Blacks inflict second defeat on champions

Għajnsielem registered a close victory over Nadur Youngsters to go second in the standings on four points, two behind leaders Victoria Hotspurs. Champions Nadur are bottom without a point from two matches.

Għajnsielem goalkeeper Jonathan Xuereb was kept busy during the initial stages, making some timely saves from efforts by Anthony Portelli and Frank Paul Azzopardi.

On the half hour, Nadur were also unlucky when a strike by Portelli hit the crossbar.

After the break, the Blacks saw more of the ball and came close to scoring but a header by Ndayi Kalenga crashed against the post.

Għajnsielem scored what proved to be the decisive goal on 62 minutes when the in-form Errol Grima hit a rasping grounder following a quick break by Tunde Lateff.

Kalenga incredibly missed the target in front of an open goal on at least three occasions as Nadur fell apart. Their reaction came very late and a stoppage-time goal by substitute Joseph Portelli was disallowed for offside.

In the other match from the second day of the championship, Qala St Joseph and Kerċem Ajax shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw. Kerċem made the better start but as the minutes ticked away, the Maroons got their act together and dictated matters for the last hour of play.

Mark Bonello blasted wide from the Kerċem goalmouth and Ajax keeper Victor Galea made an excellent save to deny Eric Nkwankwo just after the break.

There was drama in the last 10 minutes of the match.

First, Qala were awarded a penalty for a foul by Jonathan Mercieca on Ricardo Saverino. The latter scored from the spot but Kerċem equalised soon after from another penalty, awarded for a foul by Marcos Secco on Milos Stojanovic.

Skipper John Paul Mizzi drew the teams level from the penalty.

FA Trophy

The Malta FA announced last week that as from next season, Gozo will be represented by one team in the U*Bet FA Trophy.

This was decided after new regulations for the competitions were approved during a council meeting.

The Gozo FA Division One champions will earn the right to play in the FA Trophy but on condition that Gozo FC are not playing in the Premier League or Division One championship.

Division One summaries

Nadur Youngsters 0
Għajnsielem 1
E. Grima 62

Nadur
S. Sultana, P. Buttigieg (J. Portelli), J. Meilaq, B. Timotic, J. Said (K. Mifsud), A. Simoncic, S. Attard, F.P. Azzopardi (S. Muscat), J. Buttigieg, A. Portelli, I. Ginev.

Għajnsielem
J. Xuereb, F. Buttigieg, T. Lateff, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, B. Meilak, K. Mercieca (L. Buttigieg), E. Grima (D. Debattista), M. Cremona, N. Kalenga (J. Attard), F.L. Galea.

Referee: George Portelli

Qala SJ 1
R. Saverino 81 pen.
Kerċem Ajax 1
J.P. Mizzi 87 pen.

Qala SJ
V. Agius, P. Camilleri, G. Cefai, M. Secco, D. Abela, M. Bonello, M. Mifsud, C. Hili, R. Saverino, E. Nkwankwo, C. Portelli (J. Galea).

Kerċem
V. Galea, E. Hussain, D. Stojanovic (M. Vella), M. Tabone, G. Emiy, M. Stojanovic, J. Debrincat, D. Mercieca, J.P. Mizzi, A. Grech (F. Camilleri), J. Mercieca.

Referee: Anton Zammit