Senglea and Mosta share the spoils

Senglea Athletics 1
Mosta 1

Senglea Athletics and Mosta, due to meet in the Division One Knock-Out semi-final on Saturday week, had to settle for a point apiece after their second round league game ended one-all.

The first 45 minutes of yesterday's match were drab as both teams struggled to produce any constructive football.

Senglea, yesterday missing the suspended Timothy Thomas, tried to attack along the flanks but most of the running came from Mosta. Anthony Ewurum and Charles Sciberras were ruled out by suspension for Mosta.

The first notable chance of the game fell Mosta's way after 35 minutes. Philip Camilleri and Lydon Cilia played a good one-two before the latter crossed the ball into the path of striker Daniel Theuma. However, the former Malta international was foiled by the Senglea rearguard.

Senglea responded a few minutes later when Chima Dozie's effort from the edge of the box was well saved by Claude Carbonaro.

Just before the break, Clint Caruana sped down the left flank and closed in on goal but his final effort missed the target.

Mosta started the second half in attacking mode. Two minutes after the restart, Cilia delivered a good cross but Theuma's header ended just wide. Five minutes later, Brian Agius served Cilia in the Senglea box but the first-time effort from the Mosta midfielder finished wide.

Senglea forged ahead against the run of play on 56 minutes. Caruana floated a cross into the Mosta box and Dozie was at the right spot to blast the ball home from close range.

Mosta equalised 11 minutes later when, from a Cilia cross from the right, Senglea goalkeeper George Attard looked to have the ball covered but Theuma nipped in to nod home.

Senglea could have regained the lead when Dozie burst into the penalty area where he was confronted by two Mosta defenders. The Nigerian did well to pass to Silvio Sciberras who looked odds-on to score but the ball was cleared away for a corner by Mario Abela.

Defender Mark Brincat could have won the game for Mosta in the dying minutes but, having profited from a short clearance by the Senglea defence, shot wide in front of goal.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Gauci, L. Attard, D. Cosaitis, S. Sciberras (F. Ellul), C. Caruana (J. Gatt), E. Azzopardi, C. Dozie, M. Borg, F. Dingli, B. Zerafa.

Mosta: C. Carbonaro, M. Abela, B. Agius (A. Borg), I. Bilocca (R. Deguara), M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli, P. Camilleri, M. Farrugia, D. Theuma, P. Vassallo, L. Cilia (C. Pace).

Referee: Ian Miller.

Man of the match: Daniel Theuma (Mosta).

Qormi's Zammit strikes poker in eight-goal thriller

Qormi 4
San Gwann 4

After an uneventful first half, this match between Qormi and San Gwann erupted in the second half when no fewer than seven goals were scored. Qormi's veteran striker Johann Zammit notched a poker of goals.

Qormi had another Johann Zammit in their squad yesterday, an up-and-coming youngster who showed some neat touches after coming on as a substitute.

Undoubtedly, the best players on the field were four-goal striker Zammit and San Gwann's Mauro Brincat who capped a fine performance with a gem of a goal.

Despite being already condemned to Division Two football next season, San Gwann deserve credit for producing some flowing football.

The game was officiated by international referee Adrian Casha who was making a comeback after a long lay-off due to a foot operation.

San Gwann drew first blood after 21 minutes when Nebiosa Stajic sent in a good cross from the right, Qormi keeper Thomas Camilleri fumbled his clearance and Alan Borg was on hand to head the ball home.

Qormi responded a minute later when Nicola Del Re crossed from the left but Zammit's first-time effort was saved by Justin Spiteri.

Eight minutes from half-time, San Gwann missed a sitter when Marco Mercieca's perfect pass found Roberto Brincat who stroked the ball wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The second half saw both teams raising their game significantly with the result that four goals were scored in the first 20 minutes.

Five minutes into the second half, Qormi were back on level terms when, from a Michael Borg Oliver cross, Zammit bundled the ball into the net at the far post.

Within a minute, San Gwann had re-established their one-goal lead, Brincat scoring a wonderful goal. The young midfielder, who joined San Gwann on loan from Floriana last January, ran half the pitch before curling the ball home from an acute angle despite Qormi defender Del Re's attempt to close him down.

On 55 minutes, Qormi made it 2-2 when Zammit fired the ball home from a Christopher Vella pass.

Two minutes later, the Saints were back in front when Clayton Giordmaina and Roberto Brincat combined well inside the Qormi area and the latter poked the ball home.

Qormi levelled matters again on 63 minutes, Zammit scoring from a direct-free kick. Two minutes later, Qormi moved ahead for the first time in the game when Zammit headed home from close range after another cross from Vella. It was Zammit's 10th goal of the season.

The goal blitz continued, San Gwann making it all square again when Mauro Brincat's cross was met by Stajic who lifted the ball into the roof of the net. Four-all.

San Gwann could have nosed ahead again on 70 minutes when Mauro Brincat picked out Andrew Decesare who shot over the crossbar.

Fifteen minutes from time, Thomas Paris crossed for Zammit in the area but the bustling Qormi striker fired wide.

Qormi played the last seven minutes with 10 men after Paris received his second yellow card for a deliberate handball.

Qormi: T. Camilleri (M. Farrugia), N. Del Re, A. Saliba, D. Zuccaro, A. Formosa, E. Azzopardi (L. Magri), T. Paris, M. Tabone (J. Zammit 2), C. Vella, J. Zammit (1), M. Borg Olivier.

San Gwann: J. Spiteri (F. Axisa), C. Giordmaina, S. Zammit Fava, M. Francica (A. Galea), M. Mercieca, C. Cuschieri, A. Borg, N. Stajic, M. Brincat, R. Brincat (S. Cutajar), A. Decesare.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Man of the match: Johann Zammit (Qormi).