Lija hand Gżira first upset in championship

Gżira United 0
Lija Athletic 2

Lija obtained a hard-earned win over Gżira, the latter losing their unbeaten record after four consecutive victories had propelled them to the top of the standings.

Gżira played the better football during the first half with Lija gaining the initiative after the break during which they got the decisive goals through Michael Mangion and debutant Matthew Borg, currently on loan from Melita.

The Maroons pushed forward from the word go, going close on several occasions. Keith Bonello almost found the net from a Miguel Mifsud free-kick and in the seventh minute Lija keeper Luke Bonnici did well to stop Bonello from scoring.

On 18 minutes, successive shots by Steve Gatt and Thane Micallef were blocked by the Lija rearguard.

Just before the break, Mifsud delivered an inviting cross inside the Lija box but Steve Gatt failed to make contact in front of goal.

Lija had done pretty well to soak up the pressure in the opening half but they looked more aggressive after the break. In fact, they went on to take the lead on 61 minutes when Mangion hit home from a Keith Darmanin free-kick.

The Maroons were stunned and Lija doubled their advantage three minutes later when newcomer Borg scored with a perfect lob.

Gżira's response produced a Bonello effort which lacked precision and at the other end a Mangion effort fell just wide of the Gżira goal.

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

Lija: L. Bonnici, M. Camilleri (A. Spiteri), M. Mangion, A. Saliba, D. Scerri, M. Borg (A. Sacco), K. Darmanin, J.P. Scerri, A. Scicluna, C. Ciantar, B. Antignolo.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Birżebbuġa SP 2
Mellieħa 2

The sharing of spoils was a fair outcome as Birżebbuġa dictated matters in the opening half and Mellieħa showed their best football after the break.

Ronnie Celeste put Birżebbuġa in front after just five minutes when he headed past James Abela after profiting from an indecision inside the opponents' box.

It took Mellieħa more than expected to settle down but they were back on level terms on 25 minutes thanks to a Wayne Borg St John goal after receiving a perfect pass from Philip Camilleri.

Mellieħa ran the show after the break and were close through Rio Micallef and Kevin Gauci.

However, it was Birżebbuġa who shot into the lead nine minutes from time through Carlos Camenzuli. But two minutes later Mellieħa were awarded a penalty and Borg St John scored from the spot.

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

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

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Sta Venera 3
Żurrieq 1

Patrick Zammit's Sta Venera moved away from the lower end of the standings after having the better of Żurrieq.

The Reds were the more enterprising side in the opening half and Olusey Ogun's goal from a Johan Briffa free-kick on 22 minutes came as no surprise.

Sta Venera tried to get back with a Nenad Veselji header and a shot from close in by Alistair Camilleri. Both attempts were stopped by keeper Julian Azzopardi.

Sta Venera looked more lively after the break but it was the Reds who wasted two clear chances to move 2-0 ahead when Ogun and Clive Shumba failed to find the net from ideal positions.

Sta Venera insisted in attack and on 61 minutes Veselji made it one-all after being put through by Camilleri.

Żurrieq lost composure and 12 minutes from time Daniel Zuccaro headed the Saints in front.

Jason Saliba's shot flew just wide of the Sta Venera goal but two minutes from time Zammit made sure of his team's victory with a third goal after his first shot had hit the upright.

Sta Venera: J. Agius, G. Ancilleri (D. Calleja), M. Muscat, D. Zuccaro, G. Magri (A. Hili), Y.M. Law, S. Farrugia (A. Ellul), A. Camilleri, I. Zammit, J. Zammit, N. Veselji.

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, K. Sacco, C. Gatt, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, D. Bonnici, J. Saliba, O. Ogun, D. Zammit (M. Spiteri), J. Briffa (C. Shumba), C. Farrugia (S. Azzopardi).

Referee: Sammy Attard.

Għargħur 1
Senglea Athletic 2

Senglea stayed on the right track with a second consecutive win to leave Għargħur rock bottom.

Senglea started strongly and broke the deadlock on 17 minutes with a Daniel Cosaitis goal.

A shot by Darren Grech finished just wide and Timmy Thomas should have done better in front of goal as Senglea held the upperhand.

Thomas doubled his team's lead on the half-hour mark following some good work by Bjorn Dalli but Għargħur pulled one back just before half-time after a shot from the distance by Jonathan Buttigieg caught the Senglea keeper napping.

Għargħur gained the initiative after the break with Senglea having to defend for long stretches.

Shaun Vella was almost on the mark for Għargħur and an Ian Borg free-kick was headed just wide by Mark Decesare. Karl Vella Petroni was a whisker away from scoring an equaliser and late in the match another try by Vella was stopped by Attard.

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, D. Galea (I. Borg), R. Debattista, M. Mercieca, C. Muscat (M. Decesare), E. Lapira, C. Farrugia, C. Zammit, J. Buttigieg, S. Vella, C. Vella (K. Vella Petroni).

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

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Gozo FC 1
Rabat Ajax 2

Rabat moved to a safe mid-table position after beating second-bottom Gozo at the Gozo Stadium.

The hosts looked more aggressive in the opening stages and took the lead on 10 minutes through a header by Rodney Buttigieg. However, the visitors drew level five minutes later when Joseph Caruana hit home from a corner.

Gozo's Jason Portelli had a free-kick saved with difficulty by Jonathan Azzopardi as Rabat were dangerous minutes later with a Caruana piledriver that just missed the target.

Gozo keeper Steve Sultana was called to make a fine save early in the second half following a free-kick by Adam Smeir and Gozo were unlucky minutes later when a Kenneth Mercieca effort hit the bar.

But Rabat upped the tempo and their efforts were rewarded on 69 minutes when Christopher Schembri fired in goal from an angled position.

Gozo were reduced to ten players nine minutes from time when Portelli was sent off for retaliation.

Gozo: S. Sultana, P.P. Buttigieg, C. Hili (C. Sciortino), A. Portelli, J. Buttigieg, J. Portelli, J. Meilaq, R. Buttigieg, K. Mercieca (M. Cordina), J. Vella, J. Cefai (B. Meilak).

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, A. Smeir, D. Galea (L. Portelli), D. Falzon, A. Wingfield (A. Zahra), E. Muscat, C.J. Tonna (M. Micallef), D. Azzopardi.

Referee: Thomas Debono.