Vittoriosa S 0

Zejtun C 0

Zejtun Corinthains missed a golden opportunity to move closer to leaders Pieta and Rabat when they could not get past a determined Vittoriosa side.

The Stars fought for every ball and defended for long stretches in the second half as they withstood the pressure from Zejtun. Vittoriosa are in dire need of points and the one earned yesterday may prove to be priceless at the end of the campaign.

Zejtun disappointed as they see the distance from the pace setters increase. Zejtun were not penetrative yesterday and only came to life in the second half in which they exerted a sterile pressure on the Vittoriosa defence.

For the Stars, Ramon Dos Santos and goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella played a great match.

The first half was played at a very slow pace, with Zejtun having the edge over their opponents who defended well. Both sides failed to lift their level above mediocrity, with the only excitement coming from some chaotic melees in front of the Vittoriosa goal.

The best chance of the first half came on 14 minutes when Charlo Magro’s cross was met by Kenneth Abela whose header went inches wide. Vittoriosa hit back with a Gary Muir grounder that was saved by Ranier Farrugia, and Marcelo Pereira had a shot completely off target.

In the dying minutes an Elzaredi shot was blocked by a Vittoriosa defender and Kenneth Abela’s grounder was saved by Vella.

Four minutes into the second half an Elzaredi drive went wide, and on the other end substitute Dillon Pace missed the target from the edge of the area. On the hour Vittoriosa goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella brought the house down with a brilliant save off an Andre Farrugia scorcher. Minutes later Elzaredi hit over the bar following a quickly taken corner action.

Zejtun increased the pressure as Vittoriosa were now completely locked in their defensive shell. Goalkeeper Vella rushed out of position to block Kenneth Abela, and from the resultant corner the same Kenneth Abela missed a sitter heading over the bar from close range.

Coach Falzon introduced Lyden Micallef and Gers Delia in a last ditch effort to break the deadlock. Gers delia was immediately dangerous with his shot again saved in style by Vella.

Vittoriosa S J. M. Vella, L. Vella Critien, J. Camilleri, M.Barbara (D. Pace), G. Muir, L. Ramon Dos Santos, M. Pereira (J. Dalli), K. Robinson, M. Buttigieg, R. Brincat (J. Spiteri), L. Grech.

Zejtun C R. Farrugia, A. Farrugia, C. Magro, M. Borg, E. Azzopardi, K. Vassallo, N. Filipov, W. Elzaredi (G. Delia), S. Magro (L. Micallef), K. Abela, K. Ganchev.

Referee Karl Frendo Cumbo