Naxxar trounce San Ġwann as Thomas denies Maroons

Naxxar Lions 4
San Ġwann 0

Naxxar notched their third win of the season as San Ġwann conceded a third defeat to stay rooted at the bottom end of the standings.

Naxxar opened the score on 12 minutes with a stunning goal from promising striker Darren Falzon.

The Saints’ reaction produced efforts from Mauro Busuttil and Shaun Vella with Naxxar responding through Andrea Farrugia whose free-kick was saved by Justin Spiteri.

On the half-hour, Naxxar captain Victor Bellia shot just wide but six minutes later the Lions doubled their lead through a close-range shot by Andre Rocha da Silva.

On resumption, the Saints looked better and, after wasting a clear chance through Peter Xuereb, they were denied by keeper Kevin Agius off a shot by Christian Cacciattolo.

However, on 60 minutes Naxxar wrapped up the points when Rocha da Silva hit home from close in.

Four minutes later the Saints were reduced to ten players as defender Miguel Francica was sent off for a second caution and the Lions completed the rout soon after with a Chris Pace goal.

Naxxar: K. Agius, J. Agius, K. Fenech, M. Delnegro, A. Farrugia (K. Farrugia), G. Camilleri, A. Fenech, A. Rocha da Silva (J. Zammit), D. Falzon, V. Bellia, C. Pace (J. Debono).

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, M. Mercieca, M. Busuttil (M. Fenech), S. Grima (A. Mangion), M. Francica, M. Caruana, S. Vella, P. Xuereb, J. Chidi, A. Borg, C. Cacciattolo (J. Gauci).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Gżira United 2
Senglea Athletic 2

Senglea paraded new signing Morgan Onuorah for this match.

The 27-year-old Nigerian, formerly of Balzan Youths, signed a one-year contract for his new club.

Senglea took the lead on 13 minutes through Timmy Thomas but Gżira equalised seven minutes later with a superb Roberto Brincat goal.

Senglea were denied by Mark Aquilina off a shot by Advan Cakiqi with Gżira being unlucky as a shot by Andrew Scerri hit the post.

Aquilina was on the right spot to keep out a Cakiqi free-kick as Scerri’s lob finished behind Attard and in the Senglea net.

Hubert Gatt Bonello was red-carded for the Maroons on 70 minutes and Senglea were back on level terms a minute later thanks to another Thomas goal.

Gżira: M. Aquilina, M. Sultana, H. Gatt Bonello, A. White, N. Gatt Coleiro (C. Giordemaina), T. Micallef, J. Felice, K. Bonello, Y. Tonna (R. Attard), R. Brincat, A. Scerri (L. Cilia).

Senglea: G. Attard, M. Onuorah, B. Zerafa, E. Azzopardi, R. Adami, S. Calleja (G. Tanti), S. Aquilina, A. Spiteri (K. Galea), A. Cakiqi, T. Thomas, R. Severino.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

St Patrick 2
Żurrieq 0

This was an encouraging performance from St Patrick who emerged worthy winners from the encounter thanks to second-half goals from Illyad Scicluna and Alex Ellul.

Zurrieq had new coach J.J. Aquilina on the bench.

They almost opened the score as a shot by Rocco Vardaro flew just wide. The Reds were again close through Jason Saliba with the Saints responding through Karl Micallef whose shot was saved by Azzopardi.

After the change of ends, St Patrick were the ones who dictated the run of play and broke the deadlock when Scicluna beat Azzopardi following a Zerafa free-kick.

Żurrieq were close through Matthew Genuis with the Saints then being denied on two occasions by Azzopardi.

Dino Bonnici failed miserably in front of goal and Żurrieq paid dearly for that mistake as on 67 minutes Ellul hit home from a tight angle.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, S. Dimech, I. Scicluna, C. Farrugia, S. Zerafa, K. Micallef (A. Ellul), D. Gauci, D. Mamo (D. Micallef), C. Grima, M. Petrovic, G. Failla (A. Portelli).

Żurrieq: J. Azzopardi, J. Camilleri (C. Shumba), D. Bellizzi, A. Barbara, K. Sacco, J. Saliba (D. Bonnici), M. Genuis (S. Azzopardi), R. Attard, K. Grech, D. Zammit, R. Vardaro.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Żebbuġ Rangers 0
Birżebbuġa SP 3

Birżebbuġa beat Żebbuġ for three useful points to reach a mid-table position. The Saints were rather careless upfront though, particularly their striker Ronnie Celeste.

After seven minutes Celeste had a shot which was deflected to a corner and two minutes later the same player, all alone, shot straight into Martin Pace.

On 27 minutes, Celeste missed another glaring opportunity with Żebbuġ finally replying with a George Saliba header that went wide.

A minute before the break, the seasiders took a deserved lead when former Mosta striker Carlos Camenzuli hit home from close distance.

Rangers pushed forward on resumption and were twice close through Gilbert Scerri and Jeremy Agius in the opening stages.

Agius shot just wide from a Joe Mercieca cross with the Saints missing a sitter through Emil Raducu on 64 minutes. Five minutes later, however, Raducu was on target when he finished off some good work by Camenzuli to make it 2-0.

Raducu scored again 14 minutes from time to kill Rangers’ hopes.

Żebbuġ: M. Pace, K. Xuereb, V. Fiteni, J. Mercieca, G. Saliba, F. Cauchi, E. Cachia (M. Farrugia), C. Caruana, O. Rababah (G. Scerri), J. Agius, A. Ihebulu.

Birżebbuġa: G. Mansueto, M. Pullicino, N. Galea, D. Baldacchino, C. Formosa, A. Florin (N. Tabone), P. Camilleri, E. Raducu, M. Ellul (K. Muscat), C. Camenzuli, R. Celeste (S. Privitelli).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.