Msida SJ-Mqabba 4-2

After two consecutive defeats, Msida St Joseph went into this game with some renewed belief and might have won more convincingly had they taken all their chances against resurgent Mqabba.

This important win puts the Saints six points clear of third placed Pieta in the Relegation Pool, steering themselves closer to safety.

Msida broke the deadlock after nine minutes. Tyrone Farrugia volleyed in Adrian Farrugia's cross from the right. On the quarter hour, Priso's pacey run took him past Gatt Baldacchino inside the area on the right and his low cross was well met by the unmarked Tyrone Farrugia to slot the ball into a gaping goal.

In between, Mqabba came up with some threat of their own as Briffa headed Busuttil's sailing free kick in keeper Calleja's safe hands. Busuttil himself had two tame efforts saved by the keeper before Msida scored their third on 24 minutes. Priso played the ball to Pedro Dos Santos Calcado on the edge of the area, to beat the Mqabba keeper with a curling low shot.

That early three-goal cushion put the Saints firmly in command as Mqabba looked demoralised and out of sorts.

However they pulled one back on 37 minutes when the referee spotted an infringement as Briffa was bundled by Baldacchino inside the area and Marcelo Pereira converted the spot kick.

Mqabba's reaction failed to materialize in the second half and Msida remained by far the better side, carving more scoring chances.

Msida scored their fourth goal on 77 minutes - a choral move involving four players. Adrian Farrugia provided the cross from the left, Tyrone Farrugia headed the ball towards Priso, whose firm header was held out by keeper Calleja for Dos Santos Calcado to tap in from close range.

Mqabba reduced the arrears with two minutes remaining. Marcelo Pereira also got his brace as he finished off Briffa's low cross. But the goal served only for statistical purposes.

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Msida SJ: M. Camilleri, P. Sciriha, S. Grima, K. Spiteri, C. Brincat, D. Cachia (P. Borg), T. Farrugia, R. Baldacchino (A. Spiteri), A. Farrugia, P. Dos Santos Calcado, N. Priso Doding (L. Mizzi)

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, A. Busuttil, M.A. Psaila (D. Zarb), M. Briffa, M. Pereira, C. Calleja (F. Silva), J. Mintoff, C. Gatt Baldacchino, R. Briffa (E. Navarro), L. Galea

Referee: S. Tanti Asst. refs: P. Agius, C. Micallef 4th official: A. Arciola

Scorers: T. Farrugia (2), P. Dos Santos Calcado (2), M. Pereira(2) 1 pen

Yellow cards: C. Calleja, J. Mintoff, M. Pereira

Player of the match: Tyrone Farrugia (Msida SJ)

TMI top three: 1. T. Farrugia 2. Priso Doding 3. M. Briffa