Zebbug Rovers regain sole leadership

Zebbug Rovers 3
Sannat Lions 1

Zebbug Rovers preserved their unbeaten record when coasting to a deserved 3-1 victory over Sannat Lions who slumped to their third consecutive defeat.

Assuming control of the game from the outset, Zebbug opened the scoring in the 13th minute courtesy of Mahjoub Touali. The same player went close to increasing their lead two minutes later but his effort hit the post.

The Rovers moved 2-0 ahead in the 56th minute when Philip Cardona's shot took a decisive deflection off Sannat's Mark Muscat.

Sannat thought they had reopened the issue in the 69th minute when Dione Lautier concluded home after a personal action but Zebbug made sure of the three points with a goal by John Eboh.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Xewkija Tigers 1
Ghajnsielem 4

Ghajnsielem registered a handsome 4-1 victory over Xewkija Tigers to climb to the third place in the table.

The Blacks' victory matured in the latter part of the match thanks to their improved performance. In fact, Ghajnsielem's goalkeeper Eric Mercieca had been instrumental in keeping the result in their favour with some fine saves.

Xewkija's failure to take the chances that came their way and their woeful defending proved to be their downfall.

Ghajnsielem had an early attempt by Meilak that hit the crossbar but nosed ahead in the 10th minute through Kalenga Ndayi.

A bold reaction was staged by Xewkija but they squandered a string of opportunities through Rais, Cilia, Saviour Farrugia and Mark Camilleri.

In the 39th minute a free-kick by Benneth Njoku crashed against the crossbar.

Ghajnsielem, operating mainly with counter thrusts, doubled their lead in the 40th minute through Joe Attard who profited from the shambolic defending of the Xewkija players.

Despite their two-goal deficit, the Tigers refused to throw in the towel and in the 62nd minute a goal by Cilia was disallowed for offside.

Four minutes later, Xewkija reduced the arrears when referee Reno Refalo awarded a penalty for a foul on Jeffrey Farrugia.

Jason Portelli's shot from the spot was partially saved by Mercieca but Farrugia placed in goal from the rebound.

Mercieca denied Xewkija the equaliser with a fine save on a shot from Farrugia in the 75th minute and three minutes later a strike by Ghajnsielem's Attard flashed against the crossbar.

A minute later, the Blacks sealed the issue with a goal from Domenique Mbueko and in stoppage time, Attard made it a definitive 4-1.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

Kercem Ajax 2
Victoria Hotspurs 1

Kercem Ajax bagged three very important points to move off the bottom of the table after a close victory over Victoria Hotspurs.

The Ajax enjoyed an excellent start, taking the lead in the 11th minute with a spectacular volley from the edge of the area by Tarik Belhaj.

Victoria's reply was tame, only twice threatening to cancel out Kercem's lead. A free-kick by Reuben Mercieca sailed high and Joseph Mizzi's header from close range went wide in the 39th minute.

Kercem could have added to their lead before the break but a shot by Belhaj shaved the post. The same player had another good attempt early in the second half that ended just over the crossbar, while Dragomir Draganov twice concluded badly from close distance.

Victoria levelled the score in the 68th minute. Kercem's defence failed to clear the danger and Kenneth Abela placed easily into an open goal.

Seven minutes later it was the Victoria rearguard who was guilty of a lapse in concentration as Kercem's Draganov was on the right spot to tap the ball behind goalie Vella.

Victoria tried to salvage a draw but only went close to scoring in the dying moments when a shot by Buttigieg rebounded off the crossbar.

Referee: Mariano Debono.

GFA Cup

Zebbug Rovers and Nadur Youngsters are the GFA Cup finalists after identical 1-0 victories over Division Two teams St Lawrence Spurs and Xaghra United in the semi-finals.

Zebbug scored the decisive goal from a 25th-minute penalty converted by Mahjoub Touali.

Nadur endured a hard time to see off the challenge of Xaghra United. They had an early Ihbeulu goal disallowed for a foul but the same Nigerian striker scored the goal that sealed their passage to the final just before the break.

Nadur's Mark Marlow and Simon Sultana, of Xaghra, were red-carded late in the match.

Wanderers rout Gharb 9-0 in Div. Two

SK Victoria Wanderers recorded their first victory in the championship with a record 9-0 success over Gharb Rangers.

The goals for the Wanderers were scored by Anthony Ewurum (2, 23), Daniel Muscat (12), Mark Meilak (28), David Muscat (45 pen., 60), Michael Tabone (65, 71) and Alan Cini (81).

In the first match from the second round, Oratory Youths defeated Qala 2-0 with goals from Melchiore Cremona (66) and Mario Farrugia (78).