Kercem in 9-1 rout, Nadur held to a draw

Xaghra United 1
Kercem Ajax 9

Kercem Ajax demolished Xaghra United to maintain their title challenge alive. The Ajax made sure of the points in the first half when they opened a three-goal advantage.

They took the lead after 17 minutes through Alfred Effiong. Nine minutes later, it was 2-0 when a free-kick by Jason Portelli was badly cleared by Domenique Mbueko and Gothard Conti netted from close distance.

Xaghra reduced the deficit in the 30th minute through a direct free-kick by Mbueko but Kercem soon regained their two-goal lead with a header by Sabri Rais.

The score became 4-1 for Kercem in the 43rd minute, Effiong hitting home from the rebound after Charles Hili's shot came off the post.

After the break, Kercem were all over their opponents, scoring five times through Elton Vella, Conti, Portelli, Effiong (penalty) and Rais.

Xaghra: V. Agius, D. Mbueko, M. Buhagiar, S.F. Bajada (A. Farrugia), J. Bartolo (A. Bajada), D. Attard, R. Galea, S. Galea, A. Debono, K. Ndayi, J. Portelli (J. Sultana).

Kercem: I. Aktpan (C. Mercieca), F. Camilleri, B. Portelli, M. Azzopardi, J. Portelli, M. Cutajar, G. Conti (J. Grech), E. Vella (J. Grech), C. Hili, S. Rais, A. Effiong.

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Sannat Lions 2
Ghajnsielem 1

Sannat Lions chalked up a deserved win over Ghajnsielem and now need only two points to make sure of third spot in the table.

Sannat made the better start to open the scoring in the eighth minute through a low shot by Ricardo Saverino.

Four minutes later, Saverino had an angled shot saved by Saviour Darmanin and in the 20th minute the Sannat striker concluded wide in front of an open goal.

Ghajnsielem grabbed an equaliser in the 24th minute when the referee awarded them a penalty for a tackle by Tramboo on Errol Grima. The latter converted from the spot.

The Blacks' confidence increased after their equaliser and Sannat keeper Muscat had to make difficult saves from a shot by Joe Attard and a free-kick by Brian Meilak.

Ghajnsielem found themselves in arrears for the second time on 42 minutes when Saverino broke free on the counter and passed to Mahjoub Touali who surprised Darmanin with a first-time effort.

After the break, Sannat continued to dictate matters but Darmanin denied Noel Borg and a string of attempts by Saverino.

Ghajnsielem had their best opportunity to level the scores in the 71st minute with a shot by Larry Buttigieg that ended over the crossbar. In the dying moments, an effort by Sannat's Touali was cleared off the line by Frankie Buttigieg.

Sannat: N. Muscat, S. Azzopardi (S. Portelli), P. Said, C. de Oliveira, A. Tramboo, A. Camilleri (R. Farrugia), R. Mercieca (A. Mutalib), M. Touali, J. Vella, N. Borg, R. Saverino.

Ghajnsielem: S. Darmanin, J. Scicluna, F. Buttigieg, L. Haber (S. Azzopardi), J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, L. Scicluna, J. Attard, E. Grima, L. Buttigieg, F.L. Galea.

Referee: Reno Refalo.

SK Victoria W. 1
Nadur Youngsters 1

SK Victoria Wanderers recorded a surprise result when they held leaders Nadur Youngsters to a 1-1 draw.

Play was quite interesting in the early stages. In the first minute, Xuereb saved well from an effort by Obidimalor but Nadur quickly gained the initiative.

A good shot by Matthew Portelli ended just over the crossbar and Anthony Portelli had an angled effort sailing wide.

Nadur went ahead in the 12th minute when goalkeeper Mercieca partially saved a shot by Alex Simoncic from a corner action and Anthony Portelli tapped the rebound home.

In the 21st minute, Portelli headed over from an ideal position following an inviting cross by Joseph Portelli.

Five minutes later, Victoria drew even thanks to a low strike by Matthew Francalanza. Victoria were again dangerous in the 37th minute, a shot by Adesina being deflected away for a corner by Camilleri.

After the break, Victoria opted for a restrained approach in an attempt to hold on to the draw. They managed to keep danger away from their area and also threatened with fast moves by Adesina. Francalanza lobbed over the crossbar after being unmarked by Adesina but Nadur replied in the 69th minute when Anthony Portelli concluded wide from close in.

Victoria wasted a good opportunity when Obidimalor ran into the box but passed the ball instead of shooting at goal.

Nadur also went close to striking a killer goal five minutes from time but Ribic fired wide.

Deep into stoppage time, Victoria missed an excellent opportunity to take full points when Obidimalor failed to find the target after receiving from Adesina.

SK Victoria: M. Mercieca, P. Cardona, I. Adesina, S. Farrugia, M. Buttigieg, S. Gatt, D. Muscat, P. Camilleri, M. Francalanza (J. Refalo), C. Sciortino (M. Tabone), V Obidimalor.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, M. Vella, S.A. Cauchi, A. Simoncic, M. Portelli (J. Meilaq), F.P. Azzopardi (M. Bonello), J. Camilleri, A. Ribic, A. Portelli, J. Portelli.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Division Two

Champions Qala St Joseph ended their Division Two campaign unbeaten after a 2-0 victory over Oratory Youths. Their goals came in the second half from Kenneth Mercieca and Ishaky Umoru. Oratory had Dione Lautier sent off for elbowing late in the game.

In the Division Two Knock-Out competition, St Lawrence Spurs came back from a goal down to beat Zebbug Rovers 2-1 in their semi-final. St Lawrence will now meet Qala SJ in the final.