Mqabba missed a golden opportunity to go second a point behind leaders Balzan when they had to settle for a draw against ten-man Dingli.
Dingli built a two-goal lead inside the first twenty minutes of the match, and Mqabba had to chase their opponents to save this ill-tempered match, as mqabba also finished the match with ten players as they had Timotic sent off in stoppage time.
Mqabba took the initiative in the opening stages but Dingli took the lead on ten minutes when Leontiev Konda scored a beauty after rounding off a couple of Mqabba defenders.
Mqabba failed to recover from this setback and even suffered a second goal ten minutes later when Clayton Caruana beat Mqabba’s offside trap to lob the ball past Kris Calleja.
Things were now getting more complicated for Mqabba, who however never lost their nerve and tried to crawl back in the game. Four minutes before the break they pulled one back when Albanian Wilson Caushi fired home from a distance with the ball hitting the base of the upright before finishing at the back of the net.
On the resumption Mqabba stormed forward with the Dingli custodian saving shots from Grima and John Paul Muscat. Mqabba piled up the pressure and Mauro Bonnici went close with a shot on the turn going slightly over the bar.
Dingli made a reaction on the hour with a Chris Ciappara effort going wide. A minute later Dingli were reduced to ten men when Reuben Vella was sent off for a nasty tackle on substitute Mazitelli.
Mqabba increased their pressure on the Dingli defence in search of the equalizer and they managed to obtain it on 72 minutes when Wilson Caushi’s shot was partially saved by Mark Abela, and from the rebound Claudio Calleja headed home from close range.
Dingli went close to take a new lead when substitute Jonathan Sapiano hit the side netting.
Mqaba made a last ditch effort but could not brag the three points as Dingli defended well, with Mqabba also finishing with a man less when defender Timotic was sent off.
Mqabba K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Bonnici, A. Scicluna, B. Timotic, M. Briffa, C. Calleja, J.P. Muscat (I. Curmi), W. Caushi, A. Cakigi (T. Mazitelli), S. Magro (J. Shead).
Dingli S M. Abela, K. Pace (K. Bonavia), R. Sammut, S. Tellus, R. Vella, K. Formosa, J. Chirino (C. Ciappara), L. Konda, E. Farrugia, C. Carauna (J. Sapiano), R. Briffa.
Referee Glenn Tonna