Qrendi 0

Pembroke 2

Pembroke secured an important win when they defeated Qrendi 2-0. Pembroke are now leading the table with maximum points from three games while for Qrendi this was their first defeat after a win and a draw.

Pembroke went out on attack and went close through Sultana after three minutes - Zammit turned his shot into a corner.

Qrendi had an opportunity after 12 minutes but Calleja saved without any difficulty Owen Camenzuli’s shot.

Pembroke broke the deadlock on the 30th minute. A free-kick from Lydon Cilia hit the post, and Adrian Galea headed home from the rebound. On the 44th minute Pembroke hit the post through Leonardi.

On the 59th minute Pembroke went close to double when Adrian Galea recieved a through-apss but his lob went a bit wide.

On the 61st minute Pembroke missed a golden opportunity when from a Cilia cross, the Qrendi defence cleared badly but Grech’s conclusion was poor.

Qrendi had their chance when Aaron Pendry came face to face with Calleja but the young keeper saved Pendry’s lob. Pembroke closed the game on the 90th minte when a free-kick from long range Lydon Cilia’s shot was on target and finished in the post after goalkeeper Zammit didn’t keep the ball.

Qrendi: B. Zammit, D. Caruana, G. Attard (C. Debattista), S. Buhagiar, M. Farrugia, O. Camenzuli, M. Vusic, B. Demicoli, S. Galea (A. Muscat), A. Pendry, A. Formosa (M. Ellul)

Pembroke: M. Calleja, K. Sultana, R. Caruana, M. Mamo (R. Zammit), J. Mifsud, V. Martinovic, A. Galea (D. Calleja), G. Spiteri, C. Leonardi, L. Grech (A. Muscat), L. Cilia

Referee: Andre Arciola

Mgarr 1

Ghaxaq 2

Mgarr suffered their first loss this season, when they were beaten by Ghaxaq 1-2, with the goal giving Ghaxaq their victory being scored in the 90th minute.

Ghaxaq dominated over the opponents, where they had several opportunities to score, especially in the first 45 minutes.

After 18 minutes of play, Ghaxaq were close to taking the lead, when a powerful strike by Marvin Grech, who was instrumental for Ghaxaq, went slightly high over the crossbar.

Just one minute before the break, Ghaxaq took the lead thanks to Bjorn Dalli who, after going past goalkeeper Borg, concluded in the empty net.

Mgarr were never really into the match, and caused little trouble to the Ghaxaq defence. However 20 minutes before stoppage time, Mgarr built a very fast counter-attack which took their opponents by surprise, and with a low shot Chris Abela equalised for Mgarr.

Just when all seemed heading to a draw, substitute Liam Camilleri beat Borg and gained three important points for Ghaxaq.

This was the second consecutive win for Ghaxaq, who after having a wobbly start to the season, seem to be finally finding their feet.

Ghaxaq: J. Verbina, E. Dimech, M. Cassar, L. Alla, M. Vassallo (M. Zammit), J. Caruana, M. Grech, F. Galea, B. Parnis (L. Camilleri), A. Caruana, B. Dalli

Mgarr: J. Borg, M. Mifsud, W. Camilleri, J. Said, J. Ebejer, S. Camilleri, C. Tabone, P. Fenech (K. Vella), R. Marmara, C. Abela, J. Gauci (M. Deguara)

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Marsa 1

Fgura 2

Fgura registered their first win this season when they beat Marsa 2-1, in a match where they dominated over the opponents for most of the time and deserved to take the three points home.

Fgura dominated the first 45 minutes, and went very close to taking the lead five minutes into the match, when Goncalves’ precise pass found Zammit on his own in front of the goalkeeper, with the latter’s shot going inches wide. Eventually Fgura took the lead in the 13th minute, when Matthew Spiteri’s freekick from outside the penalty area found itself at the back of the net,

Marsa were more agressive after the break, and equalised after one minute from the start of the second half, thanks to Kevin SCerri, with the goal being an exact replica of the one scored by their opponents.

Fgura regained in control of the match, and were in the lead again in the 57th minute, when Michael Zammit’s header beat Brincat.

This was the second consecutive defeat for Marsa, who now find themselves on the lower side of the table with just one point.

Fgura: R. Attard, C. Calvagna, M. Portelli, M. Sammut, R. Adami, L. Vella (R. Galea), S. Aquilina, V. Camilleri, M. Spiteri, R. V. Gonealves, M. Zammit (S. Pace)

Marsa: K. Brincat, C. Cremona, S. Cutajar, L. Bugeja, B. Zammit, K. Scerri, J. P. Zammit, E. Vella, J. Camilleri, K. Brincat, Y. Abdullahi

Referee: Clayton Pisani

Mdina 3

Marsascala 0

Mdina are back to winning form after their defeat against Pembroke, when they beat Marsascala 3-0, with all three goals being scored in the second half, including a brace by Cachel Vella. Mdina also failed to score a penalty.

