Birzebbuga 0

St Patrick 1

Bottom placed St Patrick beat Birzebbuga thanks to an Alex Muscat goal scored inside the first minute of the second half.

It was a rather harsh result on Birzebbuga who could have wrapped up the match in the first half, hitting the post and having two balls cleared off the goal line with the Saint goalkeeper beaten.

However once the Saints forged ahead early in the second half, they played better and administered their slender lead till the final whistle, with Birzebbuga unable to reproduce their first half performance.

Birzebbuga created the first danger after a couple of minutes with a dangerous Ronnie Celeste cross shot that was well saved by Joshua Galea. On the other end Glockaj tested the Birzebbuga goalkeeper who effected a fine save.

On 18 minutes Glockaj made a fine run in the heart of the penalty area, but his was not met by Engoudou. Three minutes later Joshua Galea saved a great Schneider effort.

The same Schneider went close again with a good header that slightly missed the target. On 28 minutes Birzebbuga were rather unlucky when a Kenneth Spiteri header was cleared off the goal line by Jurgen Farugia.

On 37 minutes a Schneider well taken freekick slammed against the crossbar and three minutes from the break, luck once again turned its back on Birzebbuga when an Onuta header was again cleared off the goal line, this time by Evair Grech.

Thirty seconds from the restart St Patrick took a surprise lead when in a quick break Steve Dimech passed to Alex Allul who made no mistake in front of Ivan Casha.

Birzebbuga lost their composure and St Patrick went close a second scoring with shots from Glockaj and Alex Ellul. Birzebbuga had a good opportunity on the hour but Celeste headed wide from close range. On 63 minutes Glenn Tanti’s shot was saved by Joshua Galea.

On 75 minutes Birzebbuga had their last chance of saving the match but Mead Mifsud’d shot was once again blocked on the goal line by Engoudou. Four minutes later referee Caruana showed the red card to Birzebbuga goalkeeper Ivan Casha, apparently after the latter passed some remarks to the official.

Midfielder Mark Pullicino went between the posta as Birzebbuga had already made the three changes and could not romp in a substitute goalkeeper.

Minutes later Pullicino was saved by the post from a Matthew Xerri header.

Birzebbuga tried a last ditch effort to save the match but could not get past a crowded St Patrick defence.

Birzebbuga I. Casha, K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, D. Milovic, F. Schneider, G. Tanti, L. Grima (D. Baldacchino), M. Sciortino (K. Muscat) , M. Mifsud, B. Onuta (B. Marev), R. Celeste.

St Patrick J. Galea, E. Grech, B. Engoudou, M. Vela, A. Ellul (R. Vella), A. Galea, B. Gockaj (S. Agius), S. Zerafa, J. Farrugia, I. Scciluna (M. Xerri), S. Dimech.

Referee Paul Caruana

Zejtun C 0

Naxxar L 1

The rivalry that built up during the last seasons between Naxxar and Zejtun attracted a bumper crowd at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Naxxar Lions left their best for this match as they played their best game so far this season tograb their first victory and move to healthier position in the table.

It was deserved victory against a below par Zejtun side who finished the match with ten players as they had Filipov sent off a minute after suffering the decisive goal.

This defeat hinders Zejtun’s march with the top sides, and are now six points adrift of league leaders Pieta.

Naxxar were the better team in the opening stages with a De Lima Seueira shot going inches wide, and on five minutes Fiori Dos Santos dribbled past Charlo Magro, but goalkeeper Farrugia dived in his feet to save a certain goal.

On 18 minutes the Zejtun goalkeeper had to come to his side’s rescue saving a point blank shot from Fiori Dos Santos. Zejtun’s only effort came from a Kenneth Abela shot that was easily saved by goalkeeper Justin Spiteri.

After this initial fury from the Lions, the match was more balanced for the rest of the first half, with play mainly in midfield. On 32 minutes Naxxar’s Darren Falzon had a good move on the right flank but his effort was again saved by Ranier Farrugia.

The second half continued on the same wavelength with Zejtun now exherting more pressure on Naxxar but the Lions were more dangerous in their breaks. On the hour Zejtun goalkeeper Ranier Farrugia again came to his side’s rescue when he denied Boris Odwong with a great save.

Two minutes later Naxxar were unlucky when a Darren Falzon scorcher slammed against the upright with Farrugia beaten.

On 72 minutes Zejtun coach Falzon made a double substitution which had a disastrous effect on Zejtun. Two minutes later one of the substitutes Jason Cachia failed to clear the ball in defence and Boris Odwong pounced on the ball dribbled past goalkeeper Farrugia to slot the ball in an empty net. A minute later Zejtun were reduced to ten players when Filipov was shown a second yellow to make Zejtun’s recovery more difficult.

In the dying minutes Zejtun pushed everything forward and went very close on 87 minutes with a Matthew Borg header cleared off the goal line by Lyden Micallef.

Zejtun C R. Farrugia, K. Vassallo (V. Camilleri), M. Borg, E. Azzopardi, C. Magro, J. Abela, R. Cauchi (L. Micallef), N. Filipov, K. Ganchev (J. Cachia), G. Delia, K. Abela.

Naxxar L J. Spiteri, V. Bellia, J. Debono, D. Falzon, A. Farrugia, R. Schembri, L. Micallef, A. Attard, H. De Lima Siqueira (M. Del Negro), E. Fiori Dos Santos, B. Odwong.

Referee Sandro Spiteri