Resilient St Patrick stun Mqabba

St Patrick 3
Mqabba 1

St Patrick injected more interest into the race for the First Division League title thanks to their 3-1 defeat of high-flying Mqabba.

All the other title hopefuls will have welcomed this result as Mqabba would have taken a commanding lead at the top had they gathered the three points.

The Saints deserved to emerge with maximum spoils against Anthony Garzia's Mqabba.

Resilience was the key to St Patrick's victory who, despite missing a penalty, never stopped chasing the result.

Spectators present for this game at Corradino also witnessed one of the best goals in the MIA Division One so far, courtesy of St Patrick's Kevin Bonnici.

It was a pity that there were no TV cameras to capture this goal which had class written all over it.

All in all, this was a match that featured arguably the two best sides in the division.

Although Mqabba had most of the possession, it was St Patrick who created the best goalscoring opportunities.

In the 19th minute, an Alan Galea cross found striker Peter Anizoba in a good position to score but Mqabba defender Marco Catania recouped ground to block the Nigerian forward.

In the 28th minute, Anizoba's pace left the Mqabba defence at sixes and sevens but his final lob finished just over the top.

However, it was Mqabba who drew first blood five minutes later when Ikechukwu Chibueze slotted home Marlon Briffa's cross for his 11th goal.

Mqabba's Nigerian forward thus maintained his record of scoring in every match he played this season.

St Patrick hit back in style and equalised two minutes later with a gem of a goal.

Galea's corner was partially cleared away by the Mqabba defence but Bonnici was first to the ball and his scorcher flew past the helpless Kris Calleja in the Mqabba goal.

Mqabba should have regained their lead a minute later but Edric Borg missed the target from a Chibueze pass.

In the 47th minute, Anizoba burst into the Mqabba penalty area but his run was halted illegally by Calleja.

Referee Mark Spiteri ordered a penalty but Thomas Caruana saw his effort saved by Calleja.

On 59 minutes, the Mqabba goalkeeper failed to hold on to a Robert Cassar corner-kick and Galea was on hand to tap the ball home.

Mqabba tried to regroup and, six minutes later, an Edwin Gauci half-volley was saved by Frankie Azzopardi.

The leaders' woes were further compounded moments later. Released by a Clayton Failla pass, Jesmond Azzopardi coolly rounded the Mqabba goalkeeper before shooting the ball home.

Garzia's outfit tried to get back into contention but the closest they came to reducing the arrears was five minutes from the end of normal time.

Substitute Keith Mallia took too much time to conclude after being teed up by Chibueze.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, R. Cassar, D. Gauci, M. Zerafa, M. Pullicino, A. Galea (S. Sciberras), J. Azzopardi, G. Failla, T. Caruana, K. Bonnici (P. Muscat), P.C. Anizoba (C. Failla).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Catania, E. Borg (K. Mallia), L. Grech, M.A. Psaila, J.P. Muscat, E. Gauci, M. Briffa, M. Borg (A. Zammit Tabone), I. Chibueze, A. Formosa.

Referee: Mark Spiteri.

Marsa 1
Senglea Athletic 1

Marsa and Senglea Athletic shared the spoils in a balanced encounter at the Hibernians Ground.

Although both sides displayed some good football, none will have been happy with a point which hardly strengthens their promotion aspirations.

Senglea's poor start to the season cost coach Victor Cassar his job during the week. Cleaven Abela took over the reins of the Cottonera club.

Former Hibernians defender Lawrence Attard also made his first appearance of the season for Senglea yesterday.

Marsa had their moments but they lack consistency during the match with promising youngster Gilbert Martin surely needing a striking partner to compliment him.

Ilir Pelinku's side started the match on the offensive, putting the Senglea rearguard under intense pressure.

Their first goalscoring opportunity arrived after two minutes when Minabo Asechemie started a fine move which was concluded by Martin whose shot finished inches wide.

Marsa took the lead in the 24th minute when Joseph Casha did some good work on the left and his cross found the energetic Martin who struck the ball home with a low drive.

However, Marsa's joy was shortlived as Senglea took only two minutes to restore parity.

A Darren Grech corner was headed firmly into the net by Alan Spiteri.

The goal infused confidence into Senglea's play and on 38 minutes, Simon Aquilina's through-pass freed Edon Bobolayefa but his effort was well blocked by Jason Cordina.

Bobolayefa squandered another good opportunity for Senglea three minutes before the break when he missed a sitter after some fine work from Grech.

The early stages of the second half failed to yield any goalmouth action with both sides trying to take control of midfield.

Senglea fashioned another good opportunity on 65 minutes when substitute Timothy Thomas dashed into the Marsa area, rounded goalkeeper Cordina but shot wide.

Senglea suffered a setback 11 minutes from time when defender Tyrone Ghirxi was sent off for a second bookable offence.

It was all Marsa now, and on 83 minutes Asechemie headed the ball towards Martin who failed to hit the target.

Two minutes from time, Attard came to Senglea's rescue with two fine saves from efforts by substitute Ibrahim Tarik. The latter was unlucky not to snatch an injury-time winner for Marsa.

Collecting a Johann Zammit cross, Tarik's shot looked destined to find the target only to be blocked inadvertently by team-mate Asechemie.

Senglea breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Marsa: J. Cordina, M. Asechemie, J. Buttigieg, D. Vella, J. Zammit, K. Camilleri, L. Grima, R. Bonnici (S. Cutajar), G. Martin, K. Farrugia, J. Casha (I. Tarik).

Senglea: E. Attard, T. Ghirxi, C. Caruana, D. Aquilina, S. Aquilina, A. Imbroll (L. Attard II), E. Bobolayefa, D. Grech, A. Spiteri, J. Fsadni (T. Thomas), L. Attard (I) (E. Azzopardi).

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.