The only action worthy of note in the first half came in the 24th minute, when a shot by Saliba went slightly high over the crossbar.

Three minutes from the start of the second half, Mdina were awarded a penalty for a foul by Sultana in the penalty area, however Saliba’s strike from the spot was saved by Peplow.

Ten minutes later, Mdina deservedly took the lead, when from a pass by Micallef, Cachel Vella beat Peplow with a low shot.

In the 60th minute, Mdina doubled their lead once again thanks to the same Vella who, after a good run along the left flank, beat the Marsascala custodian.

This was not enough for Mdina, and ten minutes later they sealed the match with a header by Robert Southland on a cross by Saliba.

Marsascala did not offer any opposition to Mdina, who dominated the match from start to finish. This is the second consecutive defeat for Marsascala. Their only points come from the match against Xghajra, where the score was turned in their favour on the table earlier last week as they won a protest.

Mdina: M. Aquilina, L. Mercieca, A. Spiteri, G. Camilleri, A. Catania, J. Buhagiar (M. Francalanza), R. Southland, A. Buhagiar (T. Fenech), N. Micallef, M. Saliba, C. Vella

Marsascala: J. Peplow, E. Desira (A. Yeomans), J. Saliba, J. Galdes, S. Sultana, B. Grech, A. Domenicus (L. Farrugia), D. C. Ionut, G. Azzopardi

Referee: Daryl Agius

Xghajra 2

Mtarfa 2

In the match against Mtarfa, Xghajra gained a point which is psychologically very important for them, following this week’s events where their win against Marsascala earlier on in the season was turned into a loss.

Xghajra dominated the first half, and were very near to scoring in the 14th minute, when a header by Vella hit the post.

After 30 minutes of play, the Tornadoes’ efforts were rewarded as they took the lead thanks to a header by Lizio Grech, on a cross by C. Magro.

Mtarfa had a good start to the second half, and equalised in the 61st minute, when following a good run, C. Magro’s shot from outside the box hit the crossbar, and from the rebound, Luca Borg concluded in the empty net.

Xghajra’s reaction was immediate, and just seven minutes later they took the lead again, when goalkeeper Galea failed to restrain Attard’s shot, with Lizio Grech was near enough to finish off the action.

Fifteen minutes before stoppage time, Mtarfa managed to save the point thanks to Ryan Zammit, who went past goalkeeper Camilleri and placed the ball at the back of the net. Mtarfa played the last two minutes with 10 men, as substitute Omar Smier committed his second bookable offence and was sent off for foul play.

Even if Xghajra dominated most of the match, the players lost their concentration easily, which Mtarfa used to their advantage. Xghajra need to put this week’s events behind them, and find again the good form with which they played their first two games.

Mtarfa: D. Galea, C. Calleja, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, S. Peplow, L. Vella (L. Borg), C. Bonello (O. Smier), F. Azzopardi, R. Zammit, J.P. Ciantar, A. Wingfield (P. Azzopardi)

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, G. Saliba (J. Cachia), S. Camilleri, A. Vella, A. Muscat (D. Mercieca), B. Magro, C. Magro, C. Cioffi (N. Attard), L. Grech, A. Manaf, K. Caruana

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

Sirens 3

Kalkara 2

Sirens turned a defeat into a win in the last 15 minutes when they beat Kalkara 3-2 to record their second win. Kalkara were very close to record their first point of the season but Giovanni Galea’s penalty five minutes from time denied them their first point.

Sirens opened the score after just 48 seconds when George Falzon hit a low shot from outside the box. Kalkara respnded with the equalising goal just three minutes later. From a corner by Zammit, Abdul Kawed Musha rose above all his team-mates and with a good header beat Vella. Kalkara had the opportunity to go in-front in the seventh minute when Matthew Cassar came face to face with Vella but his shot went off target.

On the 19th minute a free-kick from Zammit was saved by Vella. Kalkara took the lead on the 42nd minute when from a free-kick, Jonathan Grech deflected his header into his own net for an unfortunate goal.

In the second half both teams had fewer opportunities. On the 49th minute a shot from Musha took the illusion of a goal.

On the 62nd minute Sirens had a good opportunity but the final shot from Clifford Agius finished out.

On the 78th minute Sirens levelled matters when George Falzon lobbed the ball over Gatt’s head.

On the 85th minute Sirens were awarded a penalty when Galea was fouled in the box. From the 11 metre spot Giovanni Galea scored the important goal.

Sirens: J. P. Vella, D. Sant, C. Agius, J. Grech, G. Grant, G. Vella, S. Pisani (R. Scibberas), K. Bonavia, G. Galea, G. Falzon (J. Camilleri), G. Gauci (K. Montebello).

Kalkara: N. Gatt, M. Agius, J. Cassar (J. Fenech), M. Cassar, C. Barbara, F. Azzopardi, A. Musha, S. Nikolaev, C. Grima, C. Zammit (J. Camilleri), D. Mifsud

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri