weekend.
The match was a drab affair in the first half with the only shot coming just before the break with Naxxar goalkeeper Omar Borg making a stunning save. On the resumption play was more fluid with naxxar having more of the ball and with Cerqueira Farias playing a veru good game.
A Saturday Nanapere scorcher rattled the crossbar and six minutes from time Steve Meilak fired in the top corner from an acute angle. Deep in stoppage time Naxxar sealed the issue when Mead Mifsud fired home from the edge of the area.
Zejtun C-Pembroke A 2-0
Żejtun C: G. Zammit, C. Giordemaina, J. Mandjeck, A. Smeir (G. Sultana 83’), J. Castano (D. Andelkovic 61’), R. de Fex Marriaga (J. Antonio Meira 89’), B. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, N. Tabone, K. Buttigieg, A. Farrugia.
Pembroke A: P. Schranz, G. Muscat, J.P. Mifsud Triganza (K. Borg 46’), G. Azzopardi, Z. Grech, T. Fenech, M.A. Borg (A. Mizzi 46’), J.P. Oliveira Santos, E. Vallecillo (M. Da Rosa Wilmsen 65’), Y. Tonna, G. Claudio da Silva.
Referee: Paul Toledo
Scorers: Johan Castano 8’, 14’.
Zejtun returned to winning ways yesterday beating Pembroke thanks to a brace by Johan Castano, with both goals coming in the opening minutes of the game.
Zejtun thus ended their barren spell of four consecutive defeats and stopped Pembroke’s positive run of four consecutive victories. The match was decided in the early stages when Johan Castano scored two well taken goals to put Zejtun on the right track.
Pembroke took some time to settle down and the two goals suffered did not help much. However they came back in the game and were unlucky when a Zachary Grech scorcher slammed against the crossbar.
In the second half Pembroke domintade for long stretches and the Zejtun custodian made some daring saves to keep a blank sheet and was given a helping hand by captain Neil Tabone four minutes from time when he cleared the ball off the goal line.