Lija Athletic 1
Mqabba 1

Mqabba lifted their game significantly after the break to earn their first point in the league.

Albert Busuttil’s side saw more of the ball but were rarely effective as Lija launched some fast counter-attacks, mainly inspired by their best player Erjon Beu.

Beu almost hit the target in the first few minutes but his shot from an angle was kept out by goalkeeper Kris Calleja. Rosalino de Almeida then missed a sitter when he miskicked in front of Calleja’s goal.

Brian Spiteri’s Lija were giving away possession in midfield but they still looked dangerous when breaking forward. On 26 minutes, Daniel Scerri found space inside the Mqabba box but Calleja was on the right spot to save.

Mqabba were unlucky not to take the lead from their first real attack on Lija’s goal when a Claudio Calleja free-kick hit the crossbar with Luke Bonnici beaten.

Just before the break, Lija should have opened the scoring but De Almeida’s drive from inside the area was stopped by the keeper. From the rebound, Adeshina Ige shot into Calleja’s arms.

Mqabba lost Claudio Calleja to injury but came out stronger in the second half and took the lead on 55 minutes.

Peter Anizoba tapped the ball for Abeeb Williams who lifted the net with a fierce volley.

Lija drew level nine minutes later when Amadeo Mercieca slotted the ball home from close range after good work by Ige.

Mqabba could have snatched all points near the end as Anizoba and Williams were denied by Bonnici and an Emiliano Lattes free-kick finished over the bar.

Lija: L. Bonnici, C. Giordemaina, D. Scerri (E. Briffa), E. Beu, T. Fleri Soler (D. Vukovic), A. Scicluna, A. Mercieca, B. Antignolo, M. Fleri Soler, A. Ige, R. De Almeida (A. Sacco).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, J. Anegbe, A. Caligari, D. Azzopardi, C. Calleja (M.A. Psaila), M. Bonnici, A. Williams, C. Micallef, P. Anizoba, E. Lattes.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: Erjon Beu (Lija).

St Andrews 3
Birżebbuġa SP 1

St Andrews joined Pietà Hotspurs at the top of the standings after a deserved win over Birżebbuġa St Peter’s.

With former Qormi midfielder Joseph Farrugia and Rumen Kerekov and Trajo Grozev firing on all cylinders, St Andrews look strong enough to challenge for promotion but Birżebbuġa will have to work harder to move away from the drop zone.

St Andrews took the lead on 14 minutes when Kerekov found the net with a diagonal shot after an inviting Nicky Vella Petroni pass.

The southenders hit back with a Michael Camilleri effort that rolled wide and, at the other end, it was Ivan Casha who saved his side with a timely save from a Kerekov drive.

Grozev failed to hit home with only the goalkeeper to beat and St Andrews were unlucky not to double their lead as Farrugia rattled the woodwork from a free-kick.

Five minutes later Farrugia suffered the same fate, this time following a shot from outside the box.

St Andrews came out in search of a second goal at the start of the second half but had to wait until the 70th minute to kill the game as Casha kept Birżebbuġa in the game with a string of fine saves. However, there was nothing Casha could do to stop Grozev’s fierce shot.

Birżebbuġa were handed a lifeline late on when keeper Matthew Towns tripped Ryan Mintoff in the box. Vinicius Pereira Dos Santos scored from the spot.

But the Saints still pushed forward and got the reward they deserved in stoppage time when Mintoff handled Michael Grima’s shot inside the box. The latter was sent off and Farrugia slotted the penalty home to make it 3-1.

St Andrews: M. Towns, N. Chetcuti, L. Cesareo, B. Said, W. Camilleri, S. Kadri (J. Briscoe White), A. Amato (M. Hyzler), J. Farrugia, T. Grozev, R. Kerkekov, N. Vella Petroni (M. Grima).

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, R. Duca (K. Borg), J. Farrugia, K. Spiteri, R. Mintoff, F. Schneider, F. Peplow, P. Camilleri (R. Celeste) , M. Camilleri (M. Mifsud), V. Pereira Dos Santos, T. Dos Santos Mazzitelli.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Joseph Farrugia (St Andrews).