Good day for Saints

Dingli Swallows 0
St Patrick 1

St Patrick maintained their winning start yesterday, following up their opening 1-0 defeat of Rabat Ajax with a similar victory over Dingli Swallows.

Peter Anizoba struck midway through the second half to swing the balance the Saints' way after Dingli had shared the exchanges with their opponents until then.

After only five minutes, Dingli went close to taking the lead. Jeremy Agius dispossessed Alex Ellul but the shot from the ex-Valletta veteran was off target. Then, Mark Galea played a good one-two with Clint Caruana who hit just wide.

As the first half progressed, St Patrick came more into the picture, posing problems to the Dingli defence with Anizoba's surging runs.

On the half hour, Thomas Caruana set up Anizoba but his firm drive was superbly saved by Jeffrey Farrugia. Just before the break, Anizoba fired wide from an acute angle as the Saints ended the first half in attack.

Caruana shot over the bar soon after the restart and, at the other end, Dingli's Caruana forced David Cassar into a fine save.

Dingli coach Jesmond Zammit tried to raise his team's performance by making a double substitution but St Patrick remained the better side and struck what proved to be the winning goal on 68 minutes. Grech supplied a perfect ball to Anizoba who hit home past the helpless Farrugia.

As Dingli failed to stage a reaction, St Patrick threatened to increase their lead.

A Clayton Micallef free-kick was saved by Farrugia and Gary Inguanez just missed the target after a fine move started by Mark Pullicino.

Two minutes from time, St Patrick substitute Daniel Gatt tested Farrugia from the edge of the box.

It was not before four minutes of stoppage time had passed that Dingli went close to gaining an equaliser. Anywanna nodded towards substitute Chris Ciappara but the latter's effort flew wide.

Dingli
J. Farrugia, C. Caruana (C. Ciappara), R. Spiteri, K. Formosa, V. Fiteni, C. Muscat, J. Agius, J. Cachia, E. Farrugia (C. Azzopardi), M. Galea (G. Failla), U. Anywanna.

St Patrick
D. Cassar, M. Pullicino, R. Briffa, C. Grech (D. Gatt), G. Inguanez, T. Caruana, A. Ellul (I. Scicluna), C. Micallef, P. Anizoba, B. Bonnici, B. Muscat.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Scorer: Anizoba 68.

Man of the match: Gary Inguanez (St Patrick).

Sub Dalli hits late winner

Rabat Ajax 1
St George's 2

Substitute Josef Dalli hit the target four minutes into stoppage time to give St George's their second win of the season.The Saints showed the better ideas but Rabat had their fair share of possession, even though they had nothing to show at the end of the match at the Hibs Ground.

Five minutes into the game, St George's midfielder Iro Curmi dribbled past three defenders and ran into the box but his cross-shot was stopped by Rabat goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi. On 27 minutes, Silvio Sciberras's free-kick for St George's sailed just wide.

Despite St George's early supremacy, it was Rabat who forged ahead against the run of play.

It was five minutes before the break when a fine passing move by Rabat ended with Joseph Caruana rifling his shot past Andrea Gatt in the St George's goal.

After the break, St George's went all out in search of an equaliser.

A Lawrence Mizzi free-kick brought a brilliant save from Azzopardi on 53 minutes.

Rabat responded a minute later when Clint Schiavone's poor ball control let in Adam Smeir whose lob sailed over Gatt but landed wide.

A few minutes later, Kayne Said's grounder was saved by Gatt as Rabat threatened to punish the attacking Saints on the break.

But, St George's drew level on 69 minutes when John Nwoba slotted the ball home following an inch-perfect cross by Sciberras.

Twelve minutes from time, the Saints were unlucky not to go in front when Rabat captain Jonathan Bezzina cleared Nwoba's close-range effort off the line.

With five minutes left, the Saints suffered a severe setback when Sciberras was injured following a melee in midfield. He was stretchered off the pitch.

Rabat could have snatched a winner three minutes from time when substitute Christopher Schembri headed against a post from a corner. But, deep into stoppage time, Dalli struck the winner when he hammered the ball home following a Glenn Bonello cross.

Rabat
J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Bezzina, J. Caruana, P. Ciantar, K. Said (D. Galea), A. Smeir, G. Magri, E. Muscat (C. Schembri), L. Micallef, E. Azzopardi.

St George's
A. Gatt, C. Grech, A. Bonello, E. Sevasta, S. Sciberras (J. Dalli), I. Curmi (G. Bonello), J. Nwoba, L. Mizzi (V. Camilleri), E. Degabriele, C. Schiavone, H. Schembri.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Scorers: Caruana (R) 40; Nwoba (SG) 69; Dalli (SG) 90.

Man of the match: Silvio Sciberras (St George's).