Pietà Hotspurs 1
Rabat Ajax 0

A second-half penalty from Quilin Refalo was enough for Pietà Hotspurs to have the better of Rabat Ajax and go top of the standings with maximum points after two matches.

The game turned out to be a low key affair with scoring chances few and far between. In the end, Pietà fully deserved the three points as they created the better chances.

Both teams struggled to create any danger in the opening 45 minutes with the only real scoring opportunity coming five minutes from the break.

Pietà’s Bilboa Zarate dribbled past two defenders but was upended just outside the area. From the resultant free-kick, the Hotspurs forward saw his shot finish just wide.

The Hotspurs started to impose their game after the interval and on 50 minutes Refalo’s backheel almost deceived Rabat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff with the ball finishing wide.

Pietà finally got the breakthrough on 65 minutes when Zach Muscat was tripped in the area by Dylan Falzon and from the resultant penalty Refalo made no mistake.

Rabat’s hopes of a recovery were all but ended ten minutes from time when Falzon was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Rabat: S. Mintoff, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Carmforth, J. Caruana (A. Zahra), J. Felice, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, C. Muscat, D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci (R. Micallef).

Pieta: M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, E. Giaccaglia, Q. Refalo (S. Micallef), T. Agius, Z. Muscat, L. Mallia, C. Cassar (A. Farrugia), J. Bilbao Zarate, D. Mifsud, I. Grech.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Lija Athletic 1
Dingli Swallows 1

Lija Athletic won their first point of the season after they held Dingli Swallows in an entertaining encounter at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

It was a much improved performance from Lija following their dismal display against Vittoriosa Stars last week while Dingli remained unbeaten after two matches.

Dingli were off to a flyer as they surged ahead after 14 minutes. Leontiev Konda, who was making his first appearance of the season, received a good ball from Warren Chircop before rounding goalkeeper Caruana and deposit the ball into an empty net.

Lija soon hit back and they managed to draw level three minutes later. Erjon Ebu controlled well Darmanin’s cross before firing a fierce drive into the top corner of the net.

On the half hour, Dingli went close to regain the lead when Chircop hit just wide.

The Swallows kept the initiative after the break but it was Lija who almost struck on 63 minutes when Scicluna’s header finished just wide.

Dingli piled up the pressure late on with Lija goalkeeper Caruana keeping out efforts from Steve Meilak and Chircop.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, F. Owusu, K. Pace, L. Konda, M. Brincat (J. Sapiano), W. Chircop, K. Formosa, E. Farrugia, S. Meilak, R. Briffa, C. Azzopardi (R. Vella).

Lija: J. Caruana, C. Giordimaina, R. Conceicao, D. Scerri, E. Beu, K. Darmanin, B. Camilleri (A. Sacco), J.P. Scerri, B. Fenech, A. Scicluna, I. Adesina.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

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