Zurrieq 0

Siggiewi 1

Siggiewi managed to win their first match after beating Zurrieq 1-0. The goal that decided the match came in the dying minutes and sure was a big blow to Zurrieq who also had their chances throughout the match.

The first half was a balanced one with both teams making sure not to concede any goals.

The first real chance of the match came to Zurrieq on the 23rd minute when Clive Shumba shot was deflected by his team-mate. Siggiewi gained confidence and were better than Zurrieq.

Infact they had a scoring opportunity on the half hour mark when Josef Vassallo’s shot was saved by the Zurrieq goalkeeper Kevin Ellul. Ellul saved his team when Roderick Farrugia managed to beat the offside trap but his lob was saves by the Zurrieq keeper.

Zurrieq were the better team in the opening minutes of the second half and had their best opportunity in the match when Shumba’s shot hit the post in the 49th minute. After that chance Siggiewi took control of the game and had two great chances in the 74th and 76th minutes. I

n the 78th minute Lee Grima and Edward Vella were sent-off after an argument which resulted in a fight. Siggiewi managed to score the winning goal in the 90th minute thanks to Josef Vassallo.

Zurrieq: K. Ellul, D. Bonnici, D. Bellizzi, K. Sacco, J. Lia, L. Grima, J. Briffa (D. Mula), K. Agius, J. Briffa, C. Shumba (N. Abdilla), A. Portelli (C. Caruana)

Siggiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin, N. Galea, M. Camilleri, M. Bajada, E. Vella, K. Buhagiar (M. Deguara), E. Cutajar, R. Farrugia, A. Shkjau (M. Vella), J. Vassallo (E. Bugeja)

Referee: Stefan Pace

Gharghur 1

St Venera 0

Third Division Champions Gharghur won their first match after beating St Venera 1-0. Gharghur were by far the better team and had the best scoring opportunities. St Venera found it difficult but had their best chance of the match in the dying minutes and failed to equalise.

The first half had few scoring opportunites with the half being characterised with possession. Infact the real first opportunity came in the 19th minute when Malcolm Tirchett’s shot went out.

St Venera had an opportunity with a free-kick from Dylan Mercieca but his shot went wide. Foreigner Nwoba had a personal action but didn’t shot on target. Gharghur went in front on the 42nd minute when Luke Stivala connected from a cross from the left.

In the second half Gharghur were superior but didn’t close the game to keep the game undecided till the end. On the 54th minute Nwoba failed to reach a cross from Iro Curmi. Nwoba also had a free-kick saved by Cuschieri.

In the last 15 minutes Gharghur hit the post and also had a shot from veteran Tirchett that went off target. The best chance of the match came to St Venera in the additional time but the Gharghur defence managed to clear two attempts to win the match.

Gharghur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, B. Perry Acton, R. Mifsud, J. Debattista, E. Lapira, B. Antignolo (C. Vella Petroni), I. Curmi (C. Farrugia), M. Tirchett, K. Azzopardi, J. G. Nwoba (G. Cuervonial).

St Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Onouha, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia (J. Zammit), K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili (J. Taliana), D. Wingfield, M. Grech, E. Muscat, D. Mercieca (R. Carbonaro).

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut

Luqa SA 3

Kirkop U 1

In a match between two newly-promoted squads, it was Luqa who prevailed when they defeated Kirkop with three goals to one.

Kirkop dominated the first half, however failed to threathen Luqa’s defence.

In the second half, Luqa were more agressive, and their efforts were rewarded in the 60th minute, when after a precise pass from Debattista, George Frendo beat Pryke with a lovely strike.

Luqa doubled the lead in the 70th minute, when upon reeiving from substitute Good, it was once again George Frendo who delivered a low shot past Kirkop’s custodian.

Just seven minutes later, Luqa make them 3-0. Following a good run from Roderick Debattista, he scored Luqa’s third goal from outside the penalty area.

Kirkop tried to get back into the match when Rumen Kerekov fled the Saints’ defence and placed the ball at the top of the net beating Psaila.

This, however came too late, and Kirkop could not prevent Luqa from taking their first three points of the season.

Kirkop United: D. Pryke, C. Farrugia, J. Attard, A. Busuttil, R. Galea, B. Falzon, O. Buhagiar (M. Theuma), I. Stankovic, R. Kerekov, D. Zammit (P.P. Cassar), L. Zammit (B. Bugeja)

Luqa St. Andrew’s: P. Psaila, L. Vella, F. Cauchi, M. Ciantar (J. Fenech), R. Pemra, R. Debattista, L. Baldacchino (A. Psaila), J. Camilleri (J. Good), D. Agius, A. Abdilla, G. Frendo

Referee: Mohammed Kalik

Mellieha 2

Attard 1

In one of the opening matches of the season, Mellieha defeated newly-promoted Attard by two goals to one.

Attard were first to take the lead after just seven minutes. From a free-kick outside the penalty area taken by Andrew Agius, Darren Galea beat Gauci with a low strike.

Mellieha’s reaction was immediate, and after only ten minutes, Matthew Vella scored the equaliser upon recieving from Loquete.

At the start of the second half, Mellieha took the lead. Taylor’s shot on target was temporarily blocked by Attard’s defence, with the ball being once again ‘stolen’ by Tiago Loquete who put the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the 60th minute, Attard were down to 10 men, when Agius committed his second bookable offence and was sent off.

Ten minutes from stoppage time, Mellieha were also forced to finish the game with 10 men, when Loquete was forced to retire due to injury, with Mellieha having already made use of all their substitutions.

This did not, however, preclude Mellieha from defending their lead, and gaining their first three points this season.

Mellieha: S. Gauci, M. Vella, M. Abela (M. Borg), W. Buttigieg, D. Cauchi, P. Tailor, K. Fenech (W. Borg St. John), W. Borg, K. Simiano, T. Loquete, J. Vella (M. Vella)

Attard: C. Cini, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, A. Agius, D. Gauci, J.C. Cachia, D. Galea, R. Filipov, K. Said (A. Lanzon), D. Traykov, C. Farrugia

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu