Gzira U-Zebbug R 2-2

The first period was a balanced affair with Zebbug Rangers breaking the deadlock after only three minutes as Jeremy Agius lobbed the ball over the Gzira custodian Kyle Gerada. Gzira’s reaction produced a Matthew Cocks corner-kick which was cleared with difficulty by the Rangers’ defence and on another occasion a cross by Neil Gatt Coleiro was headed on by Richard Attard but the Zebbug keeper was in the right spot to save with ease.

Zebbug replied through Jeremy Agius whose effort was saved by Gerada and at the other end Gzira created a dangerous opportunity through Yanis Tonna.

On the 30th minute Rangers’ captain Gordon Mallia crossed from the left flank and Mark Deguara headed just wide whereas at a later stage Mallia shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area. In the 37th minute Gzira’s striker Richard Attard headed just wide and just before the end of the first half Attard failed to connect in front of goal from a cross by Gatt Coleiro. Zebbug replied through Jeremy Agius whose strong shot just missed the target.

After the resumption the Rangers did most of the attacking with the Maroons failing to react. Zebbug were close through a Clint Caruana direct free-kick and in the 54th minute a low shot by Mark Deguara was saved with difficulty by the Gzira keeper. A minute later Zebbug made it 2-0 through a beautiful goal scored by Jeremy Agius following good work by Mark Deguara.

On 61 minutes Gzira had a shot by Richard Attard which ended just high over the bar with Zebbug coming back through Gordon Mallia whose shot just missed the target. Then a point-blank header by Bjorn Chetcuti was saved by Gerada with Gzira going very close through Andrew Scerri.

In the 81st minute Rangers’ midfield player Bjorn Chetcuti was sent off for a second caution and in the 90th minute Pace denied Gzira off an angled shot by Scerri. Gzira’s pressure increased and five minutes into injury time Andrew Scerri became Gzira’s hero as he managed to score the equaliser. The Rangers protested with the referee and goalkeeper Martin Pace made some unwarranted comments and was sent off. Zebbug substitute keeper Jonathan Vella came in for Mark Deguara.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

B’Bugia SP-San Gwann 3-0

In the early stages San Gwann went very close through Mauro Busuttil and Shaun Vella whose shots were saved with difficulty by the Birzebbuga keeper Gabriel Mansueto. Gradually Birzebbuga gained the initiative and in the 21st minute a shot by Anton Florin was well saved by Justin Spiteri. The San Gwann keeper was again on hand to deny Emil Raducu and Ronnie Celeste and at the other end San Gwann missed a sitter through Shaun Vella. In the 39th minute Birzebbuga’s pressure paid off as a Paul Camilleri cross was headed on by Carlos Camenzuli with Spiteri saving partially and in came Emil Raducu to shoot in from close-range. At the other end San Gwann’s striker Shaun Vella shot just wide but two minutes into added time Birzebbuga made it 2-0 through Ronnie Celeste.

After the break San Gwann failed to make a reaction with Birzebbuga sustaining the pressure, going close early on through Carlos Camenzuli whose angled shot was saved with difficulty by the San Gwann custodian.

In the 52nd minute Camenzuli crossed from the right flank and his twin striker Ronnie Celeste headed just wide, the latter then wasting a clear goal scoring opportunity. On another occasion Anton Florin’s long-range effort was saved by Spiteri and in the 76th minute an incident led to San Gwann’s striker Shaun Vella being red carded by referee Spiteri. A minute later Birzebbuga’s striker Carlos Camenzuli headed in past Spiteri but he was ruled to be in an offside position and the goal was not allowed to stand. However in the 83rd minute Carlos Camenzuli had better luck as he managed to score Birzebbuga’s third and final goal.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Mellieha-Zejtun C 0-1

After just three minutes Zejtun appeared to have taken the lead through a close-range shot by Kenneth Abela who was however in a clear offside position and the goal was disallowed. In the ninth minute Zejtun’s striker Haram Mohammed was anticipated by the Mellieha keeper who had come out of his goal with Mellieha responding through a crosshot by Philip Camilleri which was deflected to a corner-kick. In the 20th minute Mellieha were again close as a Camilleri corner-kick was headed just over the bar by Philip Taylor and six minutes later a Fabiano Bassi free-kick was blocked by the Corinthians’ defensive barrier. In the 32nd minute a good move between Adrian Carabott and Haram Mohammed allowed Heathcliffe Schembri with a clear shot which went in past Simon Gauci to give Zejtun the lead. Mellieha reacted and a minute before the break they were denied by the Zejtun keeper off a low shot by Philip Camilleri.

After the resumption the match continued to be quite keen with both sets of defenders dominating the proceedings. In the 51st minute the Mellieha keeper had to come out of his goal to anticipate the advancing Haram Mohammed. Seven minutes later Mellieha were denied a certain goal as Ranier Farrugia made an excellent save off a shot by Fabiano Bassi with Zejtun responding through an attempt which was partially saved by Gauci and from the loose ball a shot by Adrian Carabott was cleared by a Mellieha defender.

In the 62nd minute Zejtun missed a clear opportunity through Mohammed and four minutes later Kenneth Abela shot wide from close-range. Five minutes from time Zejtun ended up with ten players as Jesmar Abela was sent off after having been booked for a second time and just before the final whistle Zejtun’s substitute Amadeo Mercieca lobbed the ball just over the bar with only Simon Gauci to beat. This result means that Zejtun are now sole leaders, one point ahead of Mellieha and Rabat Ajax.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Zurrieq-Mgarr U 0-0

Zurrieq were close early in the match through their Italian striker Rocco Vardaro whose shot just finished wide off the far post with Mgarr replying on 11 minutes as Ives Bilocca’s point-blank effort was saved by Julian Azzopardi. Zurrieq were very close through Steve Azzopardi whose shot finished just high over the bar and at the other end the Zurrieq keeper did well to save off a Matthew Muscat dangerous effort.

Play continued to be very balanced and just before the break Mgarr could have taken the lead but their experienced striker Ives Bilocca wasted a clear opportunity.

After the resumption Mgarr pushed forward and after just eight minutes their foreign player Vojko Martinovic shot just wide from close-range. They were then again close through Matthew Muscat and on another occasion the Zurrieq keeper brought a difficult save to deny Ives Bilocca.

In the 70th minute the Mgarr keeper came out of his goal to anticipate Josef Briffa with Mgarr’s response producing two dangerous efforts by James Borg.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.