Għajnsielem boost title hopes

The two matches from the GFA Division One produced plenty excitement last weekend as 12 goals were scored and four players were shown the red card.

Għajnsielem had the better of Victoria Hotspurs 4-2 to join Sannat Lions at the top but the latter have a game in hand. Nadur Youngsters kept their slim title hopes alive after beating St Lawrence Spurs.

The Blacks showed great determination to see off Victoria Hotspurs as they finished the match with nine men following red cards to Kenneth Mercieca and player-coach Alex Simoncic. Victoria’s Noel Borg was also sent off early in the second half.

Thiago Dos Santos got Għajnsielem off to a flying start as he put them ahead after only five minutes.

Victoria hit back strongly to draw level on 12 minutes, Osama Madah scoring with a tap-in from a corner action. The Hotspurs took the lead nine minutes from half-time when Għajnsielem’s Yannick Ossok committed an own goal.

Għajnsielem equalised five minutes later thanks to Jason Portelli’s well-taken free-kick. However, their joy was shortlived as, two minutes from the end of the first half, Mercieca was sent off for a second-bookable offence.

That setback failed to derail Għajnsielem who stepped up their game after the break. They regained the lead six minutes into the second half courtesy of Thiago.

On 57 minutes, Victoria were also reduced to 10 men when Borg was shown the red card by referee Marco Borg for dissent.

Għajnsielem continued to create the better chances but their hopes suffered another blow when, with 17 minutes left, Simoncic was red-carded for a second caution.

The Blacks were not demoralised though and managed to wrap up the points with a fourth goal six minutes from time. Substitute Stefan Azzopardi fired the ball home after some good work by Thiago.

In the other top-division game, Nadur Youngsters had to fight harder than expected to see off the challenge of bottom-placed St Lawrence Spurs 5-3.

The Youngsters forged ahead on 27 minutes with a low shot from John Paul Grima but St Lawrence took just four minutes to draw level, courtesy of Aliou Traore.

Nadur went 2-1 up in the final minutes of the first half when Grima notched his second goal, driving home from close range after Claudio Antunes’s shot hit the bar.

Milos Stojanovic made it 3-1 two minutes into the second half but the Saints narrowed the deficit on 56 minutes from a Hugo Seco penalty.

Seco turned from hero to villain three minutes later as he was dismissed by referee Mario Apap for a second yellow card.

Nadur took advantage of the extra player as Joseph Portelli put them 4-2 in front on 73 minutes.

St Lawrence refused to throw in the towel and Christopher Cauchi pulled one back with a long-range lob two minutes later.

However, it was Nadur who rounded the scoring as Anthony Portelli hit their fifth goal 12 minutes from time.

Division Two

Żebbuġ Rovers came from behind to beat Oratory Youths 3-1 and move four points clear at the top of Division Two.

Oratory Youths took the lead after eight minutes through Dione Lautier. However, their task became more complicated on 52 minutes when Chris Attard was sent off for two yellow cards.

Three minutes later, Oratory should have made it 2-0 but Francesco Cini saw his penalty saved by goalkeeper Demis Bajada.

Oratory finished with nine men on 63 minutes when Joseph Grech was also given his marching orders after earning a second booking.

Żebbuġ fully profited from the situation and Manwel Cordina equalised on 73 minutes before Mario Azzopardi put them ahead five minutes later.

Cordina was also sent off seven minutes from time but that didn’t stop Żebbuġ adding a third goal late on through Alex Tramboo.

Munxar thrashed Għarb 6-1 with Daniel Pace taking centre-stage when netting a poker of goals (10, 29, 44, 63). Mario Azzopardi scored a brace for the winners (23, 67).

Alan Cini scored a late consolation goal for Għarb.