Birżebbuġa, Gżira lead the way as Lija beat Rabat

Senglea Athletic 1
Birżebbuġa SP 3

This was Birżebbuġa's second win from as many matches as they are now leading the standings together with Gzira United. Ex-Mosta striker Carlos Camenzuli, now playing for Birżebbuġa, scored two quick goals in the early stages of the second half to steer his team to a convincing win.

Birżebbuġa pushed forward from the word go but were denied by goalkeeper George Attard off attempts by Bernard Farrugia and Camenzuli. Just before half-time, Senglea had a Darren Grech free-kick saved with difficulty by Gabriel Mansueto.

It took the southerners just a few seconds into the second half to break the deadlock through Camenzuli after his first shot had hit the upright.

The Saints doubled their lead on 56 minutes thanks to another Camenzuli goal but Senglea's reaction produced an excellent Brady Zerafa goal on 60 minutes.

However, Ronnie Celeste was on the right spot on 70 minutes to head in his team's third goal following a Robert Adami free-kick.

Birżebbuġa ended with ten players six minutes from time when Noel Tabone was sent off for a second yellow card. The same fate befell to Senglea's Daniel Zahra on 87 minutes.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis, D. Zahra, E. Azzopardi, J. Abela, D. Grech, A. Sciortino, O. Ellul (N. Abela), T. Thomas (C. Borg), B. Dalli (D. Gatt), B. Zerafa.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, E. Saliba, D. Baldacchino, B. Farrugia, A. Mangion (E. Desira), N. Tabone, R. Adami, M. Ciappara, C. Formosa, R. Celeste, C. Camenzuli (F. Peplow).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Sta Venera 0
Gżira United 1

This was a merited victory for Gżira who were denied on many occasions by in-form Sta Venera keeper Franklin Azzopardi.

The first period proved to be an exciting affair with both teams creating various goal scoring opportunities. Early on, the Lightnings went close through Jeffrey Zammit and Andre Cachia and on four minutes a shot by Mark Grech was blocked by Gżira keeper Keith Camilleri.

The Maroons replied with a shot by Richard Attard that was parried by Azzopardi who could do nothing to stop Thane Micallef from putting Gżira in front on nine minutes.

The Saints hit back strongly but the woodwork came to Camilleri's rescue from a Zammit delivery and on another occasion Mark Grech hit just wide.

Gżira were the better team after the change of ends but wasted a clear opportunity through Attard following a perfect ball by Keith Bonello.

Zammit's shot was turned onto the post by keeper Camilleri with the Maroons' response producing two attempts by Miguel Mifsud and Josef Felice which were superbly saved by Azzopardi.

Sta Venera: F. Azzopardi, A. Cachia, G. Ancilleri (G. Falzon), G. Magri, Y.M. Law, A. Ellul, J. Zammit (C. Azzopardi), G. Micallef (I. Zammit), S. Farrugia, M. Grech, K. Vella.

Gżira: K. Camilleri, M. Sultana, N. Gatt Coleiro, H. Gatt Bonello, A. White, M. Mifsud (J. Gatt), J. Felice, T. Micallef, K. Bonello, A. Pirrone (N. Corito), R. Attard (M. Cocks).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Żurrieq 1

Żebbuġ Rangers gained their first point of the season in a match they dominated for long stretches but were guilty of too many mistakes up front.

Rangers dictated the run of play during the first half and early on a Gilbert Scerri drive was cleared in time by the Reds defence. The loose ball fell to Anthony Lagana who shot wide.

Scerri was then fouled by Żurrieq keeper Julian Azzopardi in the box. From the penalty, taken by Scerri, Azzopardi made up for his blunder with a fine stop.

Żurrieq had an Alex Barbara free-kick saved by Martin Pace and at the other end, Rangers were again close through Keith Farrugia and Mark Deguara. But, it was Żurrieq who took the lead just before the break when Lawrence Vella concluded some fine work by Steve Azzopardi.

Żebbuġ maintained the initiative after the restart and deservedly drew level on 54 minutes thanks to a Mark Deguara scorcher after a perfect Silvan Privitelli pass.

The match was open now.

Scerri missed a sitter for Rangers on 68 minutes and eight minutes later the Reds were reduced to ten players as Clayton Gatt was sent off for retaliation.

Żebbuġ did their best to score the winner but they were held out by a solid Żurrieq rearguard.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, G. Saliba, K. Farrugia (J. Galea), E. Calleja, J. Saliba, S. Privitelli, A. Lagana, J. Mercieca, S. Calleja (J. Cilia), M. Deguara, G. Scerri.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, C. Gatt, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, J. Briffa, J. Saliba, D. Bonnici (K. Sacco), D. Zammit, S. Azzopardi (C. Farrugia), L. Vella (A. Gove), C. Shumba.

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Rabat Ajax 0
Lija Athletic 2

A first-half strike by Keith Darmanin and a late goal by Andre Scicluna earned Lija their first win of the season.

The opening half was a drab with play resulting mainly in midfield until the 37th minute when Darmanin hit a rasping grounder to open the score.

Rabat pushed forward after the break. An Adam Smeir shot was saved by Bonnici and on another occasion Alan Zahra hit just wide with Lija responding through Beppe Antignolo whose effort was stopped by Azzopardi.

Rabat were again close through a David Azzopardi free-kick and nine minutes from time a header by Darren Galea was turned onto the crossbar by the Lija goalkeeper.

Lija dashed Rabat's hopes on 86 minutes when Scicluna chipped the ball over Azzopardi from 35 metres out.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Caruana (D. Galea), A. Mifsud, K. Said (R. Micallef), A. Smeir, J. Cassar (A. Zahra), M. Micallef, D. Azzopardi, E. Muscat.

Lija: L. Bonnici, E. Azzopardi, M. Mangion, D. Scerri, M. Schembri, K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, A. Saliba (A. Spiteri), D. Mizzi (D. Cremona), A. Scicluna, B. Antignolo.

Referee: Thomas Debono.

Gozo FC 1
Mellieħa 4

Mellieħa inflicted a heavy defeat on Gozo at the Sannat Ground to extend their positive start to the season. It was a deserved win for Mellieħa as they bombarded the Gozitan defensive lines which seemed too fragile on the day.

The visitors opened the score in the 15th minute through a Philip Camilleri scorcher that surprised keeper Grima.

Gozo were stunned and Mellieħa doubled the score on 22 minutes when Ibrahim Tarik hammered in from a corner.

The hosts re-opened the issue on the half hour when Manuel Cordina broke free of his marker before placing in goal.

After the break, Gozo looked good enough to get back on level terms but it was Mellieħa who scored again.

Luke Cauchi profited from a misunderstanding in the Gozitan box before slotting home behind Grima.

Mellieħa went on to seal the issue with a fourth goal scored on 66 minutes following a tap-in by Wayne Borg St John who took the rebound following a shot at goal by team-mate Reuben Vella.

Gozo ended the match with ten players as Alex Tramboo was sent off four minutes from time for retaliation.

Gozo: M. Grima, J.P. Grima, M. Azzopardi, J. Cefai, B. Meilak, J. Camilleri (J. Vella), D. Farrugia (C. Sciortino), A. Tramboo, J. Portelli, M. Cordina, O. Farrugia (R. Buttigieg).

Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Abela, A. Portelli, L. Cauchi, M. Vella, K. Gauci, P. Camilleri, R. Micallef (J. Vella), R. Vella, W. Borg St John, I. Tarik (W. Borg).

Referee: Mitchell Scerri.