Substitute Sammut’s double bags points for Swallows

Msida St Joseph 0
Dingli Swallows 2

Charlon Sammut was the man who turned the game on its head for Dingli after coming on as a second-half substitute and score a brace for his team’s third win of the season.

Dingli carried heavier guns than lowly Msida yesterday and although they found the going tough at times, they were always in control to make it a double at the Saints’ expense this season.

Despite playing without the likes of Joreilly Chirino and Chris Azzopardi, Dingli were still the better side as Msida found it hard to venture forward and test the opponents’ keeper.

Although not yet mathematically doomed, Msida are way back in the league standings with a minus four tally while Dingli moved to the ten-point mark at the lower end of the division.

It was Msida who could have opened the score early on when Valdo Alinho created havoc inside the Dingli box with his final effort finishing just over the bar.

Dingli hit back 10 minutes later when Jonathan Sapiano’s drive from an acute angle was saved for a corner by Jeremy Alden.

The game was played mainly in midfield and it was only at the half-hour mark that a goal threat was witnessed by the scarce crowd present, Sapiano again trying his luck from just inside the box and, again, Alden coming to his side’s rescue with a fine save.

Dingli looked better after the break and forged ahead on 47 minutes when Sammut, who had barely been on the pitch for two minutes after coming in for Chris Ciappara, sprinted to reach a clearance from his own half and hit a half-volley from just inside the Msida box to beat Alden.

Dingli made it 2-0 on 62 minutes and it was the young Sammut again who blasted the ball home following a Leontiev Konda corner from the right, indeed a superb goal.

Msida tried to save the match and former San Ġwann midfielder Lee Cumbo was close to reducing the deficit. He hit first-time but the shot was neutralised by Jeffrey Farrugia. From the rebound, Karl Saliba drove the ball wide from just inside the area.

Msida: J. Alden, J. Mifsud, L. Micallef (R. Caruana), V. Alinho (I. Darmanin), L. Cumbo, J. Brincat, I. Achami (P. Sakchai), C. Zammit, N. Curmi, A. Farrugia, K. Saliba.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, R. Sammut, S. Tellus, C. Ciappara (C. Sammut), K. Formosa, J. Sapiano, L. Konda, E. Farrugia, C. Caruana (P. Azzopardi), R. Briffa, C. Bonavia.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Man of the match: Charlon Sammut (Dingli Swallows).