Mqabba 2

Tarxien R 2

Two late goals gave Mqabba a precious and deserved point against Tarxien in this top of the table clash.

Tarxien were heading for a victory having built a two-goal lead by the first hour, but Mqabba who were surely the better side, and even missed a penalty in the first half, never gave away an inch and snatched a dramatic equaliser in injury time, to join Qormi at the top of the table.

The start was quite with both sides massing the midfield sector, with the match resulting in a drab affair. However after these opening ten minutes Mqabba started to dominate the match.

On twelve minutes a Mauro Bonnici cross was headed by Chibueze towards Lee Grima whose header sailed over the bar. Two minutes later Tarxien had their first attempt at goal through Stefan Farrugia whose powerful grounder was blocked by Calleja.

On 23 minutes Mqabba could have easily forged ahead when Chibueze was floored by Sadovski, but from the resultant penalty, Chibueze’s shot was brilliantly saved by Curmi.

Mqabba kept pushing the ball forward and three minutes later the Tarxien goalkeeper fumbled an Anastasi cross, but the same goalkeeper saved John Paul Muscat’s close range shot.

On 30 minutes Mqabba were again dangerous, when John Paul Muscat received a long ball from Jesmond Delia, but his lob was somehow blocked by Curmi, and from the rebound the same Muscat hit the side netting.

On 34 minutes Tarxien surprisingly forged ahead. Mqabba goalkeeper Calleja brilliantly saved a Manuel Caruana dipper, but from the resultant corner the Mqabba custodian could do nothing to stop Ryan Darmanin’s powerful header.

In the second half Mqabba continued to surge forward in search of the equaliser but only went near through a Camoin grounder that was saved by Curmi. But on 53 minutes Tarxien doubled the score in spectacular fashion, when Stefan Farrugia fired a scorcher from 30 meters with the ball hitting the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net.

It seemed all over for Mqabba who persisited in their attacks. Busuttil’s freekick was blocked by Curmi, whilst mid way through the second half they appealed for a penalty on Muscat. But on 74 minutes Mqabba’s pressure reaped its fruit when John Paul Muscat scored with a powerful drive from close range.

The last minutes were a constant onslaught by Mqabba on the Tarxien defence. And in injury time Mqabba were rewarded with a precious point when Matthew Cocks beat Curmi with a dipper

Mosta 2

Senglea A 2

Mosta lying in desperate position in the lower part of the table produced a good performance yesterday under the guidance of new coach Molzahn, but failed to beat a well organised Senglea side, and had to settle for a mere point at the end.

The match was interesting with Mosta showing the better football in the first half, with Senglea coming back strongly in the second period, with Mosta bouncing back to life in the last minutes to snatch an important point.

The first half was balanced with Mosta having the edge over their opponents. Under the guidance of new coach Molzahn, Mosta at least looked more determined compared with their recent outings. Without setting any houses on fire Mosta took a deserved lead on 23 minutes, when youngster Steve Borg, headed in a well taken corner by Ryan Deguara.

Senglea tried to get back to level terms and four minutes later Timothy Thomas had a good attempt going over the bar.

Just before the break Mosta’s Brian Agius tried his luck direct from a freekick but this effort slightly missed the target.

Senglea improved considerably in the second half and could have equalised in the opening minutes with an Ellul freekick that was saved by Galea, and on seven minutes a Dozie shot destined for the back of the net was cleared off the line by defender Mario Abela.

On the other end Mosta had a golden opportunity with Brian Galea missing a sitter heading well over the bar from four meters.

On 68 minutes Senglea won a disputed penalty when Silvio Sciberras, who was playing his first match for Senglea since joining from neighbours St George’s, was pushed inside the area by Mario Abela, and from the resultant penalty the same Sciberreas shot home with a precise grounder.

Senglea were now all over the field and four minutes later they completely turned the tide in their favour. Silvio Sciberras did all the spade work before passing to Timothy Thomas who scored with a beautiful rising shot.

Seven minutes from time Mosta obtained the equaliser when Ryan Deguara, surely one of the best on the field of play, penetrated on the right and scored from an acute angle.

Mosta persisted in the dying minutes but Senglea defended well to earn a deserved point.