Zurrieq 1

Senglea A 0

Zurrieq won an important match when in a direct bottom table encounter they defeated Senglea Athletic 1-0.

Zurrieq were the better team in the first half but Senglea had their chances in the second half and were territorially better than Zurrieq.

The first opportunity came for Zurrieq when a shot from Josef Briffa was saved by Bartolo. Zurrieq went ahead on the 23rd minute when a powerful shot from Matthew Genuis gave no chance to Bartolo.

On the 31st minute Lia crossed to Johan Briffa and the header gave the illusion of a goal but his header went a bit wide. Three minutes later Senglea had their best chance at that moment when Ellul came out of the box badly and provideda chance for Emeka but his shot in a practically empty net finished out.

Senglea were better in the second half and on the hour mark a cross from Andrew Sciortino found Emeka but his header was saved by Ellul and on the 67th minute Brady Zerafa crossed the ball to Stacey Vella but his header went wide. Senglea were the better team territorially but weren’t dangerous enough until on the 85th minute another cross from Zerafa to Rababah saw Ellul saving his header.

On the 90th minute Zurrieq could have closed the game but Vukovic’s finished wide.

Zurrieq: K. Ellul, A. Barbara, K. Sacco, N. Abdilla, D. Bonnici, M. Genuis, Jos. Briffa, Joh, Briffa, J. Lia (A. Portelli), Z. Vukovic, A. Camilleri (J. Fenech)

Senglea: B. Bartolo, R. Tanti, B. Zerafa, M. Ciappara, S. Vella, J. Alebe, A. Sciortino (K. Galea), R. Micallef (S. Calleja), G. Brincat, O. Rababah, J. Emeka

Referee: Jude Utulu

San Gwann 3

Kirkop 2

After only 17 minutes San Gwann were already 2-0 but a good comeback and a 92nd minute goal by substitute Shawn Vella gave the win to his side.

Kirkop have to feel disappointed they went home empty handed after gaining a two-goal cushion, and being the better team for many parts of the game.

On the 4th minute a free-kick from Albert Busuttil found Daniel Zammit but his header finished wide. A minute later Carbonaro saved a shot from Kerekov.

Four minutes later Kirkop took the lead after a cross by Michael Theuma in the small box that found Daniel Zammit who put past Carbonaro with a good header.

On the 17th minute Kirkop doubled their lead when Rumen Kerekov scored with a low shot and put past Carbonaro for the second time.

San Gwann reduced the gap a minute later when Richard Attard scored with a good header after a free-kick from Chris Carbonaro.

San Gwann scored their second goal two minutes later. It was again Richard Attard that with a beautiful shot put past Caruana. On the half hour mark Kirkop almost regained their lead when a shot from Dassier Borg was saved by Carbonaro.

On the 46th minute Kirkop went close again from another Albert Busuttil free-kick, Rumen Kerekov headed over the bar.

On the 57th minute San Gwann had their chance when after some confusion in the box, a shot from Dassier Borg went a bit wide.

On the 84th minute Claude Carbonaro made a fanastic save after he turned into a corner a shot from Christopher Farrugia.

In the dying moments Kirkop had the chance to score but it was San Gwann who scored the winning goal on the 92nd minute when substitute Shawn Vella lobbed the ball over Carmelo Caruana among the happy faces of the San Gwann players.

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, K. Vella, Q. Bregman, G. Agius, M. Francica, P. Xuereb, C. Cuschieri (A. Borg), C. Pace, C. Cacciatolo, R. Attard (S. Vella), D. Borg (J. Borg)

Kirkop: C. Caruana, M. Pisani, M. Aquilina, A. Busuttil, M. Rahmani, B. Falzon, O. Buhagiar (C. Mifsud), I. Stankovic, R. Kerekov, D. Zammit, M. Theuma (C. Farrugia)

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Gudja 0

Luqa 0

Gudja failed to keep the pace with Gzira when their outing against Luqa ended in a goalless draw, thus leaving Gudja in the second place with 16 points, tied with Mellieha, but allowing Gzira to go four points clear at the summit of the table.

The first 45 minutes were highly motivated, with both teams having various scoring opportunities. The first chance game Gudja’s side 24 minutes into the match, when after going past Luqa’s goalkeeper, Bonello’s shot went incredibly high over the crossbar.

Six minutes later, Luqa were close to scoring, when Baldacchino’s shot from outside the area skimmed the woodwork. In the 53rd minute, Luqa were at it again, when after receiving from substitute Brazilino, it was once again Baldacchino who saw his effort going inches wide.

The second half saw less action than the first, with both teams being cautious and rarely approaching the opponents’ posts.

Gudja had a good chance 20 minutes from time, when from a cross by Cutajar, Milutinovic’s header went slightly high.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, C. Galea, G. Cutajar, J. Tonna, M. Milutinovic, K. Bonello, W. Camenzuli, E. Bugeja, A. Guazzo (E. Vella), P.P. Sammut, T. Thomas (C. Grech)

Luqa: P. Psaila, A. Psaila (J. Fenech), F. Cauchi, A. Abdilla, C. Caruana, M. Camilleri (S. Brazilino), C. Gatt, R. Debattista, L. Baldacchino, M. Ciantar, G. Frendo (J. Good)

Referee: Stephen Gatt

Gharghur 0

Msida 3

Msida took Gharghur by surprise when they unexpectedly won the duel between the two with the comfortable score of 3-0.

The winning side dominated for the entire 90 minutes, after having lost their last four outings. Thanks to these three points, Msida now go up to the middle of the table with nine points, whereas Gharghur temporarily retain their spot in the upper part of the grid with 14 points.

