Mqabba-Zejtun C            2-3

Mqabba: D. Carabott, D. Micallef, A. Ferreira, K. Magro (F. Zammit 85'), J. Micallef, A. Makela (Y. Omuro 78'), P. Chimezie, K. Xuereb (N. Micallef 46'), J. Spiteri, M. Caruana, K. Camilleri.

Żejtun C: C. Cassar, J. Cassar, A. Carabott, D. Agius (R. Attard 68'), J. Ogunnupe (M. Pereira Muniz 87'), J. Suda (J. Busuttil 94'), R. Do Nascimento Santos, D. Sowatey, A. Mizzi, N. Tabone, G. Azzopardi.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant

Scorers: Robeiro Do Nascimento 24' 64' (Z), Paul Chimezie 43' pen, 65' (M), Manuel Caruana 74' og (Z)

Zejtun returned to winning ways yesterday beating Mqabba by the odd goal in five. For Zejtun this was an important victory and three precious points that lifts them in the table.

Robeiro Do Nascimento for Zejtun and Paul Chimezie for Mqabba were the protagonists, both scoring a brace before Manuel Caruana's decisive own goal.

Zejtun took the lead with a Robeiro goal on 24 minutes following a good run on the right by Azzopardi, but just before the break Chimezie was floored in the area by Agius and the same Chimezie made no mistake from the spot.

The second half was played at a slow pace but sprang to life on 64 minutes when Robeiro headed home a Carabott cross and sixty seconds later Mqabba were again on level terms when Chimezie fired low into the net from just inside the area.

Fifteen minutes from time Caruana's own goal settled the issue with the Mqabba captain firing into his own net a dangerous Robeiro cross from the right.

 

Qormi-Zebbug R               1-2

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, F. Gnindokponou, C. Matombo, M. Borg, A. Abela, M. Lokando, F. Gusman, A. Cassar, N. Ghio, I. Zammit (L. Farrugia 70'), T. Gusman (S. Grech 53').

Żebbuġ R: M. Grech, D. Fava, R. Vella, M. Del Negro (J. Farrugia 55'), R. Zammit, S. Buhagiar, S. Nanapere, M. Fagbeja (R. Cutajar 94'), C. Brincat, W. Borg, N. Ojuola.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele

Scorers: Freud Gnindokponou 7' (Q), Muda Fagbeja 65' (Z), Randall Vella 90' pen (Z)

Zebbug returned to winning ways on the most important day when although playing for ten men from the 68 th minute, came from behind to claim victory in the derby and hand rivals Qormi their third successive defeat.

The match was intense and played in front of a very good and noisy crowd, with both sets of supporters adding colour to an interesting affair. Qormi took the lead in their first attempt on seven minutes when a Francesco Gusman header hit the post, Gusman's second attempt from the rebound was blocked on the goal line by Ryan Zammit and Freud Gnindokponou was on hand to slot home.

Zebbug had a rather timid reaction bu were unlucky on 27 minutes when a Dion Fava freekick finished against the base of the upright and three minutes later Nanapere blasted high from an ideal position.

In the second half Zebbug were more determined and increased the pressure to draw level on 65 minutes when a Buhagiar shot was partially blocked by Azzopardi and Muda Fagbeja was on the right spot to fire home. Minutes later Zebbug were down to ten when their captain Clive Brincat received a second booking.

But on 89 minutes Zebbug stunned their opponents when Magbeja was pushed by Alessio Cassar and from the penalty spot Randall Vella made no mistake.