Ta’ Xbiex 1

Marsa 5

Marsa won their third match out of 5 when they easily beat Ta’ Xbiex 5-1. It was a match with no story as Marsa took an early lead and never looked back. On the other hand this the fifth consecutive defeat for Ta’ Xbiex who still lie at the bottom of the table with no points.

Marsa had their first opportunity on the 7th minute when a shot from Clayton Caruana finished a bit wide.

But two minutes later Marsa opened the score when veteran Malcolm Tirchett beat Cini with a low shot. Marsa doubled on the 12th minute when Kirsten Brincat recieved a good pass behind the defence and one on one with the keeper made no mistake.

Marsa scored the third goal on the 40th minute when Clayton Caruana passed to Malcolm Tirchett, who passed Cini and scored in an empty net.

On the 48th minute a free-kick from substitute Rizzolo Pinheiro Brisolla was saved by Brincat. Two minutes later a conclusion from Wismayer finished over the bar.

Marsa scored the fourth goal on the 67th minute to close the match when Kirsten Brincat recieved a good pass and alone beat comfortably Cini with a low shot.

Marsa rounded a poker two minutes later when Kirsten Brincat passed to Clayton Caruana who fired past Cini.

Ta’ Xbiex scored a consolation goal when Adrian Dominicus was unmarked and alone in the box beat Danilov.

Ta’ Xbiex: C. Cini, J. Azzopardi, K. Paris, J. Cremona, F. Grech, A. Xuereb, D. Stergar (M. Rizzolo Pinheiro Brisolla), J. Azzopardi (K. Bonanno), C. Wismayer (K. Seychell), R. D’Amato, A. Dominicus

Marsa: K. Brincat (S. Danilov), D. Agius, L. Cumbo, B. Zammit, J. Rizzo, K. Scerri (R. Zammit), E. Vella, J. Felice (S. Buhagiar), C. Caruana, M. Tirchett, K. Brincat

Referee: Jules Ngangue

Kalkara 0

Marsaskala 1

Marsaskala won their fourth consecutive game after they beat Kalkara 1-0. It was a very difficult win for Alan Mifsud’s team, because they found it difficult to penetrate Kalkara. But altough there were some players missing, they still produced something better than their opponents.

The first action came on the 11th minute when Vince Camilleri passed to Elvin Gauci who saw his shot saved by Bajada.

Marsaskala took the lead on the 20th minute when from a free-kick by Vince Camilleri, Andrea Grech headed above and put past Bajada. On the 40th minute a shot from youngster Andrea Hammet finished a bit wide.

On the 47th minute a cross by Camilleri to Vince Camilleri, but his shot finished off target. On the 52nd minute Marsaskala were denied by the post when a shot from Elvin Gauci was denied by the woodwork. In the last minutes, the game was focused in the midfield area, but Marsaskala kept their cool to defend their advantage and keep their clean sheet for five games.

Kalkara: C. Bajada, M. Agius (C. Zammit), P. Muscat (J.P. Galea), D. Gauci, R. Vella, M. Cassar, J. Zahra, A. Hammet, A. Musha, C. Cassar (R. Cassar), C. Tabone

Marsaskala: R. Attard, M. Bajada, M. Milutinovic, S. Camilleri, C. Bordieri, J. Galdes, A. Grech, E. Gauci, V. Camilleri (C. Lanzon), A. Portelli, N. Abela

Referee: Elvio Degabriele

Attard 1

Mtarfa 1

Attard managed to register an important point from their encounter against Mtarfa, despite having played 50 minutes with 10 men. The match was highly exciting with plenty of action on both sides especially in the first half, even if no goals were scored in the first 45 minutes. 

Attard took the first initiative nine minutes into the game, when from a direct freekick outside the area; Filipov saw his shot skimming the crossbar.

Mtarfa’s response came shortly after, when the goalkeeper saved brilliantly a long-distance shot by Haruna. On the half-hour mark, goalkeeper Attard saved in style a first-timer by Said, which seemed destined for the net.

Attard were down to ten men on 40 minutes, when Colin Ciantar was sent off for retaliation. Mtarfa took full benefit from this incident and went close to scoring four minutes later, when after some confusion in Attard’s defence, Said came face to face with goalkeeper Attard, who managed to save in style a shot which would have certainly been a hit on target.

Attard eventually opened the scoring on 52 minutes, with a splendid long-distance shot by substitute JUDE BUGEJA from outside the area.

Mtarfa managed to save the match 15 minutes from time, with a splendid header by substitute GEORGE CURMI.

Attard: L. Attard, O. Tabone, G. Saliba, J. C. Cachia, J. Gauci, C. Ciantar, R. Micallef, R. Filipov, N. Spiteri (D. Gauci), J. P. Lapira (J. Iwugke), C. Caruana (J. Bugeja)

Mtarfa: K. Sammut, J. Fenech, R. Sammut, G. Cumbo, L. Wingfield (A. Micallef), R. Zammit, J. Munjao Mwema, D. Haruna, L. Vella, P. Azzopardi (F. Azzopardi), K. Said (G. Curmi)

Referee: Etienne Mangion

Xghajra 1

Mdina 2

Mdina made them four victories out of four matches when they beat Xghajra 2-1, thus maintaining their perfect record so far this season. Despite playing most of the second half with nine men, precisely the two players to score earlier on in the match for their side, Mdina still showed their tactical superiority.

Mdina opened the scoring on seven minutes, when on a cross by Caruana, KRISTIYAN STOYANOV hit home with a low shot. They were close again after 15 minutes, when Micallef fled his marker on the left and chipped towards Busuttil, who from an ideal position saw his shot go incredibly high.

Mdina doubled their lead shortly before the break, when from a corner, DALTON CARUANA rose above everyone to direct a looping header past goalkeeper Camilleri.

Mdina had their first man sent off on 65 minutes, when captain Kristiyan Stoyanov was shown the red card for retaliation. The second man to be sent off was Dalton Caruana on 86 minutes, this time for a nasty foul.

Xghajra took full advantage of this chain of events and hit the posts twice, first on a shot by substitute Caruana, and from the rebound Wingfield hit the crossbar again.

They pulled one back shortly before the final whistle, with a splendid header by LIZIP GRECH on a corner.

Xghajra: R. Camilleri, G. Saliba, S. Cucciardi (A. Caruana), M. Leonardi (L. Grech), D. Axisa, C. Magro, A. Vella, C. Micallef, D. Wingfield, D. Galea, C. Xuereb

Mdina: M. Aquilina (A. Micallef), J. Pace (A. Gatt), D. Caruana, R. Southward, J. Buhagiar, K. Grech, Y. Grech (M. Fenech), K. Stoyanov, N. Micallef, L. Busuttil, M. Francalanza

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzza

Qrendi 0

Santa Lucia 2

After having lost their first two matches, Santa Lucia’s season seems to be turning around, when they obtained their second consecutive victory on Sunday evening, by beating bottom-side Qrendi 2-0, thanks to a brace by Marlon Farrugia. This was yet another blow for Qrendi, who after five matches, are still with just one point.

The match was highly uneventful, with very few opportunities on both sides. Santa Lucia opened the scoring on 40 minutes, when from a personal initiative, MARLON FARRUGIA fled the opposing defence and surprised Zammit with a long-distance shot from an acute angle.

Santa Lucia sealed the match 20 minutes from the end, when form another personal initiative by MARLON FARRUGIA, who was undoubtedly the best man for Santa Lucia, he went past the goalkeeper and tapped the ball at the back of the unguarded net.

Qrendi: B. Zammit, M. A. Ellul (J. Borg), S. Scicluna, M. Ciantar, J. Muscat, D. Mulla, L. Magri, C. Dobre Ionut, R. Darmanin (P. Bezzina), C. Gatt, A. Muscat

St Lucia: W. Zerafa, M. Pace, H. Friggieri, C. Goodzum, J. Galea, J. Bugeja, A. Genovese (A. Sapiano), C. Bugeja, M. Farrugia, B. Chetcuti (J. Vella), J. Cutajar

Referee: Martin Borg

Luqa 0

Sirens 7

Sirens registered the biggest win of the season as they hammered seven goals past Luqa St Andrews who played the second half with a man less. Sirens were in full command from the start and were already three goals up by the end of the first half.

On seven minutes Sirens forged ahead when Lee Joe Schembri scored his first goal after receiving from Kristian Grech. On 21 minutes the same player doubled the score following a George Falzon cross.

On 27 minutes Luqa went close with a Glenn Azzopardi shot skimming the upright. Six minutes from the break Sirens made it three when George Falzon beat Psaila from ana acute angle. Just before the break Luqa goalkeeper Psaila was sent off after charging out of position to block Lee Joe Schembri.

Nine minutes into the second half Sirens scored their fourth goal through Ryan Sciberras and on the hour Sirens were on the mark again when substitute Craig Pickard deceived the Luqa keeper from a distance.

On 65 minutes Stephen Pisani dribbled his way inside the Luqa penalty area to score the sixth goal and 15 minutes from time Lee Joe Schembri acquired his hat trick to score the seventh and final goal for Sirens.

Luqa: P. Psalia, J. Muscat, C. Carabott, R. Sultana (K. Bruno), G. Mizzi, A. Psalia, J. Epimosa, N. Chircop (T. Cauchi), G. Marmer, M. Coleiro (J. Gatt), G. Azzopardi

Sirens: G. Spiteri, C. Vella, D. Sant, A. Neda (S. Pisani), K. Galea, L.J. Schembri, R. Sciberras, G. Falzon, A. Debattista (A. Chircop), M. Psalia (C. Pickard), J. Grech

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Swieqi 1

Senglea 4

Senglea moved to the top of the Third Division table with a crucial victory over Swieqi, thanks to three late goals. For Swieqi this was the first defeat of the season as Senglea remained unbeaten.

Swieqi had a good start taking the lead, but Senglea turned the tide in their favour with Timmy Thomas scoring a brace, one from the penalty spot, when he scored Senglea’s second penalty of the day.

Swieqi did the early running and forged ahead on 15 minutes when Matthew Fenech beat Mercieca following some good work by Robert Zammit. Senglea drew level on 35 minutes when Eric Sciberras handled the ball inside the area and from the penalty spot Simon Aquilina made no mistake.

Seventeen minutes from the end of the match Senglea took the lead when substitute Julian Spiteri’s corner was met by Timmy Thomas who hammered the ball home.

Ten minutes from time Senglea increased their lead with their second penalty of the day when Julian Spiteri was floored by Di Silvio and Timmy Thomas scored from the spot.

On 90 minutes Senglea even scored a fourth goal when Erin Azzopardi headed home a Rodney Galea corner.

Swieqi: M. Falzon, G. Refalo, J. Ellul Soler (S. Sammut), R. Zammit (A. Micallef), K. Calleja, S. Borg, A. Di Silvio, M. Grech, M. Fenech, L. Grima, E. Sciberras

Senglea: J. Mercieqa, E. Azzopardi, S. Aquilina, R. Galea, B. Zerafa (D. Xuereb), P. Camilleri (J. Spiteri), G. Brincat, K. Galea (D. Grech), R. Perkins, T. Thomas, V. Camilleri

Referee: Sandro Spiteri