Gżira United 3
Vittoriosa Stars 0

Gżira continued to move away from the danger zone after beating Vittoriosa yesterday.

After only nine minutes, the Maroons went close when Alfred Effiong barged his way through and lobbed the ball over the keeper but Matthew Tabone cleared the ball off the line.

Gżira continued to dictate matters. Nico Corito and Caio Suguino Garcia played a superb one-two with the latter being foiled by Stars keeper Jean-Matthias Vella who produced a fine save.

But, the Maroons opened the score midway through the half when Dino Cachia latched on to a Suguino Garcia pass before beating Vella with a cool finish.

Vittoriosa came close to an equaliser but Marcelo Perreira drove the ball wide from just inside the box.

Gżira could have made it 2-0 when Steve Meilak was sent through by Corito’s precise pass but he shot straight at Vella and a good opportunity went begging.

Vittoriosa were weak after the break and on 53 minutes, Steve Meilak was brought down in the box by Malcolm Buttigieg and a penalty was given.

Up stepped Effiong to convert from the spot.

The Stars pushed more men forward and were unlucky not to get back into the match on 67 minutes but Adam Spiteri’s effort came off the upright.

But the Maroons were never in trouble and six minutes from time they sealed the issue thanks to substitute Ryan Deguara.

He dribbled his way through before slotting the ball past goalkeeper Vella.

Gżira: S. Agius, K. Saliba, P. Grima, A. Xuereb, J. Chetcuti, A. Shennowo, D. Cachia, C. Suguino Garcia, N. Corito (R. Deguara), S. Meilak (A. White), A. Effiong (Y. Tonna).

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, R. Brincat (M. Barbara), A. Spiteri (Samir Arab), G. Muir, L. Vella Critien, M. Tabone, R. Dos Santos, M. Perreira, Siraj Arab, S. Grech (L. Micallef), M. Buttigieg.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Caio Suguino Garcia (Gżira United).

Pietà Hotspurs 4
Mqabba 0

Pietà continued in their pursuit for promotion with a fine 4-0 win over lowly Mqabba whose performance was not as bad as the result suggests. However, despite all their attacking flair, their finishing was too poor.

Mqabba started as the more aggressive side and after only six minutes Peter Anizoba found Emiliano Lattes but his diagonal shot finished out of range. But Pietà soon started to dictate matters and Karl Cutajar twice came close only to be denied by keeper Kris Calleja.

Raphael Kooh Sohna was close with a header and on 21 minutes the Hotspurs took the lead when the Cameroon forward headed home from a Cleaven Cassar cross.

Edmond Lufi’s Pietà continued to dominate the match but Mqabba kept trying and David Azzopardi was unlucky to see his effort going just wide soon after the break.

Mqabba went close to an equaliser when a Mauro Bonnici header beat Miguel Montfort but was cleared off the line by Clive Spiteri.

However, at the other end substitute Jurgen Pisani doubled Pietà’s lead when he let loose an unstoppable drive from outside the box.

Mqabba lost their way and Kooh Sohna drove the ball home from just inside the area after an inviting Jonathan Zarate ball.

Montfort denied Mqabba when keeping out a David Azzopardi effort and a minute from time Pietà made it 4-0, again it was Pisani who hit home to round up his team’s victory.

Pietà: M. Montfort, C. Spiteri, C. Grech, Q. Refalo, R. Kooh Sohna (H. Madsen), K. Cutajar, L. Mallia, C. Cassar, J. Zarate, I. Grech (K. Cesare), C. Frendo (J. Pisani).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, C. Cutajar (A. Williams), J. Anegbe, S. Spasov (J.P. Muscat), A. Caligari, D. Azzopardi, M. Bonnici, C. Camoin, P. Anizoba, E. Lattes.

Referee: Andrew J. Sammut.

Man of the match: Karl Cutajar (Pietà Hotspurs).

Standings