Goals galore as second round gets underway

The second round of the national league got underway with a feast of goals... ten were scored in two matches.

The Athlete's Foot 4
The George Pub 1

This was an emphatic victory for Sliema. The George Pub, after notching two consecutive victories at the start of the competition, have now suffered three defeats on the trot.

For The Athlete's Foot this was their third victory in a row. The George Pub conceded the first half to their opponents and it was no surprise that The Athlete's Foot led by two goals at half-time, scored by Simon Baldacchino and Michael Caruana Smith.

The George Pub upped their game in the second half and Luke Busuttil Leaver was unlucky when his fine shot hit the post.

At the other end, Caruana Smith missed a good chance to double his tally when he saw Galea save his penalty. The third goal did eventually come with Pace deflecting past Galea from close range.

Simon Agius did pull one back for George Pub but despite some sustained pressure they failed to get a second goal that would have re-opened the game. A few minutes from time Ludwig Xuereb sealed victory for his side with his second goal in two matches.

Pasta Poiatti Qormi 2
Young Stars 3

This game also produced five goals but there was more balance here than the other match and it was only decided in the final minutes.

Pasta Poiatti Qormi are still without points. On Sunday they took a half-time lead thanks to Reuben Chircop. Young Stars could not afford another defeat in their quest to keep in touch with Rabat and in the second half equalised through the upcoming Nicky Agius Darmanin. Then they took the lead when Pasta Poiatti goalkeeper blundered and allowed Stringos to deflect past him.

Pasta Poiatti kept at their game and Chircop was once again on hand to equalise for his side.

Pasta Poiatti seemed heading for their first point of the season but in the final minutes it was Bugeja who scored the winner for Young Stars.

The league continues on Sunday. At 9 a.m. Rabat start their second round commitments with a tricky match against Young Stars. The first round game ended 2-0 in favour of Rabat. At 10.30 a.m. Athlete's Foot play Pasta Poiatti. In the first round the game ended 3-1 in Athlete's Foot favour.