Msida took the lead after just seven minutes, when after a precise pass from Zammit, Matthew Clarke beat goalkeeper Zarb with a splendid header.

Fifteen minutes later, Gharghur were close to levelling the match, when Nwoba’s powerful effort hit the upright.

Gharghur’s efforts were cut short when in the 26th minute, Msida doubled their lead thanks to a wonderful direct freekick by Phiram Sakchai from outside the custodian’s area.

The second half was once again dominated by Msida, who sealed the match 20 minutes from stoppage time, when after a good run along the left flank, Fernando Donizeto de Andrade beat Zarb for the third time with a long-distance drive.

Gharghur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, C. Farrugia, R. Mifsud, J. Debattista, K. Azzopardi (E. Lapira), I. Curmi (M. Borg Olivier), B. Antignolo, R. Guerriero Gravata (D. Brincat), J. O. Nwoba, C.Vella

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, M. Clarke, M. Borda, P. Sakchai, D. Attard (M. Pisani), R. Xuereb, F. D. De Andrade, O. Zammit, A. Pirrone (M. Busuttil), M. Curtis (J. Paiva)

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi

Siggiewi 0

Mellieha 3

Mellieha registered an important win over Siggiewi on Sunday, when they beat their opponents 3-0, thanks to a hat-trick by Thiago Loquete, his second this season, with the first two goals being scored in the first 30 minutes of the match.

This win has lifted Mellieha to the second place on the table with 16 points, tied with Gudja.

Mellieha opened the scoring 13 minutes into the match, when after receiving from Fenech, Thiago Loquete beat Siggiewi’s custodian with a powerful low shot. Twelve minutes later, Mellieha increased their lead, when from a freekick by Fenech, Loquete rose above everyone and once again beat Vella with a looping header.

In the 65th minute, Siggiewi protested for a penalty when Ciappara was fouled in the area, but the referee allowed play to continue.

Yet the best action of the game, which led to Mellieha’s third goal, came in 68th minute, when following a personal action by key-performer Loquete, the Mellieha striker took Vella by surprise with a lovely long-distance drive from outside the penalty area, thus sealing Mellieha’s well-deserved win.

Siggiewi: J. Vella, S. Delia, N. Galea, E. Vella, B. Galea, E. Bugeja, E. Cutajar, M. Camilleri (M. Deguara), R. Farrugia, J. Vassallo (I. Darmanin), E. Ciappara

Mellieha: J. Abela, M. Vella, W. Buttigieg (L. Cauchi), P. Taylor, W. Borg, D. Cauchi, K. Gauci, K. Fenech, W. Borg St. John, M. Vella (R. Perkins), T. Loquete (M. Borg)

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

Zebbug 3

Attard 0

Zebbug put on a very good performance in their match against Attard, where they triumphed over their opponents with the comfortable score of 3-0, thanks to a brace by Uchenna Anyanwu.

Thus they maintained their place in the middle of the grid with 12 points. This was the fifth loss for Attard, who thus continue their descent in the standings with just five points.

Zebbug dominated the entire match, as Attard offered no resistance to their opponent’s attacks. After 39 minutes of play, Zebbug opened the scoring thanks to Uchenna Anyanwu who beat goalkeeper Ubberden with a splendid header on an Agius’ cross.

The second set of 45 minutes saw little change in the game’s flow, with the Rangers dictating play all along. They increased their lead in the 82nd minute, when Anyanwu’s pass found Sonyo Pereire da Mata unmarked in front of the goalkeeper, and beat Ubberden with a low effort.

Five minutes from stoppage time, Zebbug sealed the three points, when substiute Grech fouled Anyanwu in the area, with the referee awarding a penalty. From the spot, Uchenna Anyanwu hit home, beating Ubberde for the second time.

Zebbug: J. Mercieca, G. Mallia, M. Brincat, J. Mercieca (J. Felice), D. Caruana, R. Spiteri, M. Farrugia, J. Agius (D. D’Agostino), S. Pereira da Mata (B. Chetcuti), U. Anyanwu, M. Tirchett

Attard: R. J. Ubberden, O. Tabone (A. Lanzon), C. Lanzon, K. Said (C. Farrugia), D. Gauci, J. C. Cachia, D. Galea (A. Agius), R. Pipipov, K. Zahra, D. Traykov, E. Thornton

Referee: Luke Portelli

Gzira U. 2

St.Venera 1

Second Divison leaders Gzira United maintained their top position with a hard earned victory over St Venera Lightnings with the odd goal in three, with all goals scored in a ten-minute burst in the first half.

Gzira took the lead on 21 minutes thanks to veteran striker Simon Shead who beat Cuschieri with a fine shot from just inside the penalty area. But their joy was shortlived as St Venera equalised two minutes later with Rudi Carbonaro finishing off a fine move.

But on 32 minutes Gzira scored what proved to be the winner, when Ryan Deguara powered his way inside the box, dribbled past goalkeeper Cuschieri and slotted home.

In the second half both sides had good scoring chances with St Venera going very close ten minutes from time with an Andrew Hili shot missing the post by a whisker. In the dying moments of the match Gzira’s Karl Saliba was sent off, but the Lightnings had no more time left to recover.

Gzira U: S. Agius, R. Goncalves Aldinho, A. Ewurun, S. Shead, Y. Tonna, R. Deguara, K. Saliba, J.M. Hassey, A. Galea, K. Cassar, T. Micallef

St Venera L: W. Cuschieri, J. Onouha, M. Muscat, K. Cilia (M. Grech), G. Micallef, A. Hili (J. Zammit), R. Carbonaro, R. Borg, E. Muscat, D. Mercieca, D. Calleja.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.