Luqa SA-Xghajra T 1-2

Xghajra obtained an important win, their first one this season, which allows them to steer off from the lower positions of the league table.

Luqa broke the deadlock after only two minutes as Brian Magro’s cross was not cleared by Luqa’s custodian Agius and Jonathan Cachia was on hand to score from close-range.

Luqa came back with a dangerous Cumbo free-kick and at the other end Agius denied Xghajra off attempts by Mark Drago and Neil Attard.

On 25 minutes Xghajra doubled their lead through Neil Attard following a personal effort and six minutes before the break Cachia hit just wide from a good position.

Three minutes after the restart, Xghajra’s defender Frans Mizzi was booked for a second time and was sent off.

From then on Luqa dictated the run of play and they were back in the match in the 80th minute when they scored through Keith Portelli following a Cutajar free-kick.

Luqa pressed forward and were very close through Adrian Psaila and Nathaniel Falzon.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Fgura-Kirkop 2-0

George Faure’s team Fgura United obtained their third victory from four matches with Kirkop remaining in the bottom half of the league standings.

Early on in the match Fgura created the better opportunities especially through Matthew Spiteri and on 14 minutes they broke the deadlock when Camilleri’s free-kick was headed in by Clint Ellul.

Eight minutes later Fgura again went close through Aldo Pace with Kirkop being denied by Renald Attard off a Chris Farrugia back header.

Six minutes before the break Kirkop again went close through Charlo Debattista whose shot just missed the target.

After the interval Kirkop dictated the run of play but it was Fgura who created the best chances as they hit the post through Ivan Cassar and wasted an easy opportunity through Clint Ellul. In added time Fgura sealed the issue through another goal scored by Aldo Pace after Matthew Spiteri’s effort had bounced off the crossbar.

Referee: Mohammed Khalil.

Gzira-Gharghur 1-1

This direct clash between two teams with promotion ambitions ended in a fair drawn result in a match dictated by Gharghur. Early on Gharghur were close through Wayne Mallia but in the 20th minute Gzira broke the deadlock with Claude Grech finishing off a good move by Mallia.

Gradually play resulted in the midfield sector but late in the first half they went very close through dangerous attempts by Ludvic Bartolo, Daniel Borg and Lawrence Vella.

In the 60th minute Gharghur were denied by Ablett off a Mark Decesare header and later on they wasted an easy opportunity through Christian Glass.

In the 81st minute Gharghur drew level when they won a free-kick which was taken by Matthew Coleiro and Daniel Borg beat Ablett with a fine header. Late in the match Gharghur were again denied on two occasions by the Gzira custodian.

Referee: Alex Arena.

Attard-Ghaxaq 0-2

Attard were on the losing end for the fourth time this season while Ghaxaq obtained their first victory. Early on Ghaxaq won a free-kick which was taken by Alex Farrugia with Formosa bringing off a fine save.

At the other end Attard were close through Mark Buttigieg but it was Ghaxaq who took the lead in the 25th minute through Francois Galea.

Six minutes later Attard went close through a Lanzon free-kick and later on a shot by Mark Saliba was well saved by Paul Celeste.

Three minutes into the second half Attard’s striker Mark Saliba hit wide when all alone in front of goal with Ghaxaq twice going close through Bjorn Dalli.

Three minutes into injury-time Christian Cristiano scored Ghaxaq’s second goal following a square pass by Dalli.

Referee: Aaron Fenech.

Zurrieq-Siggiewi 1-2

Siggiewi notched their second win of the season after narrowly defeating Zurrieq in a very keen encounter.

Siggiewi were the better team during the first half but it was Zurrieq who were close to taking the lead in the third minute through Daniel Zammit whose effort bounced off the post.

At the other end Zurrieq’s goalkeeper Azzopardi denied Siggiewi on a couple of occasions but it was again Zurrieq who had the better chances as they again hit the post through Darren Bellizzi.

Siggiewi took a two goal lead in the opening stages of the second period through goals scored by Eman Ciappara and Pierre Spiteri. Zurrieq’s reaction produced a Genuis shot which was saved by Azzopardi but they managed to pull a goal back in the 70th minute through Robert Bajada. Zurrieq increased the pressure and in the closing stages were very close through Joe Lia and Godfrey Zammit.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Sirens-Pembroke Ath 1-0

Pembroke Athleta were worth at least a point from their match against leaders Sirens, the latter gaining their fifth win of the season through an Adrian Galea goal a minute from time.

After 14 minutes Sirens’ keeper Buttigieg saved off a Jeffrey Fenech free-kick with Sirens responding through Ryan Theuma whose shot was deflected to a corner.

Gradually play resulted in the midfield sector with both sets of defenders dominating the proceedings. Four minutes before the interval Debattista denied Sirens’ striker Patrick Barbara with a fine save.

After the change of ends play continued to be balanced with Sirens scoring the all important goal in the 89th minute through Adrian Galea with Pembroke contesting the goal.

Protests continued after the match and two Pembroke players – Mario Manicolo and Jeffrey Fenech – were shown the red card.

Referee: Karl Frendo Cumbo.