St George’s 2
St Andrew’s 1
St George’s maintained the pace among the top clubs with a hard earned victory over a gallant St Andrew’s side. The match was an entertaining one with St Andrew’s dominating the early stages taking a deserved lead with a classic own goal by the St George’s captain.
But St George’s made a very good comeback scoring two good goals to grab three precious points that put them in first place together with Balzan, but with a game in hand. Brazilian Ruiz was surely the man of the match as he guided his side with a brilliant performance even scoring the winner early in the second half.
The first attempt at goal came within the first minute with Terrence Farrugia going close for St George’s. But after this attempt St Andrew’s dominated the first part with Valenzia going near with a deflected freekick and another shot slightly missing the upright.
On 20 minutes St Andrew’s took the lead when St George’s captain Emanuel Sevasta headed majestically past his own goalkeeper for a great goal but in the wrong direction.
St George’s were rattled and St Andrew’s pushed forward for more. A Kurt Coleiro first timer missed the upright by a whisker and the same Coleiro was denied from a certain goal by a great Galea save minutes later.
St George’s guided by a brilliant Ruiz crawled back in the game and seven minutes from time they obtained the equaliser when the Brazilian star passed towards Mark Barbara who scored with a precise grounder.
On the resumption St George’s continued where they left in the last minutes of the first half, as they pushed St Andrew’s inside their own half. Ruiz continued to shine showing some magical touches. On 57 minutes Ruiz scored a beautiful goal when he lobbed past Carandente following a Benoir Fenech long ball.
Ruiz came close again with his shot hitting the side netting, and Mark Barbara was denied by a magnificent Carandente shot.
St George’s were now dominating and on 63 minutes Mark Barbara missed a sitter following another breath taking move between Ruiz and Inguanez.
In the remaining minutes St Andrew’s tried to obtain the equaliser but the St George’s defence, although passing through some anxious moments managed to hold on to their slender and precious lead.