Pembroke A. 2

St. George’s 2

Pembroke Athleta won a precious point in a dramatic way when they scored two late goals in a match that they were destined to lose.

They therefore managed to keep their unbeaten record against both teams who played first division football last year. St. George’s lost two important points against the Third Division champions after they played a good game and spent a long time in front.

Pembroke had their first action of note on the 16th minute when Marmara saved a shot from Emeka. On the 32nd minute a free-kick from Ryan Previ was saved by Calleja Cremona. Pembroke almost took the lead when Emeka put the ball past Marmara but the St. George’s defence cleared into a corner.

Pembroke continued to pile up the pressure and four minutes later a shot from Coleiro was blocked.

Last year’s Third Division champions again went close when Lydon Cilia made a good run and, pressed by two defenders, tried his luck but his shot finished whiskers from the bar. But in Pembroke’s best moment, St. George’s broke the deadlock when Osi Agboebinna scored with a low shot.

St. George’s doubled the score on the 56th minute thanks to Gary Tanti and they almost made it three when Calleja Cremona turned into a corner a shot from goalscorer Agboebinna.

Pembroke had the chance to reduce the gap on the 78th minute. Marmara, who had a good match, tipped into a corner a shot from Cilia.

Pembroke managed to overcome Marmara on the 83rd minute when Jonathan Mifsud headed past the goalie after a Cilia corner.

Goalkeeper Marmara was again the protagonist as he denied Cilia with a shot identical to the one seven minutes earlier.

But he could not do anything in the dying moments when from a corner by Cilia John Roland Emeka headed home to the joy of the Pembroke players and supporters.

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Attard, L. Cilia, J.C. Borg, M. Ellul (A. Galea), C. Leonardi (M. Borg), J. Mifsud, K. Coleiro (D. Cremona), J. Emeka, R. Caruana, G. Spiteri

St. George’s: R. Marmara, E. Sevasta, R. Previ, G. Vella, G. Tanti, J. Farrugia, E. Amaira (J. Grech), M. Brincat, S. Agius, W. Scibberas, O. Agboebinna

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

Msida S.J. 2

Kirkop U. 1

Msida St. Joseph won their first match of the season as they defeated Kirkop United 2-1 in a quiet match which escalated in the last minutes.

Msida deserved the three points as they were the better team but Kirkop’s goal kept the game undecided till the referee’s whistle.

Msida started the match on a high note and took the lead on their first attempt when Fernando de Andrade beat Caruana with a low shot after a good personal action.

Kirkop almost equalised three minutes later when a shot from Elota hit the side netting. Kirkop went close again on the 17th minute when a cross from Chris Farrugia found Darren Grech but his effort finished over the bar.

Msida doubled on the 29th minute when Fernando de Andrade beat Caruana after an action from a corner.

Kirkop reduced the gap just two minutes later, when Carlos Camenzuli was fouled in the penalty area, with the referee ordering a penalty. The same Carlos Camenzuli scored although his first shot was partially saved by Agius.

On the 50th minute Carmelo Caruana made a spectacular save after tipping into a corner a cross-shot.

Msida again were close when de Andrade made a 1-2 with Shawn Magro but Caruana was there to block.

On the 68th minute Msida almost scored when Lee Baldacchino had a shot that finished off target from the edge of the penalty area.

Kirkop made their substitutions to try and save something including for the second consecutive game substituting Chris Farrugia, but this resulted in no positive answer and things got worse on the 89th minute when Antoine Barbara and Clint Farrugia were both sent off. Their last attempts weren’t enough to save at least a point for their second defeat.

Msida SJ: J. Agius, L.Cassar, O. Zammit, M. Borda, W. Buttigieg, D. Attard, T. Templeman, S. Magro, F. De Andrade (R. Xuereb), L. Baldacchino (R. Tanti), R. Attard (M. Grioli)

Kirkop: C. Caruana, C. Camilleri, Cl. Farrugia, A. Formosa (A. Barbara), R. Galea, D. Baldacchino, Ch. Farrugia (M. Aquilina), D. Grech (J. Borg), C. Camenzuli, M. Elota, B. Bugeja

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu