Mqabba-Vittoriosa S      1-1

Mqabba: F. Tabone, M. Caruana, B. Grech, D. Micallef, M. Brincat (K. Xuereb 66'), N. Dia (S. Kanayama 83'), A. Ferreira, K. Magro, E. Sala, A. Spiteri, G. Micallef

Vittoriosa S.: D. Bugeja, C. Spiteri, J. Briffa, I. Abela, D. Grima, D. Tabone, J. Pace (G. Sultana 71'), O. Guerrero (L. De Oliveira Barbosa 62'), R. Sgaria Farias (H. Shola 62'), L. Casha, O. Sidibe

Referee: Aleksander Jovanovic

Mqabba and Vittoriosa grabbed a point from this relegation battle, a point that leaves both in deep relegation trouble. Both sides' performance left much to be desired yesterday, especially Mqabba who were for most of the time on the receiving end.

It was a rather drab affair which confirmed the uphill task that both teams will face in the coming matches to avoid the drop to second Division football next season.

Vittoriosa had the only attempts of the first half but the Mqabba custodian was always on the alert to block. Half way through the second half Mqabba took the lead when they were awarded a rather soft penalty and ferreira made no mistake from the spot.

Vittoriosa however staged a good comeback and obtained a deserved equaliser on 81 minutes with a well executed move finished in style by Haruna Shola Shodiya. 

 

Pembroke A-St. George’s 0-0

Pembroke A: M. Bonnici, A. Vujovic, M. Zarb (K. Frencdo 89’), Z. Grech, T. Fenech, L. Mijic, N. Grech (G. Azzopardi 75’), M.A. Borg, N. Frendo, J.P. Oliveira Santos, Y. Tonna.

St.George’s : L. Mifsud, A. Hili, L. Bonett, D. Caruana, B. Henrique Leute (S. Le Metayer 78’), G. D’Amato, P. Rogger Villada, A. Gili, J. Grech, A. Nagbe, K. Camilleri.

Referee: Alex Johnson

Pembroke and St. George’s did little to obtain more than the point yesterday in a low profile encounter. Pembroke lost a golden opportunity to move further up the table, and on the other hand the Saints hed to settle for a point when they are in desperate need of more.

Goal mouth action were scarce especially in the first half with the only attemps coming from St.George’s side with Bonnici making two good saves.

At the start of the second half Pembroke were unlucky when a Neil Grech effort hit the upright. However St. George’s were more aggressive in the remaining minutes and had more scoring opportunities but failed to capitalise. Near the end of the match St. George’s goalkeeper Mifsud saved the day for his side when he saved a point blank header from Luka Mijic.

 

Qormi-Zejtun    1-0

Qormi: J. Azzopardi, F. Fladby, N. Borg (C. Farrugia 87’), F. Gnindokponou, M. Borg, A. Abela, R. Mandic, A. Cassar, N. Ghio, B. Schembri (L. Farrugia 46’), I. Zammit (N. Gauci 75’).

Zejtun C: C. Cassar, K. Farrugia, D. Agius (A. Carabott 57’), J. Ogunnupe (M. Jallow 70’), J. Suda, M. Pereira, B. Farrugia, C. Grech, D. Sowatey (R. De Fex 78’), N. Tabone, G. Azzopardi.

Referee: Ezekiel Barbara

League leaders suffered their second defeat of the season, again against Qormi who in the first round emerged 3-0 winners. Qormi fully deserved their victory with Zejtun not at their very best yesterday.

Zejtun had more of the ball in the first half but Qormi never gave away an inch. On the hour Qormi broke the deadlock in what proved to be the winner when sibstitute Luke Farrugia headed home a Borg freekick.

The same Michael Borg was unlucky minutes later when his freekick hit the crossbar. In the dyimng stages of the game the league leaders put everything forward and Qormi had to rely on their defence, especially their goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi who was outstanding with some daring saves that preserved his side’s precious lead.

 

Lija A-Pieta H     1-1

Lija A: L. Bonnici, C. Cassar, L. Muscat, D. Scerri (G. Bugeja 74’), E. Beu, R. Fenech (M. Clinch 61’), K. Seakanyeng, C. Giordimaina, K. Temile (A. Galea 86’), C. Gauci, A. White.

Pieta H: J. Chircop, T. Bartolo, N. Pace Cocks, J. Ghio (C. Bouvet 82’), D. Vugovic, C. Sammut, J.L. Caetano, S. Mizzi, K. Amehi, I. Jalo Ishaya, J. Scicluna (N. Pisani 89’).

Referee: Alex Johnson

League top scorer Erjon Beu was on the marck again yesterday netting his 21st goal of the season and saving ten-man Lija from an unexpected defeat against Pieta.

Lija started like a hous on fire hitting the upright inside the first minute, but then gradually faded away until Lucas Caetano surprised their lanky defence to Pieta in front.

On the resumption Lija stormed forward but received a setback when Andre White was sent off on 55 minutes for a vicious tackle. Ironically Lija had their best patch with ten men and equalised on 69 minutes through Erjon Beu.

In the final portion of the match, Pieta sieged the Lija fort, but could not get past Bonnici.

 

Qrendi-Fgura U 1-3

Qrendi: D. Zarb, S. Schembri, G. Muscat, J. Silveira Da Silva, B. Sammut, J. Pereira (A. Nilsson 66’), A. Agius, D. Azzopardi, E. Perdomo, D. Micallef (L. Martinelli 66’), L.J. Schembri (C. Camilleri 46’)

Fgura U: B. Bartolo, P. Chircop, J. Barbara, S. Abela, D. Cartella (G. Ferreira de Souza 80’), G. Martin (K. Tanti 90’), C. Gandini, J. Vella, J. Cassar, A. Toncheff, G. Galea (T. Grech 86’).

Referee: Shaun Calleja

Fgura made a great leap froward in their fight against relegation beating the more fancied Qrendi side 3-1, with all goals scored in the first half. The victory lifts Fgura from the bottom of the table, overtaking Vittoriosa, St.George’s and Mqabba.

Fgura were worthy winners building their success on a solid defence and on very fast breaks with Gilbert Martin and especially Dennis Cartella having a field day. Fgura took the lead after only 25 seconds with Giovanni Galea beating Zarb from close range.

Qrendi drew level throughJose Pereira on nine minutes but again Galea scored for Fgura half-way through the first half. Before the break Perdomo hit the crossbar and on the other end Cartella scored the third goal with a great finish.

In the second half Fgura’s goalkeeper Bartolo saved a penalty taken by Perdomo as Qrendi failed to crawl back in the game.

 

St.Andrew’s-Swieqi U    1-1

St.Andrew’s: N. Grima, I. Azzopardi, M. Veselji, N. Bradshaw (J. Sixsmith 69’), J. Farrugia, M. Bartolo, M. Potezica, A. Borg Oloivier, C. Attah, L.A. Borg (M. Vella Vidal 85’), K. Jackson.

Swieqi U: C. Abdilla, M. Attard, K. Muscat, S. Gatt Baldacchino (F. Lufi 63’), A. Schembri Wismayer, C. Matombo, M. Vella (S. Bugeja 75’), M. Ivanovic (T. Ayorinde 75’), S. Ibrahim, M. Farrugia, L. Grech.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri

St. Andrew’s and Swieqi figured in a one-all draw yesterday in an interesting derby, with Swieqi saving the match with a late Salis Ibrahim header.

The Saints completely dominated the first half pushing their opponents in their penalty area. Swieqi rarely ventured forward with their only effort coming from Salis Ibrahim on 15 minutes, who rounded a defender before testing Grima who saved in style.

On their part the Saints were very erratic especially in front of goal with Jackson and Luke Anthony Borg missing two glorious scoring opportunities with an open goal at their mercy.

Half way through the second half Mattia Veselji received a long ball from defence and fired low past Abdilla. Swieqi pushed everything forward in search of the equaliser and managed to level matters on 85 minutes with a Salis Ibrahim header.