Saints, Gżira in drab draw

San Ġwann 0
Gżira United 0

Promotion seekers Gżira United and rivals San Ġwann returned home with a point each from a dull match that did not produce goals.

This encounter was balanced for most of its duration with both teams cancelling each other’s efforts. The Saints were slightly better in midfield and created enough chances to bag all three points with striker Ndayi Kalenga at times proving to be a threat to the Maroons’ defence.

Gżira rarely ventured forward in attack and had a somewhat subdued display. They were also down to ten men in the latter stages when Karl Saliba got sent off.

The only action worthy of note in the opening half was San Ġwann’s first effort on target, which came in the 36th minute.

A powerful shot by Cuschieri from outside the box was punched into a corner by Gżira goalkeeper Simon Agius.

The second half again saw San Ġwann more adventurous than their opponents.

In the 52nd minute, Kalenga found a way past the Gżira rearguard but Agius did well to repel danger. Three minutes later, in a swift counter-attack launched by Saints’ substitutes Cacciattolo and Xuereb, the latter’s header finished inches wide.

The last 20 minutes were characterised with some abrasive tackling from both sides. It was no surprise then that substitute Saliba was red carded on 78 minutes for an ugly foul on Xuereb. From the free-kick, Borg’s shot finished high over the Gżira bar.

Despite their last frantic efforts there was no way through for San Ġwann who, perhaps, deserved the three points.

After two successive victories, Gżira were held in their stride by determined opponents.

The Maroons, however, are still leading the standings with seven points along with Gudja United.

San Ġwann: C. Carbonaro, G. Agius, M. Francica, D. Cosaitis, S. Vella (B. Borg), Q. Bregman, C. Pace, A. Borg, N. Kalenga (C. Cacciatolo), J. Borg, C. Cuschieri (P. Xuereb).

Gżira: S. Agius, S. Pace, A. Ewuru, S. Shead (K. Saliba), M. Cocks, K. Bonello (A. Spiteri), R. Deguara, A. White, T. Micallef, R.G. Gonzales Alhinho, A. Galea (N. Gatt Coleiro).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Luqa 2
Għargħur 2

Luqa: P. Psaila, J. Fenech, R. Pemra, A. Abdilla, F. Cauchi, J. Camilleri, A. Psaila (L. Vella), D. Agius (S. Costa Brazilinho), L. Baldacchino, R. Debattista, G. Frendo.

Għargħur: D. Zarb, L. Stivala, C. Farrugia, I. Ebejer, R. Debattista, J. Debattista, I. Curmi (D. Brincat), K. Azzopardi, R. Gravata, C. Vella, B. Perry Alton.

Referee: Fiodor Zammit.

Scorers: Debattista (GĦ) 7; Baldacchino (L) 47, 80; Vella (GĦ) 55.

Red cards: Pemra (L), Frendo (L).

Attard 1
Siġġiewi 1

Attard: C. Cini, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, A. Gauci, D. Cachia, J.C. Cachia, D. Galea, N.Filipov, K. Said, K. Zahra, C. Farrugia.

Siġġiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin (S. Delia), N. Galea, B. Bajada, M. Camilleri, M. Camilleri, K. Buhagiar (J. Shead), E. Cutajar, R. Farrugia (E. Bugeja), J. Camilleri, J. Vassallo.

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.

Scorers: Vassallo (S) 55; Said (A) 56.

Msida St Joseph 4
Mellieħa 1

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, O. Zammit (M. Pisani), M. Borda, M. Clarke, W. Cosenza Quiah (M. Crupi), M. Busuttil, A. Dalli, R. Xuereb, A. Pirrone, F. De Andrade (G. Sergi).

Mellieħa: S. Gauci, M. Vella, W. Buttigieg, D. Cauchi (M. Abela), L. Cauchi, W. Borg (M. Vella), K. Fenech, K. Simiana (K. Gauci), P. Taylor, W. Borg St John, T. Loquete.

Referee: Paul Caruana.

Scorers: Pirrone (MSD) 3; Clarke (MSD) 35; Crupi (MSD) 71, 79; Borg St John (MEL) 59.

Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Sta Venera 2

Żebbuġ: Ja. Mercieca, Jo. Mercieca (B. Chetcuti), M. Brincat, G. Mallia, D. Agius, R. Spiteri, N. Caruana, M. Farrugia, J. Felice (D. D’Agostino), C. Ciappara (J. Gerada), U. Anywanwu.

Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Taliana (D. Calleja), J. Onouha, S. Farrugia, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili, R. Carbonaro, J. Zammit (D. Wingfield), R. Borg, D. Mercieca (M. Grech).

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Scorers: Carbonaro (SV) 34, Farrugia (SV) 51; Caruana (Ż) 70.

Red card: Agius (Ż) 88.

Division Two