Bonanza of goals
Mqabba 4St George's 4 This was an open match between two teams sitting comfortably in mid-table and without pressure as the season draws to a close. The corresponding first round encounter had finished 2-2 and another exciting match was in prospect as...
Mqabba 4
St George's 4
This was an open match between two teams sitting comfortably in mid-table and without pressure as the season draws to a close. The corresponding first round encounter had finished 2-2 and another exciting match was in prospect as both sides made some experimental changes yesterday.
After only eight minutes Borislav Giorev's Mqabba could have forged ahead when a long ball caught the Saints napping but Claudio Calleja shot wide.
The Saints were coming more into the picture but it was Mqabba who continued to show the better qualities with David Azzopardi failing to capitalise on one occasion when the Saints rearguard was again caught on the wrong foot.
However, a minute before the break St George's forged ahead, John Nwoba slotting the ball home following a Josef Dalli pass for his seventh goal of the season.
The Saints held the initiative after the break and scored two quick goals to move 3-0 ahead.
On 51 minutes, Lee Grima made it 2-0 with a simple tap-in and then Mqabba defender Mauro Bonnici committed an own goal in an attempt to clear Nwoba's cross.
Shawn Magro blasted in from just inside the area to pull one back for Mqabba on 58 minutes but soon after the Saints scored again when Emerson Amaira headed home from a Silvio Sciberras free-kick.
Many thought Mqabba were dead and buried at this juncture but they fought back bravely to even the score.
Azzopardi sprinted inside the St George's box to shoot home following a measured pass by Claudio Calleja and on 66 minutes Mqabba came back into the match when Calleja beat Matthew Xerxen after he was put through by Michael Borg Olivier.
With 17 minutes to go, Mqabba made it 4-4, thanks to a Magro scorcher after some good work by John Paul Muscat.
The stage was set for a frantic finale during which Mqabba almost snatched a winner but the woodwork twice came to the Saints' rescue following attempts at goal by Borg Olivier.
Mqabba: R. Marmara, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, S. Magro, D. Azzopardi, J.P. Muscat, C. Calleja, D. Bonnici (M. Borg Olivier), J. Debattista (M. Mifsud), M.A. Psaila.
St George's: M. Xerxen, S. Sciberras (I. Curmi), E. Sevasta, J. Nwoba, M Gauci, V. Zahra (A. Bonello), E. Amaira, B. Fenech, J. Dalli, H. Schembri, L. Grima (V. Camilleri).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba).