No goals in top clash

Gudja United 0
Gżira United 0

No goals were scored in the top-of-the-table clash between Gzira and Gudja late Monday, with both teams remaining the only two unbeaten sides in the division and joint top with 14 points each.

Gudja played better in the first half but Gżira came back strongly in the last 30 minutes only to find keeper Matthew Xerxen in outstanding form with superb saves, even stopping a penalty taken by Simon Shead.

The howling winds did not make it easy for the players to settle down and we had to wait until the 15th minute for the first goalmouth action with Shead heading over the bar from close range.

At the other end, a fierce shot from veteran George Cutajar was deflected by a defender with the shot going inches high.

The game became rather scrappy and midway through the half William Camenzuli let fly a rasping drive but the shot went off target. Then, Gudja had a glaring scoring opportunity with Trevor Thomas all alone in front of Simon Agius, but the Gżira custodian blocked.

Agius was again on the alert tipping to a corner a dangerous Thomas header. From the flag-kick, the unmarked Josef Tonna failed to connect.

Gżira started the second half on the attack with Shead heading wide from an ideal position. On 51 minutes Anthony Ewurun was put through by Shead, but the Maroons’ striker failed to beat Xerxen.

Gżira were now pushing their opponents in their own half with the Gudja defence at sixes and sevens. Captain Matthew Cocks blasted wide from an ideal position and on 61 minutes Gudja were dealt a severe blow when Christian Grech got sent off for a second bookable offence.

With Gżira trying to take advantage of their numerical superiority, their defence was caught napping, but Agius came to their rescue saving Camenzuli’s shot after a fine Thomas run.

On 75 minutes, substitute Yanis Tonna was floored by Tonna and a penalty was given. However, Xerxen denied Shead with an incredible save. From the corner, a melee ensued in front of Xerxen who again avoided a certain goal off a Tonna point-blank effort.

In stoppage time, the Gudja keeper stretched sideways to save another Shead attempt at goal.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, C. Grech, E. Vella, J. Tonna, M. Milutinovic, W. Camenzuli, E. Gauci, J. Mallia, G. Cutajar (D. Agius), A. Guazzo, T. Thomas (D. Zammit).

Gżira: S. Agius, R. Goncalves Alinho, S. Pace, T. Micallef, A. Galea, A. Ewurun, R. Deguara (Y. Tonna), J. Hussey, A. White, S. Shead, M. Cocks (A. Spiteri).

Referee: Marco Borg.

Summaries

Siġġiewi 1
San Ġwann 1

Siġġiewi: J. Vella, I. Darmanin, N. Galea, E. Vella (E. Ciappara), M. Bajada, E. Bugeja, E. Cutajar, M. Camilleri, R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri, J. Shead.

San Ġwann: C. Carbonaro, Q. Bregman, D. Cosaitis, K. Vella, G. Agius, P. Xuereb, A. Borg, N. Kalenga (D. Borg), C. Cacciattolo (M. Asciak), C. Pace (C. Cuschieri), S. Vella.

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Scorers: Vella 57 (SĠ); Farrugia 68 (SIĠ).

Żurrieq 1
Żebbuġ Rangers 3

Żurrieq: R. Vella, A. Barbara, D. Bellizzi, K. Sacco, J. Lia, N. Abdilla, J. Briffa, J. Briffa (A. Portelli), D. Bonnici (V. Micallef), M. Genuis (D. Harallamb), A. Camilleri.

Żebbuġ: J. Mercieca, G. Mallia, M. Brincat, J. Mercieca, D. Agius, M. Farrugia, R. Spiteri, B. Chetcuti (J. Agius), D. D’Agostino, U. Anyanwu (D. Caruana), M. Tirchett (D. Farrugia).

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Scorers: Anyanwu (ŻR) 41, 69; Mallia 54 (ŻR); Harallamb (Ż) 87.

Mellieħa 4
Luqa St Andrew’s 1

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

Luqa: P. Psaila, A. Psaila, C. Caruana, G. Frendo, L. Baldacchino, A. Abdilla, C. Gatt, R. Penza (L. Vella), F. Cauchi, S. Brazilino (D. Agius), J. Camilleri.

Referee: Jude Utulu.

Scorers: Baldacchino (L) 5; Taylor (M) 22, 62; Loquete (M) 32; Borg St John (M) 80.

Sta Venera L. 2
Msida St Joseph 1

Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, J. Onuoha, M. Muscat, S. Farrugia (E. Muscat), K. Cilia, G. Micallef, A. Hili (D. Wingfield), R. Carbonaro, R. Borg, D. Calleja, D. Mercieca.

Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, R. Zammit, M. Clarke, A. Dalli (M. Pisani), D. Attard, M. Borda, M. Crupi (M. Curtis), A. Pirrone, F. De Andrade, O. Zammit (R. Xuereb).

Referee: Roberto Vella.

Scorers: Borda (M) 16; Micallef (SV) 38; Onuoha (SV) 65.

Għargħur 1
Attard 1

Għargħur: D. Zarb, R. Debattista, C. Farrugia, H. Gatt Bonello (R. Mifsud), J. Debattista, E. Lapira (K. Azzopardi), I. Curmi, B. Antignolo, J. Nwoba, R. Gravata, B. Perry Alton (C. Vella).

Attard: C. Cini, O. Tabone, C. Lanzon, A. Agius, D. Gauci, J.C. Cachia, D. Galea, R. Filipov, K. Zahra, D. Traykov, K. Said.

Referee: Luke Portelli.

Scorers: Zahra 45 (A), Debattista 80 (GĦ).

Kirkop 1
Senglea Athletics 4

Kirkop: D. Pryke, C. Farrugia (L. Zammit), M. Pisani, A. Busuttil, B. Falzon, O. Buhagiar (C. Mifsud), I. Stankovic, R. Kerekov, J. Attard (F. Caruana), D. Zammit, B. Bugeja.

Senglea: G. Attard, B. Zerafa, M. Ciappara, A. Sciortino, J. Abela, J. Alegbe, J. Buttigieg, R. Micallef (R. Tanti), C. Caruana, G. Brincat, J.R. Emeka (K. Galea).

Referee: Duncan Sultana.

Scorers: Alegbe 10; Brincat 18, 63; Emeka 75 (S); Mifsud 62 (K).

Div. Two standings