Lija A- Mqabba 4-2
Lija A: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar, L. Muscat, D. Scerri, E. Beu, K. Seakanyeng, C. Giordimaina, C. Cauchi, F. Temile, A. White, R. Fenech (A. Galea 84').
Mqabba: F. Tabone, D. Micallef, A. Ferreira, K. Magro, J. Micallef, E. Sala (N. Dia 79'), Y. Omuro (P. Chimezie 64'), A. Spiteri, N.A. Micallef, M. Caruana, G. Micallef (M. Brincat 79').
Referee: Massimo Axisa
Lija bounced back with three goals in the space of nine minutes in the second half, to beat Mqabba and return to winning ways. The win lifts Lija to the top of the standings equal on points with Zejtun who however have a game in hand.
Mqabba took an early with an Omuri majestic freekick, with the same player missing a sitter minutes later. Mqabba were also unlucky when a Dylan Micallef grounder hit the base of the upright.
However Lija grew in composure after this difficult start, with League top-scorer Beu hitting the base of the upright and with Russell Fenech equalising with a great header three minutes from the break.
Three minutes into the second half Mqabba were back in front when an Omuru freekick was not cleared by the Lija defence and Dylan Micallef was on hand to drill the ball home.
But Mqabba' joy was shortlive as Lija drew level two minutes later with a Seakanyeng close range header off an Erjon Beu freekick. On 56 minutes Lija turned the tide in their favour and went ahead for the first time with another strike from Seakan yeng with the ball finishing in the top corner.
Lija were now in top gear and Clifford Gauci made it four on the hour with a precise grounder. Mqabba were unlucky in the dying stages when a Ferreira header hit the upright.
Swieqi U-Zebbug R 1-1
Swieqi U: C. Abdilla, M. Attard, K. Muscat, S. Gatt Baldacchino, A. Schembri Wismayer, F. Nunes Fernandes, M. Ivanovic, I. Salis (A. Tejumola 74'), M. Farrugia, L. Grech, J. Azzopardi.
Żebbuġ R: M. Grech, D. Fava, R. Vella, M. del Negro, R. Zammit, S. Buhagiar, M. Fagbeja (S. Nanapere 63'), C. Brincat, W. Borg, N. Ojuola, L. Chiedozie.
Referee: Aleksandar Jovanovic
Swieqi and Zebbug settled for a draw yesterday in a low profile match that produced its best in the first part, in which both goals were scored. Both teams are hovering just above the relegation zone and the point earned can be considered as a positive result, especially for Swieqi who played the whol second half with a man less.
On 13 minutes Swieqi took the lead when melvin Farrugia shot home the rebound off a Matthew Grech save. Zebbug had a good reaction and were unlucky on 39 minutes when a Wayne Borg hit the crossbar.
However three minutes later Zebbug drew level when a Lawrence Chiedozie deflected shot finished at the back of the net. Just before the break Swieqi' Fernandes was sent off, but Zebbug failed to capitalise.