Żebbuġ Rangers 1
Fgura United 1
League leaders Żebbug Rangers saw their advantage at the top of the standings trimmed to three points after they were held to a draw by fourth-place Fgura United in a balanced encounter at the Centenary Stadium.
Msida St Joseph profited from the Rangers’ slip-up to close the gap after a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over Għargħur that lifted them to second place in the standings, two ahead of San Ġwann who suffered an un-expected 2-1 defeat to Siġġiewi.
Żebbuġ will still have to feel satisfied with the point gained against Fgura after playing most of the second half with a player less following the dismissal of striker Omar Rababah.
The Rangers started brightly and after only two minutes they were awarded a free-kick from which William Camenzuli’s shot fell into the path of Mauricio Rodriguez Britto but the latter’s effort was saved by Fgura goalkeeper Brandon Bartolo.
Four minutes later, Alan Tabone released Rababah who was clean through but was denied by the onrushing Bartolo.
Fgura threatened on 10 minutes when Josef Dalli shot just wide from a good position following a Robert Adami corner.
Żebbug maintained the edge and Rodriguez Britto’s shot on the turn finished off target.
On 25 minutes, Fgura’s Neville Zerafa dribbled his way past a couple of opponents before testing Żebbuġ goalkeeper Justin Spiteri who saved the shot in style.
At the other end, Bartolo had to be alert to keep out a close range header from Lee Galea.
This was a lively half and on 32 minutes, Fgura forged ahead when Philip Chircop sent an inviting ball towards Dalli who headed the ball past Spiteri.
Żebbuġ tried to hit back immediately and six minutes before the break Tabone’s shot finished inches wide.
Rangers suffered a blow early in the second half when Rababah was dismissed for dissent.
However, despite this setback, the league leaders had the ball inside the Fgura net on 56 minutes when Tabone headed past Bartolo. The ‘goal’, however, was annulled for offside.
Fgura almost doubled their lead a minute later but Spiteri denied Philip Chircop with a smart save.
Fifteen minutes from time, Żebbuġ grabbed the equaliser when Tabone was floored in the box by Leeroy Bonett and referee Marco Borg pointed to the spot.
Tabone picked himself up to convert the penalty and give his team a merited point.
Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, L. Galea, M. Francica, W. Camenzuli (J. Agius), M. Farrugia, M. Rodrigues Britto, A. Tabone (S. Hili), R. Spiteri, O. Rababah, D. D’Agostino, J. Xerri.
Fgura: B. Bartolo, R. Adami, P. Chircop, N. Curmi, J. Dalli (I. Ginev), J. Debattista, D. Sammut, M. Spiteri, L. Vella (C. Camenzuli), N. Zerafa, L. Bonnet (N. Fenech).
Referee: Marco Borg.
Żurrieq 4
Mġarr United 3
Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, D. Stojanovic, K. Magro, J. Lia, M. Cocks, M. Schembri, S. Azzopardi (N. Abdilla), J. Briffa (C. Farrugia), D. Zammit (D. Carabott), G. Bonello.
Mġarr: J. Muscat, J. Gauci, C. Bugeja, J. Said, A. Aquilina, S. Camilleri, C. Tabone, M. Deguara, R. Marmara, C. Abela, I. Cutajar.
Referee: Matthew De Gabriele.
Scorers: Zammit (Ż) 17; Cutajar (M) 20, 87; Bonello (Ż) 28, 90 pen; Abela (M) 58; Azzopardi (Ż) 73.
Red cards: Magro (Ż) 61; Abela (M) 90.
San Ġwann 1
Siġġiewi 2
San Ġwann: C. Carbonaro, R. Pisani (M. Asciak), B. Sciberras, M. Vassallo (N. Bikle), G. Agius, A. Borg, J. Borg, R. Zammit, L. Galea (J. Cutajar), S. Vella, B. Ferras do Amaral.
Siġġiewi: J. Cilia, J. Mercieca, N. Galea (S. Delia), E. Calleja, K. Mizzi, R. Ceka, M. Camilleri, I. Curmi (E. Ciappara), R. Farrugia, J. Camilleri (P. Spiteri), J. Shead.
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Scorers: Ferraz do Amaral (SĠ) 5; Curmi (S) 73, Farrugia (S) 83.
Kirkop United 2
Sta Venera Lightnings 2
Kirkop: C. Caruana, A. Formosa, S. Brkovic, D. Agius, R. Galea, D. Baldacchino, J. Borg (D. Grech), M. Pisani, B. Bugeja, J. Chidi Achokwu, C. Farrugia.
Sta Venera: W. Cuschieri, R. Borg, D. Zammit, M. Muscat, K. Cilia, G. Micallef, L. Spiteri, F. Mansueto (E. Borg), S. Farrugia (K. Zammit), E. Wileman, J. Micallef.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Scorers: Wileman (SV) 2; Agius (K) 30; Micallef (SV) 60; Baldacchino (K) 85.
Red card: Spiteri (SV) 78.
Msida St Joseph 3
Għargħur 2
Msida: J. Agius, L. Cassar, S. Vella, M. Borda, W. Buttigieg, D. Attard (M. Caruana), L. Baldacchino, S. Magro, F. De Andrade (K. Grech), M. Grioli, R. Celeste (R. Attard).
Għargħur: C. Caruana, G. Fenech, K. Fedele, K. Galea (D. Sammut), A. Briffa, N. Scerri, D. Camilleri (C. Vella), W. Rizealia, M.Agius (M. Gauci), D. Mamo, M. Busuttil.
Referee: Paul Apap.
Scorers: Busuttil (GĦ) 37; Rizealia (GĦ) 53; Attard (M) 60, 81; Magro (M) 90.
Pembroke Athleta 0
Mellieħa 1
Pembroke: N. Grima, N. Gatt Coleiro, A. Attard, L. Cilia (K. Coleiro), V. Mar-tinovic (J.R. Emeka), R. Caruana, G. Spiteri, D. Cremona, A. Galea (M. Borg), J.C. Borg, K. Micallef.
Mellieħa: J. Abela, M. Vella, L. Cauchi (R. Cutajar), D. Cauchi, P. Taylor, W. Borg, J. Zammit, K. Fenech, W. Borg St John (M. Trapani), G. Galea, K. Simiana (D. Saliba).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Scorer: Cutajar 80.
Red cards: Caruana (P) 78; Fenech (M) 78.
St Patrick 1
St George’s 0
St Patrick: J. Borg, A. Lagana, R. Ellul, N. Filipov, K. Muscat (A. Guazzo), A. Ellul (I. Scicluna), R. Cassar (J.C. Cesare), J.R. Vella, M. Xerri, S. Dimech, G. Failla.
St George’s: T. Galea, E. Sevasta, C. Grech, J. Bugeja, Q. Bregman, J. Farrugia, M. Brincat (G. Inguanez), E. Amaira, S. Agius, G. Chircop (O. Giordano), W. Sciberras.
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Scorer: A. Ellul 67.