Nine-man St George's move six points clear

St George's 1
Mqabba 1

Despite having two players sent off, St George's still managed to pick up a valuable point against promotion rivals Mqabba to move six points clear at the top Division One.

Marco Gerada's side had Anthony Ewurun in tremendous form while goalkeeper Kris Calleja and Jean Paul Muscat stood out for Mqabba.

The opening half was a quiet affair but there was a dramatic change in the second as both teams produced some entertaining football.

The sizeable crowd at the Victor Tedesco Stadium had to wait until the 36th minute for the first scoring opportunity that resulted into a goal.

Miguel Mifsud's cross was nodded by Ewurun towards Silvio Sciberras who fired the ball home from close in.

Mqabba's response failed to arrive, and it was St George's who could have scored again when on 44 minutes Emerson Amaira's shot finished just wide.

On the restart, Mqabba's Muscat dribbled his way into the Saints area but his effort was kept out by St George's goalkeeper Andrea Gatt.

At the other end, Calleja effected a fine save to keep out Mifsud's header.

St George's had two players sent off in the space of two minutes when first, Sciberras was shown the red card for an off-the-ball incident and then Christian Grech was shown a second yellow card. Mqabba pushed more men forward and on 66 minutes Spiteri served Uchanna Anywanna who headed just wide.

Mqabba finally drew level 12 minutes from time when Emanuel Sevasta received the ball from Pierre Grima and lobbed over goalkeeper Gatt with Anywanna heading the ball in.

Seven minutes from time, Anywanna sped past three opponents but his shot hit the bar.

Kris Calleja came to Mqabba's rescue on 87 minutes when he again blocked the Nigerian forward.

St George's: A. Gatt, J. Delia, C. Brincat, L. Lagana, E. Sevasta, C. Grech, M. Mifsud (P. Muscat), E. Amaira (E. Degabriele), J. Spiteri, S. Sciberras, A. Ewurun.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, J. Tellus, P. Grima, A. Busuttil, M.A. Psaila, M. Briffa, M. Borg (E. Borg), J.P. Muscat, U. Anywanna, M. Catania (K. Mallia), R. Spiteri.

Referee: Joe Attard.

San Gwann 2
Lija Athletic 0

San Gwann netted two late goals to lower the colours of Lija Athletic who are now on the verge of relegation to Division Two. The Saints, on the other hand, eased their worries as they are five points clear of the drop zone with three matches left.

San Gwann deserved the points as, after a balanced first half they managed to create the better opportunities after the break and always seemed the likelier side to score.

Lija almost struck in the first minute, when from a melee in the San Gwann area, Glenn Barry's shot was cleared off the line by Luke Vella Critien.

Lija continued to enjoy the initiative and on 19 minutes Barry served Gianluca Calabretta whose effort was kept out by goalkeeper Justin Spiteri.

On 33 minutes, Anizoba's piledriver was blocked by Etienne Mercieca. The Lija goalkeeper then did well to block Randolph Penza's header.

However, it was Lija who should have scored on the stroke of half-time but John Cauchi's header hit the bar.

The second half failed to match the intensity reached in the first half. San Gwann were close on 66 minutes when Karl Sciberras's shot was kept out by Mercieca.

Ten minutes from time, the Lija goalkeeper had to charge out to block Penza who was put through by Anizoba. A minute later, the Nigerian powered his way past his marker but his shot was again blocked by Mercieca.

The Saints finally breached Lija's resistance a minute from time when Anizoba beat the offside trap but his shot was partially blocked by Mercieca who also kept out Penza's rebound. However, Lija's no. 1 could do nothing to stop Zammit Tabona to slide the ball into an empty net.

Lija came back strongly and Spiteri produced an acrobatic save to keep out Alan Ellul's volley.

However, three minutes into injury time Chris Cuschieri launched San Gwann's break before serving the unmarked Anizoba who drilled the ball home.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri, L. Vella Critien, A. Zammit Tabona (K. Micallef), M. Buttigieg, S. Vella, K. Loughborough, P. Anizoba, S. Zammit Fava, R. Penza, K. Sciberras (A. Borg), C. Cuschieri (L. Sciberras).

Lija: E. Mercieca; J. Cauchi (A. Scicluna), E. Azzopardi (B. Anti-gnolo), A. Ellul, D. Scerri, M. Gatt, J. Camilleri, B. Lowell, N. Gatt, G. Barry, G. Calabretta (R. Farrugia).

Referee: Edward Spiteri.