Zejtun C. 0
Marsaxlokk 0
The derby game between Zejtun Corinthians and Marsaxlokk ended goalless – the first this season. It was, however, a fair result.
Zejtun saw more of the ball in the first 45 minutes with Marsaxlokk improving in the second half where they could also have won it late in the game but they missed two sitters.
Despite a 0-0 result, the match was entertaining and had plenty of good moves with Rupert Mangion and Andre Grabowski shining for the southseasiders while Oldi Matjara and Wisam Elzaredi playing a magnificent game for Zejtun.
The game started with both teams studying each other mostly in the middle of the park. The first threat at goal came from Zejtun when on 16 minutes Wisam Elzaredi hit a fierce low drive after receiving from Adrian Carabott with Omar Borg saving for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Zvezdan Vukovic headed inches wide with the Marsaxlokk custodian well beaten.
Zejtun continued to show the better ideas and on 26 minutes Oldi Matjara saw his drive from an acute angle just inside the area finishing inches wide.
Three minutes later Wisam Elzaredi saw his drive from outside the box finishing just over the crossbar.
Zejtun were unlucky not to take the lead on the half hour when Oldi Matjara sprinted into the opposing area leaving several defenders chasing his shadow, and after rounding goalkeeper Omar Borg, looked to have scored from an acute angle. But Marsaxlokk defender Kenneth Scicluna was at the right place on the line to clear the ball.
On the resumption Zejtun again saw more of the ball with Oldi Majtara still playing his heart out. But it was Wisam Elzaredi who tried his luck on 52 minutes from the edge of the area with Omar Borg saving well. On the hour Dylan Micallef failed to make contact from inside the box following an Andre Grabowski cross. Two minutes later Warren Chircop tried his luck with a volley from outside the area with the ball finishing just over the crossbar.
On 77 minutes a Mark Brincat header following a Rupert Mangion corner was magnificently saved by Ranier Farrugia for a corner. Three minutes later Zejtun responded when Adrian Carabott’s drive from the edge of the area finished inches wide.
A minute before the end of the game Marsaxlokk should have won the game when they missed two glorious opportunities. After a good pass from Mangion, Andre Grabowski, with only the goalkeeper to beat, shot straight at Ranier Farrugia. Seconds later, Mark Brincat drove the ball high and wide from underneath the crossbar.
Zejtun C.: R. Farrugia, C. Magro, M. Borg, E. Azzopardi, A. Farrugia, Z. Vukovic, D. Zarb, K. Zahra, O. Majtara, W. Elzaredi (B. Gockaj), A. Carabott.
M’Xlokk: O. Borg, R. Mifsud, M. Brincat, K. Scicluna, M. Clarke, R. Mangion, G. Caruana, W. Chircop, D. Grech, A. Grabowski, D. Micallef.
Referee: Fiodor Zammit