After just four minutes Naxxar Lions won a free-kick just outside the Rangers’ penalty area and Gilbert Canmilleri unleashed a beautiful shot went in past Jonathan Vella.

Two minutes later Naxxar could have increased their lead but Andre Richa Da Silva’s angled shot just missed the far post and on another occasion later on they were denied by Vella off an attempt by Victor Bellia.

Gradually Zebbug came out of their defensive shell and went close through Haruna Doda from a direct free-kick.

At the other end Naxxar had a cross by Matia Del Negro with Gilbert Camilleri hitting just wide with the Rangers’ keeper Jonathan Vella suffering an injury and had to be replaced by Martin Pace later on.

Two minutes before the break Zebbug equalised as Clint Caruana finished off a good move by Gilbert Scerri.

A minute into the second period Naxxar had a shot by Matia Del Negro which finished just high over the bar and in the 50th minute the Naxxar keeper saved with difficulty off a Mark Deguara direct free-kick.In the 62nd minute Rangers’ striker Mark Deguara was brought down in the penalty area by the Naxxar goalkeeper with referee Chris Lautier pointing to the penalty spot. The penalty was taken by Gilbert Scerri with Agius appearing to have saved but he lost possession of the ball which finished at the back of the net.

Naxxar gradually increased the pressure and were twice very close through Darren Falzon but in the 90th minute they made it two-all through substitute Glen Magri.

More was to come as the 93rd minute Naxxar took the lead with Victor Bellia shooting in past Pace after a Gilbert Camilleri free-kick had been blocked.

A minute later an incident led to Rangers’ substitute Victor Fiteni being shown a direct red card from the Rangers’ substitute’s bench.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Birzebbuga-Zurrieq 6-1

Birzebbuga completely dominated their opponents during the first period and after two minutes they squandered an open opportunity with Matthew Borg shooting wide with an open goal.

At the other end Zurrieq could have opened the score with Johan Briffa’s header being blocked on the goal line by Clive Formosa.

Later on a shot by Anton Florin was saved by Joshua Bugeja but in the 20th minute Birzebbuga deservedly opened the score through a close-range effort by Carlos Camenz\uli.

Four minutes later Carlos Camenzuli broke away, rounded the Zurrieq keeper, and shot into an empty net to make it 2-0 with Zurrieq going very close on 33 minutes as a direct free-kick by Johan Briffa was saved with difficulty by Shaun Cardona.

In the 39th minute Birzebbuga made it 3-0 as Carlos Camenzuli finished off a good move by Matthew Borg to get his personal hat-trick.

Birzebbuga sustained their dominance after the change of ends but early on the Saints keeper turned the ball onto the post to deny Zurrieq off an effort by Joseph Lia.

In the 49th minute Matthew Borg unleashed a strong shot to make it 4-0 and four minutes later the same player finished off a personal effort to get his second personal goal and Birzebbuga’s fifth goal.

In the 65th minute Zurrieq responded through a goal scored by Alistair Camilleri and minutes later the same player scored again but his goal was annulled for an offside position.

In the 75th minute Birzebbuga’s substitute Ronnie Celeste scored a sixth a final goal for the Saints and later on the same striker shot wide with an open goal.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Rabat Ajax-Mellieha SC 0-1

Rabat dictated the run of play early on and after just five minutes a shot by Joseph Caruana was well saved by the Mellieha custodian Simon Gauci.

Minutes later Adam Smeir crossed from the left flank and an attempt by their foreign striker Basil Emeka Onuta was saved by Gauci as Mellieha replied through a Philip Camilleri free-kick which was cleared with difficulty by the Rabat defence.

On 13 minutes Mellieha opened the score as Connor Muchmore unleashed a dipping shot which caught the Rabat keeper slightly out of his posts.

Rabat’s reaction produced an effort by Adam Smeir with Gauci saving with difficulty.

Then play gradually ensued in the midfield sector but in the 27th minute Mellieha’s midfield player Nikolay Filipov shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area.

Then Smeir was twice denied by the Mellieha keeper with Mellieha having two dangerous attempts by Nikolay Filipov and Fabiano Bassi.

In the 43rd minute Rabat got close to an equalising goal as a cross by Felice was finished off of Onuta with Gauci bringing off a decisive save.

After the change of ends Rabat pushed forward but Mellieha were playing well at the back.

In the 52nd minute various players came to blows with referee Azzopardi sending off Christian Muscat (Rabat Ajax) and Daniel Cremona (Mellieha) and two minutes later Mellieha had a shot by Connor Muchmore which finished just wide.

On another occasion Mellieha were again very close through Nikolay Filipov but in the 65th minute Rabat had a David Azzopardi crosshot which was saved with difficulty by Gauci.

In the 73rd minute Rabat won a corner-kick which was taken by Azzopardi and Onuta’s close-range effort was blocked by the Mellieha custodian.

In the 89th minute Rabat were close through Joseph Caruana and in added time a drive by Justin Felice brought the best out of Simon Gauci.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi.

Zejtun C-St Patrick 4-0

After just two minutes Zejtun were close to opening the score as a shot by Adrian Carabott was saved by Joshua Galea.

In the 16th minute Galea once again denied Carabott with an excellent save and a minute later Silvio Sciberras shot just high over the bar from close-range. At the other end St Patrick striker Glen Barry concluded just wide with the Corinthians coming back in the 33rd minute as a Charlo Magro drive was saved by Galea.

At the other end the Saints responded through attempts by Alex Ellul and Clint Farrugia which just missed the target.with Zejtun responding in added time through Jason Cachia whose conclusion ended just over the bar.

Two minutes after the restart Zejtun squandered a goal scoring opportunity as Adrian Carabott miskicked his shot infront of goal but this was the prelude to Zejtun’s first goal in the 56th minute as a corner-kick by Edward Azzopardi was headed in by Kenneth Abela.

A minute later the St Patrick defendere Clint Farrugia received a second caution and was sent off with Zejtun gradually dominating the match as they made it 2-0 on 70 minutes through Kenneth Abela.

In the 80th minute Silvio Sciberras scored a third goal following a personal effort and a minute from time Kenneth Abela managed to get his personal hat-trick.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit