Marsa 3
Zebbug R 2

Marsa obtained a vital win on Sunday in their struggle against relegation beating Zebbug by the odd goal in five to end the latter's residual hopes of challenging for the Premier. The match was balanced at the start with both teams on the defensive till the 13 th minute when Marsa forged ahead with a great goal.

Rafael De fex Marriaga scored a gem direct from a freekick with the ball in the top corner. Zebbug were shocked and took some time to settle down, but on 37 minutes Zebbug drew level when Leighton Grech did all the running on the right flank and his low cross was met by Miguel Attard on the far post with his shot finishing at the back of the net. 

Sixty seconds later Zebbug missed a sitter when Obaje failed to score with only the goalkeeper to beat, but just before the break Zebbug managed to turn the game around when Arilson Mello da Silva was tripped just inside the area and from the penalty spot the same Arilson Mello da Silva slotted home with a precise grounder. 

Nine minutes into the second half Marsa drew level when from a Lapira cross from the right, Steve Schembri committed an own goal in an attempt to score. The match was now an open contest and Marsa obtained the winner twelve minutes from time when Luka Mijic beat Farrugia with a low drive after a fast break.

Zebbug pushed desperately forward in the remaining minutes but did not manage to save the match, finishing with ten players when Da Silva Gomes was sent off.

Marsa: S. Micallef, M. Busuttil, N. Micallef, A. Caruana, V. Stanic (M. Platisa 53 min), J. Farrugia, M. Gauci, M. Camilleri, P. Lapira (R. Mercieca 84 min), R. De Fex Marriaga (D. Pirotta 90 min), L. Mijic.

Zebbug R: J. Farrugia, M. Attard, G. Camilleri, S. Schembri (L. Mallia 72 min), M. Bonnici (F. Gusman 87 min), R. Da Silva Gomes, C. Gauci, A. Curmi (K. Zammit 82 min), A. Mello Da Silva, L. Grech, A. Obaje.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Qormi back in the Premier League

Vittoriosa S 1
Qormi 2

After two seasons in the First Division, Qormi are back in the Premier League after making sure of promotion yesterday thanks to a stoppage time victory over Vittoriosa Stars. Needing the three points at stake to make sure of promotion, Qormi were made to struggle hard by a gallant Vittoriosa side, but Lubos Adamec’s last ditch header gave Qormi the much awaited victory and mathematical promotion to the top flight. It was a well deserved promotion for Qormi who will now try to win the championship as they have a four-point lead over second placed Pieta with two games remaining.

Qormi were always in top spot this season, but after a somewhat brilliant first round, winning the opening six matches, they struggled in the second round, but were still good enough to keep their opponents at bay and have another stint at the top league after a two-year absence.

Qormi took the lead through Michael Camilleri five minutes before the break, but on 58 minutes Vittoriosa drew level with an Emmanuel Mbong goal.

Deep in stoppage time ex-Naxxar defender Lubos Adamec headed home the promotion winner, with Vittoriosa’s Irvine Abela sent off seconds later.

Vittoriosa S: K. Magri, I. Abela, T. Abela Wilson, F. Arriagada Mella (A. Leilis 90 min), D. Fava, J. Galea, L. Gauci (E. Mbong 28 min), J. Pace, C. Spiteri, J. Ogonuppe (O. Obiefule 66 min), T. Arakawa.

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, B. Grech, L. Adamec, Y. Yankam, L. Busuttil (T. Gusman 63 min), J. Caetano da Silva (J. Salaroli  79 min), A. Abela, A. Cassar, D. Vukovic, C. Matombo, M. Camilleri.

Referee: Darryl Agius

Melita goalkeeper  Grima scores injury time winner

Qrendi 1
Melita 2

Melita goalkeeper Nichoals Grima scored the winner on 93 minutes to give Melita a last gasp precious victory and also some fresh hope of avoiding the drop. Against a Qrendi side that played from the 38 th minute with ten men, Melita struggled a lot after a good start.

They took an early lead, but failed to score a second goal to put their minds at rest, and paid dearly as Qrendi levelled matters fifteen minutes from time. 

However when all seemd lost, the Melita custodian scored a somewhat historic goal to give his side a fundamental win.

Melita went immediately on the attack and took the lead after seven minutes play when from a Miguel Galea cross from the left, Alan Borg Olivier headed beautifully home. 

Melita slowed down after this goal and Qrendi ventured forward and were unlucky on 32 minutes when a Mark Barbara shot was blocked on the goal line by Alan Borg Olivier.

On 39 minutes Bahiya was put through by Jean Pierre Attard but was blocked by a desperate Azzopardi sortie, who handled outside the area and was sent off by referee Guiu.

Melita insisted for a second goal but were stunned on 74 minutes when Kenneth Abela headed home the equaliser. Melita tried desperately to get a winner but were rather disappointing and lacked ideas up front.

However deep in stoppage time they grabbed an incredible winner when goalkeeper Nicholas Grima headed home from close range following a freekick to give his side a precious victory.

Qrendi: J. Azzopardi, M. Farrugia, D. Santos Da Hora, Z. Bowman, L. Scorfna (K. Abela 29 min), E. Amaira, M. Barbara, D. Zarb, J.C. Sousa Martins Da Silva, A. Agius (J. Borg 40 min), D. Martini (S. Nakamura 73 min).

Melita: N. Grima, M. Galea, J. Abela, A. Mizzi, R. Parrado, E. Cornago, N. Bahiya (M. Russo 46 min)(M. Cassar 85 min), J.P. Attard, L. Micallef, A. Borg Olivier, N. Bradshaw (T. Singleton 80 min).

Referee: Joan Guiu (Andorra)

Easy for Sirens against ten-man Rabat

Sirens 4
Rabat A 0

Sirens registered their eighth win of the season beating ten-man Rabat Ajax 4-0 with three second half goals. It was an easy victory for Sirens aginst the already relegated Rabat side who played for more than half of the match with a men less.

Daniel Agius and Michael Micallef shared the winners’ four goals. Before the start of the match Sirens captain daniel Sant was presented with a memento from the club for his 200 games with the side from St.Pauls Bay.

On 19 minutes substitute Kenneth Etim who had just came in for the injured Isaac Chircop, missed a golden opportunity when he was denied by Vella. On 30 minutes Sirens finally broke the deadlock when from a Kenneth Etim cross, Michael Micallef drilled the ball home.

Five minutes from the break Rabat were reduced to ten men when Luke Gauci was shown a red card for a foul on Daniel Agius who was heading for goal.

On the resumption Sirens continued to dictate matters and on 67 minutes scored a second goal when Daniel Agius scored from close range to finish off a melee in the rabat penalty area. Rabat were unlucky not to pull one back some minutes later when an Aidan Azzopardi scorcher slammed against the crossbar.

Seven minutes from time Sirens made it three whe ex Rabat Ethan Goodman passed towards Michael Micallef who all alone in front of goal made no mistake. Two minutes later Rabat’s misery was complete when Daniel Agius also obtained his brace with a low shot that gave Vella no chance to save.

Sirens: R. Marmara, D. Sant, I. Chircop (K. Etim 19 min)(K. Borg 87 min), B. Kremenovic, L. Zammit, I. Curmi, C. Caruana (J. Zammit 88 min), E. Goodman, L. Galea, D. Agius, M. Micallef.

Rabat A: J.M. Vella, N. Attard (M. Scicluna 74 min), J. Caruana, D. Falzon (L. Farrugia 27 min), W. Borg, G. Bugeja, A. Azzopardi (K. Saliba 81 min), Z. Tanti, S. Abela, L. Cauchi, K. Camilleri.

Referee: Daniel Portelli