Late goal gives Melita victory

Dingli Swallows 0
Melita 1

Julian Galea scored a blinder in the 90th minute to earn Melita their second victory of the season at the expense of Dingli Swallows, in a game that looked to be heading to a goalless draw.

Robert Magro’s side started well and had a couple of scoring opportunities but as time went by Melita grew in stature and also had their fair share of chances but found goalkeeper Jeffrey Zahra in tremendous form.

The game was evenly balanced with both sides finding it tough to cut through both defences. Dingli were more compact in midfield with Melita trying to find some space on the flanks. But both sides were organised in defence with the first threat at goal coming

Dingli’s way on 17 minutes when Chris Azzopardi’s cross-shot was cleared away for a corner by Rudi Alinho.

From the resulting corner, taken by Roderick Briffa, Joreilly Chirino’s scissor kick finished just over. On the half hour a Clayton Caruana cross-shot finished inches over the bar.

But the best goal-scoring opportunity came Melita’s way seconds before the break when Karl Vella Petroni dispossessed Roderick Briffa, crossed for Matthew Borg who drove the ball wide when he should have scored from 12 metres.

Dingli again started the second half better than their opponents and early on a Caruana drive from outside the area took a wicked deflection with the ball finishing just wide.

As time went by Melita started to take the upperhand and on 65 minutes Galea drove a grounder from just inside the area which was saved by Farrugia.

Galea should have done better minutes later when, with only the goalkeeper to beat, shot straight at Farrugia. The Dingli custodian was again alert when he magnificently blocked Kane Micallef’s shot after the latter was through on goal.

When the game looked destined to finish goalless, captain Galea controlled well a Vella Petroni free-kick turned well leaving his marker for dead, and nicely chipped the ball into the net. Melita could have made it 2-0 on 93 minutes when Nigel Rizzo looked odds on to score when he was freed by Galea but his shot was saved by Farrugia’s feet.

Dingli S: J. Farrugia; R. Sammut, S. Tellus, R. Spiteri (K. Asciak), R. Vella (K. Pace), K. Formosa, E. Farrugia, C. Caruana (K. Bonavia), R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi, J. Chirino

Melita: K. Zahra; R. Alinho, G. Gribbon, A. Caruana Scicluna, M. Borg, J. Galea, J. Mifsud (L. Micallef), L. Fenech (N. Rizzo), K. Vella Petroni, S. Galea (K. Micallef), M. Batel

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the match: Jeffrey Farrugia (Dingli).