Vittoriosa S 4

St. George’s 2

Vittoriosa scored two late goals to win a thrilling Cottonera derby and move to a healthier position in the table. On the contrary this defeat leaves St george’s in a sorry state at the bottom of the table.

It was a tense and ill-tempered derby with both players ending the match with ten players. Referee Clayton Pisani had an excellent control of this very difficult match.

In the end Vittoriosa deserved their victory with Marcelo Pereira scoring a hat trick, even though the scoreline is too harsh on St. George’s.

A sizeable crowd was present for this much awaited derby, which grew in importance as both sides are in dire need of points in their desperate attempt to avoid the drop.

Vittoriosa were slightly better in the first half, with their Scottish striker Gary Muir dominant in the opening minutes. Muir had to dangerous attempts slightly missing the target.

The Saints crawled back in the match after a difficult start as they started to get more of the ball with Inguanez, Rocha Dos Santos and Dolmov their most dangerous players.

The match was played mainly in midfield with very few scoring chances after Vittoriosa’s initial fury. St. George’s had a good chance on 25 minutes when Inguanez passed towards Dolmov who tested Jean Mattias Vella in the Vittoriosa goal.

The best move and chance of the first half came Vittoriosa’s way just past the half hour when Muir back kicked towards Marcelo Pereira who fired a scorcher from just inside the box, but goalkeeper Ryan Marmara made a stunning save tipping the ball into a corner.

In the dying minutes the Saints had pemalty appeals turned down by the referee when defender Brandon Bonnici appeared to handle the ball in a tackle with Rocha Dos Santos.

At the start of the second half Vittoriosa had a dangerous Gary Muir freekick going inches wide. On 58 minutes Vittoriosa broke the deadlock when Roberto Brincat floated a freekick inside the penalty area, Marmara mistimed his sortie and Marcelo Pereira anticipated the goalkeeper to head home.

But five minutes later both sides were back on level terms when Ramon Dos Santos lost possession of the ball, and Klinsmann Grech was floored by substitute Larry Lagana with the referee pointing for the penalty spot. Gary Inguanez made no mistake from the spot with a low shot.

Vittoriosa had a glorious chance to move back in front but Marcelo Pereira missed a sitter when he blasted well over the bar from the heart of the penalty area.

It was a different match now with both sides doing their utmost to score the winner. On 74 minutes St George’s were dealt a severe blow when Dylan Zarb received a second booking for a penalty simulation and the Saints had to play the last part with ten players.

Eight minutes from time Vittoriosa took the lead when Leighton Grech’s shot was somehow blocked by Marmara but from the rebound the same Grech fired home. A minute later Vittoriosa were also reduced to ten players when Larry Lagan received a second booking, but sixty seconds later Vittoriosa put the issue beyond doubt when Marcelo Pereira broke loose to beat Marmara with a grounder.

In stoppage time Vittoriosa made it four with another Marcelo Pereira counter break and on 95 minutes St George’s scored a consolation goal when Jonathan Ruiz scored from close range.

Vittoriosa S J.M. Vella, B. Bonnici, M. Buttigieg, J. Camilleri (L. Lagana), R. Dos Santos, A. Spiteri (M. Barbara), K.M. Robinson, R. Brincat, M. Pereira, G. Muir, L. Grech (L. Grech).

St. George’s R. Marmara, D. Zahra (A. Mercieca), L. Rocha Dos Santos, E. Sevasta, A. Abela, G. Inguanez, R. Boutahir, D. Zarb, E. Amaira, K. Grech (A. Bonello), G. Dolmov (J. Ruiz).

Referee Clayton Pisani