Rabat Ajax 0
Birżebbuġa 0

Rabat Ajax missed the chance to move above Pietà at the top after being held to a goalless draw by Birżebbuġa. The Magpies are now level with the Hotspurs on 22 points but the latter have a game in hand.

It was Birżebbuġa who threatened first after two minutes but Mead Mifsud’s effort went wide. Seven minutes later, Ronnie Celeste set up Mifsud who missed the target.

On 15 minutes, Birżebbuġa protested for a penalty when Kevin Borg’s shot came off Christian Muscat but referee Sandro Spiteri waved play on.

Rabat’s first attempt arrived on 22 minutes when David Azzopardi’s effort was blocked by Ivan Casha.

Ten minutes from half-time, Celeste’s low cross was deflected onto the post by Muscat.

Casha denied Rabat an opener on 57 minutes as he pushed away Azzopardi’s curling shot.

Fifteen minutes from time, it was Rabat’s turn to ask for a penalty when Arlindo Rustemi collided with Kenneth Spiteri in the box but referee Spiteri saw nothing wrong.

Rabat: S. Mintoff, N. Caruana, C. Schembri, J. Felice (R. Micallef), A. Smeir, A. Rustemi, D. Falzon, C. Muscat, V. Caushi, Y. Cauchi (J. Cornforth), D. Azzopardi.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, K. Spiteri, M. Pullicino, F. Schneider, D. Baldacchino, D. Milovic, G. Tanti, M. Mifsud (L. Grima), K. Borg (M. Sciortino), R. Celeste, B. Marev (B. Onuta).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Ronnie Celeste (Birżebbuġa).

Melita 1
Naxxar Lions 1

Melita and Naxxar Lions took a point each after an entertaining encounter ended one-all.

Melita, who were looking to win in order to join Pietà at the top, enjoyed a bright start. After six minutes, a free-kick by Tobias Terpougoff brought the best out of Naxxar ’keeper Julian Azzopardi.

Seven minutes later, Azzopardi failed to hold a George Gribbon drive but from the rebound, Manwel Ramon Sierra Camacho incredibly fired wide.

On 18 minutes, Terpougoff dashed into the Naxxar area before serving Michael Martin whose firm shot was cleared off the line by Andrea Farrugia.

Naxxar responded on 22 minutes when a Darren Falzon shot was saved by Matthew Sapiano. But, four minutes later, it was Melita who took the lead.

Terpougoff’s cross was handled by Lyden Micallef in the area and referee Kevin Azzopardi pointed to the spot. Sierra Camacho made no mistake.

On the half hour, a Luke Micallef piledriver finished just over while the Lions had a Hallison Sequeira shot ending just wide.

Edilson Fiori hit the side-netting following a melee in the Melita area and Daniel Sibalin missed a sitter.

The Lions drew level in first-half stoppage time when Sequeira crossed for Fiori who headed in.

Naxxar saw more of the ball in the second half. After two minutes, Sequeira’s free-kick was saved by Sapiano. Scoring chances remained few and far between but on 67 minutes, Fiori found Falzon who was thwarted by Sapiano.

Melita: M. Sapiano, T. Terpougoff (N. Baldacchino), M. Sierra Camacho, G. Gribbon, M. Martin, M. Borg, K. Micallef, K. Vella Petroni, L. Sammut, M. Valencia (S. Galea), L. Micallef.

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, A. Farrugia, L. Micallef, K. Drago, R. Schembri, H. Lima Sequeira (A. Da Silva), E. Fiori (M. Maccari), V. Bellia, M. Del Negro, D. Falzon, D. Sibalin.

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Man of the match: Victor Bellia (Naxxar Lions).