Gżira win dramatic match

Gżira United 3
Birżebbuġa St Peter's 2

This match ended on a dramatic note with Gżira turning defeat into victory after scoring two penalties in the final eight minutes.

The ref's decisions were hotly contested by Birżebbuġa who had three players sent off.

Eric Saliba stunned the Maroons with a goal for the seasiders after only two minutes. Ronnie Celeste was on the right spot four minutes later to head in and Birżebbuġa looked on their way to victory so early in the match.

But Gżira did not throw in the towel and hit back with a Keith Bonello free-kick that was saved with difficulty by Gabriel Mansueto.

The Maroons managed to reduce the arrears on 36 minutes through an angled shot by Pirrone.

After the break Gżira continued to push forward and could have drawn level on 74 minutes but Richard Attard's headed attempt finished just wide. They were awarded a penalty on 82 minutes for a foul on Pirrone.

The Saints disputed the decision and defender Bernard Farrugia was sent off. Bonello scored from the spot to make it two-all.

Three minutes from time Gżira were awarded a second penalty, this time for a foul on Richard Attard.

There were more protests by Birżebbuġa who had defender Michael Ciappara dismissed for confronting the referee. Team-mate Mark Ellul was red-carded for prolonged protests.

Bonello, again, kept his cool to beat the keeper and give his team a very important win.

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

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, M. Ciappara, E. Saliba, B. Farrugia, N. Tabone, A. Mangion, M. Ellul, R. Adami (K. Muscat), E. Bugeja, C. Camenzuli (C. Formosa), R. Celeste.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Mellieħa 4
Żurrieq 1

Kevin Gambin's Mellieħa obtained a merited win over Żurrieq. The northerners assured themselves of the three points with a late brace scored by Rio Micallef.

Mellieħa opened strongly and after just seven minutes Jeffrey Gauci was through on goal but shot straight into Julian Azzopardi's safe hands.

But it did not take Mellieħa too long to open the score with a cute Joseph Vella lob on eight minutes.

Vella scored again a few minutes later but the 'goal' was disallowed for offside.

Żurrieq were holding the edge and rightly scored an equaliser through Darren Bellizzi following an indecision by the Mellieħa defence.

Both teams had their chances to score again soon after the restart but it was Mellieħa who regained the lead on 54 minutes through an excellent Kevin Gauci goal.

Żurrieq reacted strongly. Daniel Zammit advanced all alone but his shot was stopped by James Abela. From the corner, taken by Johan Briffa, the ball bounced off the bar.

Then, the Reds were awarded a penalty for a foul on Karl Sacco but Ogun's shot from the spot crashed against the woodwork.

Mellieħa breathed a sigh of relief and six minutes from time they scored a third goal through Micallef who was again on the mark in stoppage time to round up his team's victory.

Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Vella, L. Cauchi, H. Vella, K. Gauci, J. Gauci, W. Borg (A. Barr), R. Micallef, P. Camilleri, I. Tarek (A. Portelli), J. Vella (M. Borg).

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

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Lija Athletic 6
Għargħur 1

This was an easy ride for solo leaders Lija who had striker Antoine Sacco scoring four times against lowly Għargħur.

Sacco put Lija in front on 19 minutes and he made it 2-0 on the half-hour after concluding some fine work by team-mate Keith Darmanin.

Għargħur tried to hit back but on 53 minutes Beppe Antignolo added another goal for Lija and Sacco notched his hat-trick from an Antignolo centre.

On 64 minutes, Għargħur scored a consolation goal through Shaun Vella but Lija added a fifth on 75 minutes thanks to Sacco.

Lija sealed the issue three minutes from time with another goal from Antignolo.

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

Għargħur: M. Aquilina, M. Decesare, R. Debattista, D. Borg, E. Lapira, C. Zammit, R. Southward (A. Azzopardi), C. Vella (J. Galea), C. Farrugia, A. Spiteri (G. Galea), S. Vella.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Rabat Ajax 0
Senglea Athletic 0

Rabat recovered from three successive defeats to gain a precious point in their efforts to steer clear of the drop zone.

After just four minutes Senglea were unlucky when a shot by Bjorn Dalli hit the upright. But, gradually Rabat gained the initiative and on 15 minutes a shot by Alan Zahra was saved by George Attard.

Rabat were close to opening the score when an Alan Zahra free-kick was deflected by a Senglea defender against the crossbar.

The deadlock prevailed after the break even though Senglea were slightly better than their opponents.

On 58 minutes Timothy Thomas tried his luck from the distance and six minutes later a Dalli shot was stopped by Ajax keeper Jonathan Azzopardi.

Rabat could have snatched a late winner but Joseph Caruana failed to hit home after a good move by Adam Smeir.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, C. Schembri, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, A. Zahra (D. Galea), A. Smeir, D. Falzon, K. Cassar, E. Muscat, J. Felice, D. Azzopardi.

Senglea: G. Attard, D. Cosaitis, E. Azzopardi, J. Spiteri, B. Zerafa, H. Hughes, J. Gatt, J. Buttigieg, B. Dalli (R. Degiorgio), T. Thomas, K. Galea (D. Grech).

Referee: Philip Farrugia.