Melita 2
Dingli S 1
Melita turned a defeat into victory yesterday against Dingli Swallows to go joint second in the table together with Mqabba, having however played a game more.
In the end Melita were worthy winners, even though their performance yesterday was not of their best, especially in defence where many a times they were caught napping.
Dingli had a very promising start taking an early and dominating the first part. But gradually Dingli faded out and Melita took a tight grip on the match to grab three precious points that puts them among the top clubs in the division.
Melita had their first attempt on two minutes when Matthew Borg tested Jeffrey Farrugia. On four minutes Dingli took the lead when Chirino passed towards Charlon Sammut whose lob hit the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net.
Dingli enjoyed their best patch and minutes later a Chirino header towards Sammut but this time Zahra was on the alert and saved. Zahra again came to his side’s rescue on 23 minutes saving a Leontiev Konda effort.
Slowly but surely Melita started to play better. They eventually equalized on 32 minutes when from a Julian Galea freekick, George Gribbon headed powerfully home. A minute later Melita went close again with a good move between Calcado and Matthew Borg who passed towards Luca Martinelli whose shot missed the upright by a whisker.
On the resumption, Melita almost scored when a Carnago freekick deceived the Dingli defence but goalkeeper Farrugia managed to turn the ball to safety. Kondev and Reuben Vella had good attempts for Dingli, but their efforts went off target.
On 64 minutes Melita took the lead when Michael Cachia surprised a hesitant Farugia to head home from close range following a Carnago corner. Dingli were now found wanting as they could not make a decent reaction.
Melita could have added a third on 73 minutes but Matthew Borg’s brilliant dribbling inside the area was stopped by a great Farrugia save. Eight minutes from time Melita wrapped up the match when Luke Micallef beat a couple of defenders before beating Farrugia in the far corner for a well taken goal.
In the final minutes Dingli laid siege on Melita’s shaky defence, but although passing through some anxious moments, they held on to their two-goal lead and become contenders for a Premier place. Melita 2
Dingli S 1
Melita turned a defeat into victory yesterday against Dingli Swallows to go joint second in the table together with Mqabba, having however played a game more.
In the end Melita were worthy winners, even though their performance yesterday was not of their best, especially in defence where many a times they were caught napping.
Dingli had a very promising start taking an early and dominating the first part. But gradually Dingli faded out and Melita took a tight grip on the match to grab three precious points that puts them among the top clubs in the division.
Melita had their first attempt on two minutes when Matthew Borg tested Jeffrey Farrugia. On four minutes Dingli took the lead when Chirino passed towards Charlon Sammut whose lob hit the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net.
Dingli enjoyed their best patch and minutes later a Chirino header towards Sammut but this time Zahra was on the alert and saved. Zahra again came to his side’s rescue on 23 minutes saving a Leontiev Konda effort.
Slowly but surely Melita started to play better. They eventually equalized on 32 minutes when from a Julian Galea freekick, George Gribbon headed powerfully home. A minute later Melita went close again with a good move between Calcado and Matthew Borg who passed towards Luca Martinelli whose shot missed the upright by a whisker.
On the resumption, Melita almost scored when a Carnago freekick deceived the Dingli defence but goalkeeper Farrugia managed to turn the ball to safety. Kondev and Reuben Vella had good attempts for Dingli, but their efforts went off target.
On 64 minutes Melita took the lead when Michael Cachia surprised a hesitant Farugia to head home from close range following a Carnago corner. Dingli were now found wanting as they could not make a decent reaction.
Melita could have added a third on 73 minutes but Matthew Borg’s brilliant dribbling inside the area was stopped by a great Farrugia save. Eight minutes from time Melita wrapped up the match when Luke Micallef beat a couple of defenders before beating Farrugia in the far corner for a well taken goal.
In the final minutes Dingli laid siege on Melita’s shaky defence, but although passing through some anxious moments, they held on to their two-goal lead and become contenders for a Premier place.
Dzanovic injury time goal gives Lija the three points
St Andrew’s 1
Lija A 2
Admir Dzanovic scored an injury time winnr as Lija returned to winning ways beating St Andrew’s by the odd goal in three.
A draw would have been a fairer result as St Andrew’s were the better team especially in the first half, but Lija scored a dramatic winner after suffering the Saints opener on the hour.
The match never really reached high standards with play mainly in midfield. The victory puts back Lija within striking distance of the top teams, and can still hope to fight it out for the promotion race, even if they have to improve considerably if they wish to entertain such hopes.
In a boring first half St Andrew’s had more of the ball and held territorial supremacy for long stretches but had nothing to show at the end of the first 45 minutes.
On the other hand Lija defended for most of the time but had the best chance of the first half in its final minutes.
Lija defender Formosa avoided a certain goal in the opening stages when he blocked Kurt Coleiro following a powerful run by Briscoe White on the right flank. Kurt Coleiro tried his luck from the edge of the area but his shot was completely off target.
Vella Petroni tested Mintoff with a central shot that was easily saved by the Lija custodian, and Faisal Anakua shot wide following a Valenzia pass.
In the final stages Lija striker Antoine Sacco failed to connect in front of goal to miss a rather easy chanve and on 43 minutes Beppe Antignolo nodded down towards Wayne Borg St. Jon whose first timer was brilliantly saved by Carandente in spectacular fashion.
On the resumption, Valenzia tested Mintoff direct from a freekick, and on the hour the Saints took the lead. Nicky Vella Petroni was put through by Kurt Coleiro, and Lija’s Scicluna tried to anticipate Vella Petroni but the ball bounced off the Saints’ striker to finish at the back of the net.
The Saints’ joy was short lived as three minutes later Lija were back on level terms when substitute Keith Darmanin was floored by Jonathan Briscoe White and the same Darmanin converted the penalty in style.
St Andrew’s could have taken the lead again, but a Ben Diacono shot on the turn missed the base of the upright and on 75 minutes Faisal Anakua pounced on a Lija defensive blunder but his effort was blocked by Mintoff.
In stoppage time the unexpected happened when Darmanin passed towards Admir Dzanovic who beat Carandente on the first post for the winner.