Darmanin boosts Vittoriosa

San Ġwann 1
Hili 22
Vittoriosa Stars 2
Eviparker 23; Darmanin 88

Keith Darmanin's goal, two minutes from time, gave Vittoriosa their first win of the season and left San Ġwann just a place off the bottom with one point. George Faure's side were playing with 10 men when they scored the winner as Ndubisi Chukunyere was shown a red card a few minutes earlier.

Darmanin's free-kick hit the bar and bounced out with linesman Ingmar Spiteri signalling to referee Paul Apap that it had crossed the line. Perhaps, a draw would have been a fair result but sometimes football is unpredictable and the unthinkable can happen.

Vittoriosa went close early on when an Anthony Eviparker header finished just wide. A minute later it was Larry Lagana who pounced on a short clearance by the San Ġwann rearguard but his shot went off target.

The Saints responded on 17 minutes when a Sergio Hili shot finished just over and the unmarked Lee Cumbo saw his drive superbly saved by Alex Camilleri.

San Ġwann forged ahead on 22 minutes when Hili slotted the ball home from a Cumbo cross. However, their joy was short-lived because a minute later Eviparker sprinted unimpeded before ramming the ball past goalkeeper Justin Spiteri.

Vittoriosa threatened again soon after when an Eviparker volley was saved in style by Spiteri.

After the break it was San Ġwann who ventured forward most. A Chris Cuschieri shot from outside the box almost had the better of Camilleri and on the hour, an Alan Borg shot from the distance was stopped by the alert Vittoriosa keeper.

Vittoriosa missed a great chance when substitute Kenneth Abela's drive from inside the box was stopped by Spiteri. Eight minutes from time, Chukunyere was red-carded for prolonging his protests for a penalty with the officials.

Despite the numerical handicap, the Stars snatched the winner two minutes from the end when Darmanin fired home from a free-kick, the linesman judging the ball had crossed the goal-line after coming off the woodwork.

San Ġwann
J. Spiteri, C. Giordemaina, M. Caruana, R. Newell, J. Buttigieg, A. Borg, C. Cuschieri, F. Aboulezz, L. Cumbo (N. Goodlip), S. Hili, A. Zahra (R. Zammit).

Vittoriosa
A. Camilleri, K. Darmanin, J. Spiteri, P. Aquilina, D. Grech, C. Cachia, S. Calleja (S. Privitelli), A. Eviparker, J. Camilleri, R. Adami (N. Chukunyere), L. Lagana (K. Abela).

Referee: Paul Apap.

Red card: Chukunyere 82 (V).

Man of the match: Alex Camilleri (Vittoriosa Stars).