Section A

Qrendi-Ghaxaq 2-1

Qrendi created the best opportunities early on and after seven minutes they were denied by the Ghaxaq custodian Paul Celeste off an effort by Martin Briffa.

In the 18th minute Briffa hit just wide from close-range but two minutes later Joseph Mercieca gave them a deserved lead with an excellent shot after dribbling his way into Ghaxaq’s penalty area.

In the 25th minute Qrendi suffered a double blow as they first lost their defender Henry Jones who was shown the red card for unwarranted remarks and from the resultant indirect free-kick Ghaxaq scored the equaliser through Albert Caruana following a pass by Kevin Gambin.

In the 32nd minute Qrendi were close to regaining the lead with Saviour Sacco’s effort being blocked by Ghaxaq’s defender Daniel Galea and in the opening stages of the second-half attempts by Jesmond Azzopardi and Saviour Sacco just missed the target.

At the other end Ghaxaq were denied by Mascena off an effort by Ludvic Camilleri and on another occasion Michael Caruana’s well-taken free-kick bounced off the crossbar.

In the 77th minute Qrendi regained the lead through a Joseph Mercieca volley from well outside the penalty area and later on they were close to scoring again but Jesmond Azzopardi’s shot went just wide of the far post.

Ghaxaq ended the match with ten players as in the 89th minute Christian Cristiano was booked for a second time and was sent off by referee Bonnici.

Referee: Pierre Bonnici.

Section B

Sta Lucia-Luqa SA 0-1

After just seven minutes Santa Lucia won a corner-kick which was taken by Joel Grima and Christian Curmi just headed wide.

Gradually Luqa gained the upper hand in the midfield sector and after going very close through Lee Baldacchino and Mark Said, they were then denied by Franco Scicluna off a close-range shot by Randolph Penza.

Luqa sustained the pressure with Chris Penza heading just wide in the 27th minute from an Adrian Psaila corner-kick and later on they wasted a clear opportunity following an Emanuel Cumbo free-kick.

Just before the break the Saints were close to taking the lead but the Luqa keeper managed to block an attempt by Charles Agius. Luqa broke the deadlock in the 56th minute through Clive Psaila and later on a shot by Adrian Psaila was well saved by Scicluna.

Luqa sustained the pressure and late in the match they were close again on two occasions through Mark Said.

Referee: Jude Utulu

Gudja-Gozo 1-2

Barely two minutes into the match the Gozitans wasted a clear opportunity through John Camilleri.

Then on 13 minutes John Camilleri headed just over the bar from a cross by Anthony Portelli with Gudja coming back four minutes later through Donald Lia’s volley which was saved with difficulty by Xuereb.

On another occasion Donald Lia saw his shot deflected by a Gudja defender with the Gozitans replying in the 23rd minute as an attempt by Josef Buttigieg was saved by Zammit. A minute before the change of ends Gudja broke the deadlock as a good move by Roderick Grech was finished off by Roderick Debattista.

The Gozitans increased the pressure throughout the second-half going close on various occasions. On 66 minutes Dudja’s defender Jonathan Zahra was shown a second yellow card and was sent off and three minutes later Gozo made it one-all through a penalty given for a foul on John Camilleri and converted by Anthony Portelli.

Gozo were then very unlucky with the crossbar twice denying them off shots by John Camilleri but they were rewarded for their efforts in the 91st minute through Anthony Portelli’s second goal.

As the players were leaving the pitch the referee noticed an incident involving Gudja’s player Terence Vella and the latter was shown the red card.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Kirkop-Kalkara 1-2

Early on Kirkop created two goal scoring opportunities as shots by Oswald Zammit and Alan Deidun were saved with difficulty by Kalkara’s custodian Matthew Barbara.

In the 17th minute Kirkop’s striker William Debattista wasted a clear opportunity as he miskicked infront of goal and later on a strong volley by Michael Theuma was well saved by Barbara.

Kalkara reacted in the closing stages of the first-half and Kevin Tonna was close to obtaining an equaliser but Kirkop’s defender Kirsten Buhagiar cleared the ball to safety.

Six minutes after the restart the crossbar denied Kalkara’s striker Joe Mizzi with Kirkop then going close through an Alan Deidun free-kick.

In the 69th minute an error by the Kalkara goalkeeper allowed Mark Farrugia to put Kirkop 1-0 ahead but seven minutes later Kalkara equalised through a penalty given for a foul on Joe Mizzi and scored by Kalkara’s captain Nicholas Gatt.

Three minutes from time Kalkara scored their winning goal through Joe Mizzi.

Referee: Franco Cachia.