Sannat shocked as Nadur seize title initiative

Qala SJ 1
Sannat Lions 0

The third and final round of the GFA Division One league started with a surprise as relegation-threatened Qala St Joseph upset title contenders Sannat Lions.

This was Qala's second consecutive victory. They had mentor Rufin Oba suspended for this match but the team made up for his absence with a polished display as they resisted Sannat's assault in the final stages of the match with Inim Aktpan playing a blinder in goal.

Sannat were way off their best form as their opponents held the initiative for most of the opening half.

Qala went close to scoring with efforts from Mario Mifsud and Denis Abela. Sannat's best chance arrived late in the first half following a Sabri Rais header that went wide.

Qala scored the goal that mattered on 53 minutes. Joe Xerri won a ball just outside the box and released Kenneth Mercieca who hit home from close in.

Sannat laid siege on the Qala goal but Aktpan denied them on several occasions. Sannat's Franco Magrin was dismissed in stoppage time for a foul on the Qala goalkeeper.

Qala: I. Aktpan, B. Portelli, P. Camilleri (I. Grech), G. Cefai, M. Bonello, D. Abela, M. Mifsud, P. Said, C. Attard, J. Xerri, K. Mercieca (D. Lautier).

Sannat: P. Galea, A. Debono, M. Formosa (S. Galea), F. Magrin, J. Vella (E. Grima), C. De Oliveira, J. Vella, S. Rais, M. Muscat, N. Borg, R. Saverino.

Referee: George Portelli.

Xewkija Tigers 0
Nadur Youngsters 2

Nadur Youngsters reclaimed top spot following this victory over bottom-placed Xewkija Tigers. However, this was a hard-earned win for the new league leaders who scored the all-important goals late in the match.

Nadur had Marius Filip and Peter Buttigieg suspended while captain Anthony Portelli started as a substitute as he was not fully fit.

Xewkija had striker Edmond Tchawou missing due to injury.

Nadur saw more of the ball during the first period but found it hard to find a way past the Xewkija rearguard.

Nadur doubled their efforts after the break and could have opened the score through efforts by Zdenek Svoboda and Frank Paul Azzopardi.

The Tigers operated mainly with fast breaks but the Nadur goalkeeper was never really tested.

In the 71st minute, Nadur were unlucky when a Joseph C. Portelli shot hit team-mate Eric Nwankwo and the ball ended wide. But, the Youngsters finally broke the stalemate four minutes later through an excellent Saviour Attard header from a Svoboda corner.

Xewkija tried to hit back and pegged Nadur back in their own half but the latter sealed victory with a second goal in the third minute of stoppage time when Nwankwo finished off a fast break.

Xewkija: J. Grima, P. Camilleri, S. Farrugia, A. Said, J. Cefai, A. Fotso, M. Pace, J. Vella, P. Rapa (D. Cilia), J. Azzopardi (R. Buttigieg), M. Camilleri.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, M. Portelli, S. Attard, J. Meilaq, K. Buttigieg (K. Mifsud), B. Meilak (A. Portelli), Z. Svodoba, J. Buttigieg, F.P. Azzopardi, E. Nwankwo, J.C. Portelli.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Kercem Ajax 1
Ghajnsielem 3

Ghajnsielem kicked off their third round commitments on a winning note to move out of the drop zone. This was the Blacks' first victory in almost two months.

Kercem opened the score after ten minutes, Jerry Ani heading home from a Martin Cremona free-kick.

Ghajnsielem staged an immediate reaction and drew level in the 12th minute. Jeremy Camilleri directed his header past Leonard Camilleri from a Leandro de Castro cross.

In the 25th minute, Ghajnsielem turned the result in their favour following an Alex Tramboo own goal.

The Ajax looked shocked but played better after the break with substitute Milos Stojanovic on the field. However, their chances only came from set-pieces.

Kercem's pressure did not produce the desired dividends and it came as no surprise that the Blacks scored again in stoppage time when Joseph Attard concluded a fast counter-attack by striking the ball into the net.

Kercem: L. Camilleri, F. Camilleri, J. Cordina, M. Azzopardi, M. Cremona, A. Tramboo, E. Vella, J. Ani, C. Hili (J. Grech), M. Cutajar, M. Mamo (M. Stojanovic).

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg (S. Azzopardi), L. De Castro, J. Camilleri, J. Attard, M. Bucur, L. Buttigieg, R. Apap.

Referee: Anton Zammit.

Division Two

SK Victoria Wanderers made amends for the first-round upset to bottom-placed St Lawrence Spurs by beating the same opponents 5-2 last weekend.

The Citizens have now consolidated their runners-up position.

Once again, Victoria had Ige Adesina to thank for the points. He was the catalyst of their victory with two goals and three assists.

The Wanderers took a two-goal lead during the first period with goals by Ige Adesina and Chris Sciortino. Ajibade Adesina, Ige Adesina and Mark Buttigieg got the other three goals for Victoria, while Fernando de Andrade scored twice for the Spurs.