Zebbug R-Rabat Ajax 1-7

Rabat Ajax completed dominated the proceedings as they took the lead after just two minutes through their Nigerian striker Emeka Basil Onuta who managed to beat Vella with a low shot.

Zebbug were close through Marlon Ferreira Leixas with Rabat going very close in the 18th minute off a shot by Adam Smeir which was saved with difficulty by Vella.

However three minutes later the Zebbug keeper failed to hold on to the ball and Rabat’s midfield player David Azzopardi took advantage to make it 2-0.

Zebbug were practically nowhere to be seen with Rabat again going close through efforts by Adam Smeir and David Azzopardi.

Nine minutes before the break Rabat increased further their lead as a cross by Chris Schembri was headed in by Rabat’s defender Yessous Camilleri.

After the interval Zebbug failed to react with the Ajax sustaining their dominance going close on various occasions.

In the 48th minute Rabat just missed the target through a rising shot by David Azzopardi but five minutes later they further increased their lead as a conclusion by Tan Grech was partially saved by Vella by Adam Smeir was on hand to make it 4-0 with a low shot.

Then the Zebbug keeper denied Chris Schembri with a fine save but on the hour Rabat gained a penalty when Yan Grech was fouled in the penalty area.

The penalty was taken by Chris Schembri whose shot was partially saved by Vella but Chris Muscat was close by to shoot in for Rabat’s fifth goal. In the 71st minute Rabat added a sixth goal through Emeka Basil Onuta in a somewhat confused goalmouth action but in the 82nd minute Zebbug reduced the arrears through substitute George Saliba.

Five minutes from time Rabat sealed their coinvincing with another goal scored by substitute Ryan Micallef following a personal effort.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

St Patrick FC-B’buga SP 2-0

St Patrick broke the deadlock after just three minutes as a Jurgen Farrugia corner-kick was finished odd by David Mamo who managed to shoot in past Gabriel Mansueto.

Birzebbuga came back strongly and in the 20th minute an Anton Florin free-kick was saved with difficulty by Joshua Galea, the latter again doing well two minutes later as he stopped a close-range header by Carlos Camenzuli.

On the half-hour a clearance by a St Patrick defender bounced off Birzebbuga’s midfield player Noel Tabone and Galea had to make a difficult save to a corner which was taken by Anton Florin and Denis Baldacchino headed at goal with the ball being blocked by an opposing defender.

Then a lob by Carlos Camenzuli which just wide and just before the break St Patrick went close through Dylan Micallef in a swift counter-attack.

After the resumption Birzebbuga continued to push forward and in the opening minutes they were twice close through Keith Muscat and Carlos Camenzuli.

Then they were denied by the St Patrick custodian off an insidious Paul Camilleri free-kick and in the 69th minute a shot by Darren Grech finished just wide.

In the 70th minute Birzebbuga were close through Carlos Camenzuli and two minutes later they were denied by Galea off an attempt by Ronnie Celeste. In the final stages of the match St Patrick brolke away in several counter-attacks and were close through David Mamo whose shot was saved by Mansueto.

Three minutes into injury-time St Patrick sealed the issue through a goal scored by their youngster Rodnick Ellul who took advantage of a misunderstanding between Birzebbuga keeper Gabriel Mansueto and his team mate Denis Baldacchino.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Section A

Mtarfa-Xghajra T 3-1

The first period was a balanced affair with Mtarfa twice going close early on through efforts by Francesco Azzopardi and Paul Fenech.

Xghajra responded in the 15th minute through Jonathan Cachia who was however anticipated by the Mtarfa custodian Duncan Galea.

In the 32nd minute Cachia had a free-kick which was blocked and before the end of the first-half a strong shots by Neville Sciberras and Chris Dalli were well saved by the Mtarfa keeper.

After the change of ends Mtarfa gained the initiative and just two minutes a free-kick taken by Warren Grima was finished off by a close-range shot by Giorgio Cumbo to give Mtarfa a 1-0 lead.

In the 55th minute Xghajra missed a sitter through Ali Manaf and in the 64th minute the same player shot at goal but was denied by Galea.

Two minutes later Xghajra were reduced to ten players when Neville Sciberras was sent off for spitting at an opponent with Mtarfa making it 2-0 in the 70th minute through Cleavon Mizzi who finished off a cross by Francesco Azzopardi.

In the 79th minute Xghajra reduced the arrears as Ali Manaf headed in from a Jonathan Cachia corner-kick with Mtarfa wasting a clear opportunity late in the match through Azzopardi.

In the 90th minute Mtarfa sealed the issue with a third goal scored by substitute Claude Bonanno.

Referee: Anthony Buhagiar.

Marsascala-Swieqi U 0-0

The first period was a rather balanced affair with both sets of defenders dominating the proceedings.

Early on Swieqi were close through Pierre Gaillouste and in the 28th minute an Eric Sciberras crosshot was saved with difficulty by the Marsascala keeper Renald Attard.

Marsascala came strongly back through a strong shot by Matthew Gauci which was saved by Ryan Marmara whereas three minutes before the break an attempt by Max Zammit was deflected to a corner-kick.

After the change of ends Swieqi increased the pressure and after just three minutes an insidious Edward Vella free-kick finished just wide.

In the 53rd minute Swieqi’s captain John Debono missed a clear goal scoring opportunity and six minutes later Edward Vella shot high from another free-kick.

Swieqi kept pushing forward and were twice denied certain goals by Marsascala’s keeper Renald Attard off dangerous attempts by Edward Vella and Pierre Gaillouste.

In the 80th minute the Marsascala keeper brought off yet another save to deny Eric Sciberras, the latter again going close just before the final whistle from a direct free-kick.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.