Football - BOV Division One

Melita 2
Vittoriosa Stars 4

Vittoriosa Stars made it three wins out of three after coming from behind to beat the battling Melita 4-2.

The game was only two minutes old when Melita goalkeeper Matthew Sapiano produced a fine save from a Henry Makinwa free-kick. A minute later, Sapiano pushed Beppe Muscat's cross-shot onto the crossbar. From the resulting corner, Leontin Chitescu headed over.

Surprisingly, it was Melita who scored against the run of play on 13 minutes. Luke Fenech and Julian Galea combined to find Nicolò

Baldacchino Orland who stroked the ball home from close range.

On 23 minutes, Clayton Micallef's header for Vittoriosa finished just wide after Sapiano misjudged Johann Spiteri's cross.

Vittoriosa's pressure paid off five minutes from the break when Chitescu drove home after reaching a Makinwa cross. Seconds later Melita suffered a blow when Kane Micallef was sent off for dissent.

Vittoriosa made it 2-1 on 25 minutes when Micallef produced a strong run before lobbing the ball over the Melita keeper and towards Elton Vella who slotted home.

Winston Muscat's side extended their lead on the stroke of half-time when Vella played a good one-two with Makinwa and the latter blasted the ball home.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Chitescu just missed the target after being released by Michael Borg Olivier. It looked a matter of when not if the Stars would score their fourth but it was Melita who reduced the arrears on 63 minutes.

Baldacchino Orland struck his second goal of the game with a close-range drive to finish some good work by Tobias Terpougoff, Melita's 18-year-old substitute who had just entered the fray.

Three minutes later, Borg Olivier dribbled past the onrushing Sapiano but fired wide. Melita came close to an equaliser on 74 minutes when Luke Micallef was denied by Henry Bonello.

Ten minutes from time, Steve Bonnici's header from a Galea free-kick sailed over the crossbar with goalkeeper Bonello beaten as Melita continued to press forward in search of an equaliser and their first point of the season.

Their hopes were ended when Vittoriosa sealed the issue with a scorching shot from Chitescu.

Melita: M. Sapiano, S. Bonnici, N. Zammit (L. Micallef), G. Gribbon, M. Martin, K. Micallef, N. Baldacchino Orland, J. Galea, L. Fenech, I. Bilocca (T. Terpougoff), D. Gravino.

Vittoriosa: H. Bonello, J. Camilleri, P. Aquilina, J. Chetcuti, J. Xerri, B. Muscat, J. Spiteri, L. Chitescu, E. Vella (G. Inguanez), C. Micallef (M. Borg Olivier), H. Makinwa (P. Camilleri).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Leontin Chitescu (Vittoriosa).

Mosta 2
Mqabba 2

Mosta lost their perfect record after being held to a 2-2 draw by Mqabba in a thrilling match yesterday.

A minute's silence in memory of former Melita FC official Ronnie Tabone was observed before the match.

It was Mqabba who began the game on the attack, Vilson Caushi heading just wide after only four minutes from a Shawn Magro cross.

Mosta did not take long to find their rhythm and they forged ahead after eight minutes. Julian Vella squeezed the ball home from a melee inside the Mqabba rearguard following a corner from Mark Briggs.

Mqabba made a bold reaction. Pierre Grima produced a free-kick that finished wide midway through the first half but on 26 minutes, the Reds equalised. Magro's cross was partially cleared by the Mosta defence but Claudio Calleja was first to the loose ball and hit home from just inside the area.

On the brink of half-time, Caushi's dangerous cross-shot was tipped over the crossbar by Jonathan Debono.

The pace of the game remained unchanged at the start of the second half. A good one-two between Caushi and Calleja ended with the latter lobbing the ball just over the crossbar nine minutes into the second half. A minute later, Grima crossed for Glenn Barry whose header was saved by Debono. Barry then shot just wide following some good work by Calleja.

Mosta responded on 64 minutes when Terrence Vella picked up a short clearance in the Mqabba box but his curling drive was kept out by Kris Calleja.

Mqabba should have gone ahead on 74 minutes when Grima found John Paul Muscat in a good position but instead of passing to the unmarked Calleja, the Mqabba striker advanced and was blocked by Debono.

Two minutes later, the Mosta goalkeeper made a point-blank save to deny Muscat but, with 10 minutes left, Mqabba went 2-1 up. Patrick Borg drove the ball home from a Grima free-kick.

Mosta refused to give in and managed to level matters a minute from time when Calleja misjudged a Kane Farrugia cross and Vella tapped the ball home for his second goal of the match.

Mosta: J. Debono, B. Agius, A. Borg, M. Briggs, D. Cauchi (B. Galea), K. Farrugia, M. Farrugia, G. Martin, C. Pace (M. Brincat), J. Vella, T. Vella (L. Grima).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, P. Borg, M. A. Psaila, S. Magro, J. P. Muscat, G. Barry (E. Borg), O. Grech, C. Calleja, V. Caushi (C. Farrugia).

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Man of the match: Claudio Calleja.