Pembroke 2

Gharghur 1

Pembroke registered their third victory this season by narrowly beating Gharghur 2-1 on Saturday, thus maintaining their place at the summit of the table with seven points, and immediately launching themselves as favourite candidates for promotion.

Gharghur, on the other hand, suffered their second defeat, and after four outings, they are still without a victory.

Pembroke opened the scoring after 20 minutes of play, when Cremona passed towards MATTHEW BORG, who beat Carabott with a powerful long-distance effort.

Shortly before the break, Gharghur were back in the match, when Pembroke’s goalkeeper converted a dangerous shot into a corner. On Busuttil’s cross from the angle, DAVID MAMO’s first timer took the opposing defence by surprise.

Pembroke put their nose in front again on 60 minutes, when following an action between Cilia and MATTHEW BORG, the latter tried his luck from inside the area, with the goalkeeper not managing to keep the ball away from his net.

Pembroke were down to ten men on 67 minutes, when Matthew Borg was sent off for retaliation, after a nasty foul committed on him by Fenech.

Pembroke missed a sitter two minutes from time, when from a fast counter-attack between substitute Scerri and Cilia, the latter came face to face with the goalkeeper, but from an ideal position, Pembroke’s forward mishit and the ball skimmed the woodwork.

Pembroke: M. Callessa Cremona, M. Mamo (N. Coleiro Gatt), A. Galea, J. Borg, L. Cilia, M. Borg, J. Mifsud, C. Debattista (G. Scerri), R. John, G. Spiteri, D. Cremona (R. Caruana)

Gharghur: D. Carabott, G. Fenech, K. Fedele, A. Briffa, E. Vella (N. Scerri), S. Iliev, C. Caccatoilo (M. Gauci), W. Rizgalla, M. Busuttil, D. Mamo, D. Camilleri

Referee: Stefan Pace

Zurrieq 0

Kirkop 1

Kirkop obtained their first victory of the season, when they beat Zurrieq 1-0, with a penalty scored early into the match. Apart from having obtained their first three points, Kirkop’s players and supporters were doubly overjoyed at having won the derby against their neighbours Zurrieq.

The only goal of the match was scored six minutes into the match, when Kirkop were awarded a penalty for a foul by captain Bonnici on Farrugia in the area. From the spot, MAXWELL UZOCHUKWU ELOTA hit home.

Zurrieq had a good chance on 17 minutes, when the goalkeeper saved in style Costa Brazilino’s shot from inside the area.  

Kirkop went close again on 52 minutes, when after fleeing the opposing defence from the middle of the pitch, Elota passed towards Farrugia who tried his luck with a low shot, but goalkeeper Alden managed to convert into a corner with his fingertips.

They failed to seal the match six minutes from time, when Elota once again too fast for his markers, and tried to chip the ball past Alden, but once again the goalkeeper managed to convert into a corner in great style.

Zurrieq: J. Alden, D. Bonnici, K. Sacco, M. Cocks (N. Abdilla), G. Bonello, M. Schembri, S. Costa Brazilino, S. Azzopardi, J. Azzopardi (J. Lia), G. Frendo (D. Zammit)

Kirkop: C. Caruana, R. Galea, M. Aquilina, D. Baldachino, A. Formosa, C. Camilleri, D. Grech (B. Bugeja), M. Pisani, C. Camenzuli (M. Theuma), M. U. Elota, C. Farrugia (J. Borg)

Referee: Marco Borg

Msida 2

Zebbug 2

The highly anticipated match of the weekend certainly did not disappoint, and on Sunday afternoon Msida and Zebbug obtained a point each from the encounter between the two. The match was highly exciting, and from being two goals down, Zebbug managed to come back and save the match. The match was marred by a number of serious fouls and yellow cards, especially in the second half.

Msida opened the scoring after 33 minutes of play, when from a freekick outside the area by Caruana, the referee awarded a penalty for handling in the area. From the spot, FERNANDO DONIZETE DE ANDRADE did not miss.

They doubled their lead on 57 minutes, with a splendid goal by LESLEY CASSAR, who with a looping shot from way outside the goalkeeper Spiteri’s area, he took everyone by surprise, and put the ball at the back of the net.

Zebbug were back in the match with 30 minutes to go, when on a cross by Agius, substitute OMAR RABABAH, who had just come on, beat the opposing defence with a first-timer from an acute angle.

Four minutes later, Zebbug completed their comeback and managed to save a point, when from another freekick outside Msida’s area, Rodrigues Britto headed central, from where MIGUEL FRANCICA tapped the ball home with a low header.

Msida: J. Agius, T. Templemann, L. Cassar, S. Vella, F. D. De Andrade (M. Grioli), M. Borda, W. Buttigieg, M. Caruana (L. Baldacchino), D. Attard, S. Magro, R. Celeste (R. Attard)

Zebbug: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica, L. Camilleri, R. Spiteri (O. Rababah), W. Camenzuli, L. J. Agius, J. Xerri, D. D’Agostino, M. Farrugia, M. O. Rodrigues Britto

Referee: Chris Lautier

San Gwann 2

Mellieha 1

Mellieha suffered their second consecutive defeat this season, when they were beaten 2-1 by San Gwann, thanks to a brace by Shaun Vella.

This was San Gwann’s second victory, who have managed to register points from all their encounters this year, and held their nose in the top part of the chart with eight points.

San Gwann opened the scoring after fifteen minutes of play, when Asciak crossed towards SHAUN VELLA, who rose above everyone to direct a looping header past goalkeeper Abela. They doubled their lead five minutes later, when SHAUN VELLA took advantage of some confusion in Mellieha’s defence, and tapped the ball home with a low shot.

Mellieha pulled one back shortly into the second half, when Cauchi served GIOVANNI GALEA, who went past three defenders and put the ball behind the goalkeeper from a short distance.

Mellieha missed a sitter two minutes from time, when Borg St John found the unmarked Simiana, who having only the goalkeeper to confront from an ideal position, saw his shot go incredibly wide.

A few seconds before the final whistle, Mellieha were down to 10 men, when Phil Taylor was sent off for dissent.

San Gwann: C. Carbonaro, D. Cosaitis, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri, R. Zammit (L. Galea), J. Borg, M. Asciak, M. Vassallo, M. Mercieca, S. Vella (G. Agius), J. Cutajar (G. Pace)

Mellieha: J. Abela, M. Vella, M. Trapani (K. Simiana), P. Taylor, J. Zammit, L. Cauchi, W. Borg (D. Borg), D. Cauchi, M. Calleja (R. Cutajar), W. Borg St. John, G. Galea

Referee: Glenn Tonna

Mgarr 0

St George’s 1

Mgarr’s disappointing season goes on, and on Sunday afternoon they suffered their third defeat his season from four outings, this time at the hands of St Georges with the final score of 1-0. This was the second victory for St George’s, who are still without a defeat so far.

The only goal of the match came after 17 minutes of play, when Agboebina fled the opposing defence and tried his luck from outside the area, but saw his shot being blocked by the goalkeeper. From the rebound, GARY INGUANEZ tapped the ball at the back of the net.

Mgarr had a good chance to equalise on the half-hour mark, when they were awarded a freekick for a nasty foul by Agius on Abela. Abela tried to surprise goalkeeper Galea with a looping shot, but the custodian saved in style.

Fifteen minutes from time, St George’s missed a sitter. Sciberras crossed towards Agboebina who was unmarked in front of the goalkeeper, but St George’s’ forward failed to grasp the opportunity, and was dispossessed by Mgarr’s defence right on time.

Mgarr: J. Muscat, W. Camilleri, P. Fenech, M. Bugeja, B. Galea, L. Agius, C. Tabone, A. Aquilina (I. Cutajar), C. Abela, S. Camilleri (J. Said), D. Teiyeira Cerra

St George’s: T. Galea, E. Sevasta, R. Previ, J. Bugeja, G. Inguanez, Q. Bregman. J. Farrugia, E. Amaira, M. Brincat, S. Agius, O.l. Agboebina.

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi