Nadur close in on league title

Nadur Youngsters 5
Xaghra United 2

Nadur Youngsters inflicted a heavy defeat on lowly Xaghra United at the Gozo Stadium to move closer to retaining the league title for a third consecutive time and the 10th in their history.

The match was played in difficult weather conditions but with the wind blowing behind their backs, Nadur duly took advantage and scored four times in the opening half to make sure of the points very early.

Nadur opened the scoring on 12 minutes through Eric Nkwankwo who tapped the ball in after receiving a cross by Anthony Portelli.

The champions kept insisting and Alex Simoncic netted twice from inswinging corners to put his team 3-0 up.

Then, in the 38th minute, Nkwankwo added another goal with a fine header following another Simoncic delivery.

Xaghra tried to make a comeback after the break and were unlucky when a shot by Leandro Blanco de Castro hit the woodwork. A Joseph Mercieca effort also met the same fate.

Nadur, however, regained control and nine minutes from the end of normal time, they made it 5-0 following a melee inside the Xaghra box.

The Blues made the score look more respectable in the dying minutes with two goals scored by substitute Silvan Galea and Joseph Mercieca.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, D. Odovic, S. Attard, A. Simoncic, C. Camilleri (S. Muscat), C. Hili, E. Nkwankwo (E. Azzopardi), A. Portelli (M. Portelli), J. Portelli.

Xaghra: D. Gauci, P. Attard, L. Blanco de Castro, J. Attard (S. Galea), V.J. Saliba, L. Buttigieg (J.W. Xerri), J. Mercieca, S.F. Bajada (A. Mutalib), S. Sultana, M. Buhagiar, P. Ohaka.

Referee: Alan Mario Sant.

Victoria Hotspurs 4
Kercem Ajax 2

Victoria Hotspurs kept their remote championship hopes alive, at least for another week, thanks to this victory over relegation-haunted Kercem Ajax.

Victoria striker Ricardo Saverino hit a hat-trick to take over as the league's leading scorer with 19 goals, two more than Sannat's Fernando de Andrade.

The Hotspurs enjoyed an excellent start and opened a 2-0 lead in the first 15 minutes following goals by Jason Portelli and a Saverino penalty, awarded for a foul by keeper Courtney Mercieca on the same Brazilian striker.

Saverino made it 3-0 on the half hour mark but Kercem were not demoralised and Gothard Conti reduced the arrears 10 minutes after the restart.

However, nine minutes from time, Kercem goalkeeper Mercieca was sent off for a second caution after the referee awarded Victoria a penalty for a foul on Saverino in the box. Saverino made it 4-1 from the spot.

Kercem scored their second goal in the second minute of stoppage time through Jonathan Mercieca.

Victoria: M. Grima, A. Zammit, J.P. Grima, C. Attard, M. Vella, M. Buttigieg (A. Briffa), D. Farrugia, N. Borg, J. Portelli, R. Saverino, F. Bassi (J. Azzopardi).

Kercem: C. Mercieca, F. Camilleri, J. Mercieca, M. Tabone, E. Hussain, M. Stojanovic, D. Fowler, M. Azzopardi, J.P. Mizzi (L. Camilleri), G. Conti (D. Mercieca), J. Grech (M. Vella).

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Division Two

Zebbug Rovers 0
Oratory Youths 1

Oratory obtained their second victory of the season after they beat Zebbug Rovers 1-0 to join fellow strugglers Gharb and Munxar on the nine-point mark.

These three teams are looking to avoid the wooden spoon at the end of the season.

The match was decided in the 90th minute with an Ishaku Umoru goal.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Xewkija Tigers 6
Gharb Rangers 0

Xewkija maintained their excellent form with a 6-0 drubbing of Gharb.

Despite having chief goal-getter Christian Bugeja missing due to suspension, the Tigers still managed to score six times past Rangers.

Mark Camilleri scored four of the goals. The others came from Josmar Vella and a Luc Tefogno penalty.

Referee: Joe Agius.

SK Victoria W. 4
Munxar Falcons 1

As expected, SK Victoria Wanderers did not fail to take the three points and retain their position at the top of the standings.

Mark Buttigieg and an Ige Adesina penalty put the Wanderers ahead in the first half.

Munxar pulled one back 12 minutes from time through Patrick Falzon but Victoria made sure of the points with late goals from Joseph Vella and Adesina.

Referee: Joe Agius.