Mqabba gain promotion, decider looms

Mqabba 7
St George’s 1

After throwing away two points against Msida in their previous match, Mqabba hit back strongly to easily dispose of a young St George’s side and win promotion to the Premier League.

Although, mathematically, Mosta and Melita can still catch up with Mqabba on 32 points, Clive Mizzi’s side have registered the best results against both the other contenders. If all three finish on equal points, Mosta and Melita will have to play a decider to determine the third team in the Premier League.

Mqabba had John Paul Muscat back and he helped himself to a hat-trick with Claudio Calleja and Advan Cakigi each netting a brace.

Mqabba had a strong opening and Calleja headed them ahead on three minutes and Cakigi made it 2-0 soon after from a free-kick.

The Saints reduced the arrears through Marco Milutinovic but the score soon became 3-1 with a Calleja scorcher that gave stand-in keeper Ryan Cilia no chance.

Mqabba made it 4-1 on the stroke of half-time when the irresistible Muscat dribbled past Milutinovic before curling the ball home.

The second half saw the Saints upping their game, now with Gary Inguanez and Dylan Zarb in the team. They held sway but 15 minutes from time Mqabba scored again when Muscat hit home from a Thiago Mazzitelli cross.

Mqabba continued to attack and with nine minutes to go Mazzitelli headed against the crossbar.

Muscat then beat a defender before rounding the keeper and scoring his third goal of the day.

That was not the end of it as Cakigi made it 7-1 with a thumping shot to start the party for Mqabba’s fans at the Ħamrun ground.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Bonnici, A. Scicluna, B. Timotic, D. Azzopardi, T. Mazzitelli, C. Calleja (M. Briffa), J.P. Muscat, A. Cakigi, S. Magro (J. Debattista).

St George’s: R. Cilia, N. Caruana (A. Bonello), D. Zahra, E. Sevasta, M. Mulitinovic, L. Agius, E. Amaira, M. Barbara, R. Previ (G. Inguanez), J. Dalli (D. Zarb), J. Ruiz.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba).

Balzan Youths 3
Melita 2

Balzan beat Melita 3-2 to gain revenge for the 0-1 upset to the Amateurs in the first round and throw the promotion chase in Division One wide open.

The match came to life on 18 minutes when Melita’s Emilio Cornago San Pedro hit the crossbar from a free-kick. But it was Balzan who forged ahead soon after when Renie Forace hit home from a Pedro Calcado pass.

Melita almost equalised on 29 minutes when Balzan keeper Frederick Tabone lost possession, the ball fell kindly to Julian Galea but the latter hit wide. Balzan held control and made it 2-0 five minutes from the break with a Steven Meilak goal after a perfect ball from Calcado.

At the start of the second half, Uchanna Anywanna missed two glorious chances for Balzan and Melita soon pulled one back when Rudi Alinho freed himself in the Balzan box and scored with a firm grounder.

The Amateurs continued to press forward and Tabone did well to keep out a George Gribbon effort. However, Melita suffered a blow 13 minutes from time when Balzan were awarded a penalty for a foul on Lydon Micallef inside the box. Calcado made no mistake from the spot.

All seemed lost for Martin Gregory’s boys but Anywanna was sent off for dissent on 80 minutes to set up a tense finale.

Three minutes from time, Balzan defender Jonathan Francica committed an own goal in his attempt to stop Nicolo Baldacchino from scoring. Melita tried hard to save the match but Balzan held tight for a hard-earned win.

Balzan: F. Tabone, C. Ciantar, J. Francica, D. Agius (L. Micallef), C. Micallef, D. Grima, R. Conceicao, R. Forace, U. Anywanna, S. Meilak (M. Buttigieg), P. Calcado (A. Agius).

Melita: K. Zahra, R. Alinho, L. Martinelli, G. Gribbon, A. Caruana Scicluna (N. Baldacchino), M. Martin, M. Borg, K. Micallef, J. Galea, E. Cornago San Pedro (T. Terpougoff), L. Micallef (S. Galea).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Renato Conceicao (Balzan Youths).