The Rabat youngsters rallied back from a 0-1 defeat and enjoyed the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the whole 60 minutes.

Qormi created the first occasions and were very unlucky not to open the score on 3 minutes when a shot by Jurgen Gerada hit the upright and finished out with Rabat goalkeeper Daniel Vella beaten after a Luke Azzopardi cross. Daniel Vella then had to dive to save a shot by Gabriel Buttigieg after being served from a free kick by Qormi keeper Daniel Balzan.

Rabat soon reacted and Balzan saved on Ryan Micallef after beating two defenders, the wood work denied Rabat on 11 minutes as a shot by Roderick Vassallo hit the upright after a Stefan Vella cross, and a fine rising shot by Chris Vassallo missed the upright by inches. Balzan foiled Stefan Vella with a timely sortie after a Roderick Vassallo through ball.

Seven minutes after restart Qormi forged ahead. George Chircop won a loose ball in midfield and after advancing scored with a lobbed ball as Vella was caught out of position.

In a Rabat reaction, David Azzopardi put Roderick Vassallo through, Balzan partially saved his shot and a defender cleared the ball to safety.

Rabat equalised on 43 minutes, from a David Azzopardi cross the ball was cleared to a corner and from the flag kick by the same player Ranier Buhagiar handled the ball in the area and David Azzopardi converted the resultant penalty, and three minutes later they scored a second goal when Roderick Vassallo pounced on a defensive indecision and scored with a low shot after entering the area.

In a last fling by Qormi, Vella saved on Luke Azzopardi after he dribbled past a defender.

Two minutes from the end Rabat put the issue beyond any doubt. David Azzopardi put Ryan Micallef through, he dribbled past two defenders and also past the Qormi goalkeeper and netted with a low shot.

Referee: Clinton J. Saliba

Player of the match: David Azzopardi (Rabat)

APS Bank U/16 Section C

Gudja U 3

Mqabba 1

Seventh placed Gudja were the better outfit against bottom-placed Mqabba enjoying the lion’s share of exchanges throughout the game.

Referee Pierre Saliba had good control of the proceedings and had to show three red cards.

The first action came from Mqabba as Tyrone Barbara put Franklin Cassar through but a Gudja defender cleared the ball to corner.

Gudja reacted quickly and created action after action. Mqabba ‘keeper Alex Borg saved on Roderick Caruana after a Terence Vella through ball, a Malcolm Zammit free kick missed the upright, Keith Borg Xuereb headed first wide after a Robert Portelli flag kick, a Borg Xuereb free kick missed the bar by inches, a Zammit free kick was deflected to a corner and Steve Buttigieg hit the side-netting after a Caruana cross.

On 28 minutes Gudja deservedly opened the score through Terence Vella after a Buttigieg perfect cross, but seven minutes later in a rare Mqabba attack they equalised when Hubert Farrugia was tripped in the area and Karl Cilia converted from the spot past Gudja ‘keeper Warren Galea.

Three minutes after restart Gudja regained their lead when a free kick shot by Vella was partially cleared and Robert Portelli shot in the rebound with a hard grounder from outside the area.

On 50 minutes both teams were reduced to ten men. Adrian Gafa of Gudija committed a dangerous foul on Franklin Cassar, the latter retaliated and uttered foul language and both players were given marching orders, hardly four minutes later Gudja’s Roderick Caruana followed suit for retaliation.

Gudja sealed the issue beyond any doubt in the 68th minute when Buttigieg scored with a lobbed ball after a Vella perfect through pass.

Referee: Pierre Saliba

Player of the match: Terence Vella (Gudja U)