Nadur retain title after decisive win over Sannat

Nadur Youngsters retained their GFA Division One title last weekend after beating Sannat Lions in a decisive clash for the championship in front of a sizeable crowd. A draw would have been enough for Sannat to end an 18-year drought but Nadur, under the charge of coach Alex Simoncic, had experience on their side to emerge winners after a lively contest. It was Nadur's ninth league title in the club's history.

Sannat Lions 1
Nadur Youngsters 2

Nadur won a titanic clash against Sannat Lions with the title at stake in the very last fixture of the league. They were more focused in attack where skipper Anthony Portelli was the protagonist by scoring both goals.

Sannat produced one of their best matches but looked hesitant in front of goal and fumbled most of the chances that came their way.

Indeed, the third round was a nightmare for the Lions who practically lost the title after conceding four defeats from six matches.

Nadur were more incisive in attack in the early stages. Sannat opted for fast breaks and could have opened the score after 24 minutes but an Errol Grima header hit the bar with keeper Jonathan Xuereb beaten.

Sannat were seeing more of the ball but three minutes from half-time they fell behind. Eric Nwankwo dashed into the Lions box, his low cross reached the unmarked Portelli who netted with a firm shot from close distance.

Sannat again shaded the opening stages after the restart and scored a deserved equalizer in the 54th minute. Ricardo Saverino won possession inside the Nadur half, advanced and lobbed over Xuereb to make it one-all.

Nadur looked shocked and almost conceded a second goal. Mark Formosa delivered a perfect cross from the flank but Saverino concluded high with an open goal at his mercy.

The Lions were punished for that missed chance as Nadur regained the lead in the 67th minute. Joseph C. Portelli worked his way through brilliantly before shooting at goal. Paul Galea failed to stop the shot and from the rebound Anthony Portelli headed the Youngsters in front.

Xuereb did well to stop a Saverino acrobatic kick as Sannat threw caution to the wind in their bid to score an equaliser. In the 81st minute, a Sabri Rais shot ended high following an inviting cross by substitute Silvan Galea.

After the final whistle Nadur captain Anthony Portelli was presented with the cup by GFA president Joe Cordina in the presence of other high-ranking officials.

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

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

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Xaghra United 0
Ghajnsielem 2

Ghajnsielem made sure of their Division One status after this victory over Xaghra in their last outing of the season.

The Blacks needed at least a point to avoid a relegation play-off. In the end, they had the better of a depleted Xaghra side who had six regulars suspended following a brawl in the previous match against Qala.

The Blacks had a Marian Bucur goal disallowed for a foul on the goalkeeper but took the lead on 12 minutes when Jeremy Camilleri pounced on a loose ball and placed easily behind Sultana.

Xaghra tried to venture forward in search of goal. On 31 minutes, Mario Gauci hit badly from close distance following a fine move by Anthony Eviparker. At the other end, a Leandro de Castro free-kick hit the bar.

Ghajnsielem keeper Victor Agius preserved his side's lead with a fine save on an Ejofor Nkowocha shot. Then, a Benneth Njoku free-kick ended just over Ghajnsielem's goal.

The match was as good as over on 61 minutes when the Blacks doubled their lead. A Bucur shot cannoned against the bar and from the rebound Joseph Buttigieg tapped the ball inside an empty goal.

Xaghra's Mark Buhagiar was unlucky late on when his thunderous volley hit the woodwork.

Xaghra: M. Sultana, J. Bartolo, B. Njoku, Z. Milosevic, A. Farrugia (C. Zammit), M. Gauci (C. Azzopardi), J. Sultana, E. Nkowocha, A. Eviparker, J. Attard, M. Buhagiar.

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

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Xewkija Tigers 5
Qala St Joseph 2

Xewkija Tigers ended a poor campaign on a bright note last weekend after beating fellows-in-distress Qala St Joseph 5-2.

The Tigers were already mathematically doomed but Qala will try to avoid the drop in a play-off against SK Victoria Wanderers.

Joseph Cefai put the Tigers ahead on 12 minutes but the Saints levelled soon after with a Dione Lautier goal.

With both sides playing an open game, it was no surprise when Xewkija scored again on 15 minutes through Paul Rapa and then forged ahead 3-1 thanks to an Andreas Fotso goal. Just before half-time the Tigers opened a three-goal lead when Patrick Camilleri hit home with a rasping grounder.

Qala pulled one back five minutes after the restart, following a Mario Mifsud goal, but Xewkija re-established their four-goal margin 15 minutes from time when Fotso scored following a corner.

Xewkija: J. Grima (S. Vella), J. Vella, J. Dingli, A. Said, J. Cefai, A. Fotso, P. Camilleri, S. Mizzi, P. Rapa (M. Pace), J. Azzopardi, J. Buttigieg.

Qala: J. Mizzi (I. Aktpan), G. Cefai, J. Rapa, B. Portelli, M. Mifsud, C. Attard, J. Muscat, D. Lautier, J. Bajada, J. Bonello, N. Mizzi.

Referee: Joseph Camilleri.

Kercem Ajax 5
Xaghra United 1

On Sunday, Kercem completed their commitments in the league with a clear victory over a dejected Xaghra United.

Kercem striker Jerry Ani looked to be the most motivated player on the field as he sought to top the scorers' list. The Nigerian eventually hit a hat-trick to achieve his target after finishing with a tally of 16 goals for the season.

Kercem practically made sure of victory with four goals during the first period. Milos Stojanovic scored twice before two other goals from Ani, one of them a penalty just before half-time.

The match was a mere formality after the restart. Xaghra scored their only goal of the match right on the hour following a deflected John Camilleri goal. Two minutes before, Ani had rounded up his hat-trick with a header following a Stojanovic cross.

Kercem: C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri (A. Buttigieg), M. Tabone, M. Azzopardi (M. Mamo), A. Tramboo, M. Cremona, J. Portelli (L. Attard), M. Cutajar, J. Ani, M. Vella, M. Stojanovic.

Xaghra: C. Rapa, B. Njoku, J. Bartolo, A. Eviparker, J. Attard, C. Zammit (C. Azzopardi), A. Bajada (J. Galea), Z. Milosevic, E. Nkowocha, M. Gauci (J. Camilleri), J. Sultana.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.