Vittoriosa Stars 1
Naxxar Lions 1

Naxxar Lions produced a fine display to end Vittoriosa Stars’s perfect start after they held the promotion favourites to a 1-1 draw.

It is true that the Stars played all of the second half with ten men, but still this was a fair result as both teams deserved to take something from the match.

Vittoriosa were on the offensive right from the outset and forged ahead after only nine minutes when Josef Dali finished off a fast break.

Naxxar’s first attempt at goal came on 24 minutes when Darren Falzon’s drive was saved by Jean-Mathias Vella.

The Lions threatened again on 41 minutes when Falzon headed just over a Fiori Dos Santos freekick.

The Stars were reduced to ten men early in the second half when Lucian Scerri was dismissed for dissent.

Still Vittoriosa almost made it 2-0 on 58 minutes when Marcelo Pereira’s firm drive was blocked by Justin Spiteri.

On 71 minutes Vittoriosa goalkeeper Vella effected a point-blank save on a Hallison De Lima Siqueira header.

But the striker made no mistake a minute from time when he headed home from close range to pull Naxxar level.

In time added on Dos Santos was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, J. Camilleri, B. Bonnici, S. Tellus, T. Lopes Fereira (R. Sell), M. Pereira, L. Scerri, L. Rocha Dos Santos, A. Spiteri (L. Lagana), J. Dalli, M. Buttigieg (J. Spiteri).

Naxxar: J. Spiteri, V. Bellia, D. Falzon, A. Farrugia, A. Fenech (K. Fenech), R. Schembri, L. Micallef (K. Farrugia), A. Attard (A. Del Negro), M. Maccari, H. De Lima Siqueira, E. Fiori Dos Santos.

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Man of the match: Darren Falzon (Naxxar Lions).

St Patrick 0
Rabat Ajax 1

Rabat Ajax registered their second win of the season after having the better of fellow newcomers St Patrick.

It was a deserved victory for Silvio Vella’s side as they were the better side throughout and could have won by a bigger margin had they been more clinical in front of goal.

St Patrick did the early running and on 12 minutes Ilyad Scicluna’s drive was well saved by goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

Rabat responded on 24 minutes when David Azzopardi’s shot was blocked Joshua Galea.

As time went by Rabat increased their tempo and on 36 minutes Adam Smeir went close with a well-taken free-kick.

Rabat continued to dictate matters on resumption and on 47 minutes Ryan Micallef was unlucky when his shot hit the upright.

The woodwork again denied the Magpies two minutes later when Wayne Borg rose well to head Azzopardi’s cross with the ball coming off the post.

Rabat’s persistence finally paid off on 77 minutes when Micallef stole the ball from Matthew Xerri before firing the ball home.

St Patrick: J. Galea; I. Scicluna (A. Portelli), A. Ellul, M. Xerri, D. Mamo, A. Galea (D. Gauci), J. Farrugia, R. Vella, S. Dimech (M. Vella), B. Gockaj, E. Grech.

Rabat: S. Mintoff; N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Cornforth, J. Caruana, A. Smeir (A. Zahra), C. Muscat, R. Micallef (K. Muscat), W. Borg, D. Azzopardi, C. Gauci.

Referee: Mario Apap.

Man of the Match: Ryan Micallef (Rabat).

Standings