Birżebbuġa SP 4
Mqabba 3

Birżebbuġa prevailed in this seven-goal thriller between the two bottom sides in the standings to boost their hopes of avoiding the drop.

Patrick Curmi’s side are now just one point off third-from-bottom Dingli while Mqabba stay firmly anchored at the bottom with three points as both teams ended their first round commitments.

Mqabba, who had Kasim Suleman and Joseph Okonkwo making their debut, created the first chance after nine minutes when Emiliano Lattes’s shot was tipped over by Ivan Casha.

But it was Birżebbuġa who struck on 15 minutes when Mead Mifsud’s half volley flew past Kris Calleja.

Curmi’s side made it 2-0 five minutes. Vinicius Pereira Dos Santos found Michael Camilleri whose shot came off the post and from the rebound Glenn Tanti’s effort was inadvertently deflected into the net by Mqabba’s Clayton Micallef.

Mqabba pulled one back on 25 minutes when Okonkwo turned past Casha to fire into an empty net.

The Reds managed to equalise on 39 minutes when Suleman squared the ball to Claudio Calleja who quickly transferred the ball to Okonkwo who shot home.

Mqabba completed their comeback early in the second half when Suleman sped past his marker to lob the ball past Casha.

The Saints were stunned and they quickly regrouped to draw level on the hour when Glanville Goodlip hit home from close in.

Mqabba were unlucky when Suleman’s header came off the bar.

Instead it was Birżebbuġa who grabbed the winner on 70 minutes when Mifsud’s long-range shot flew past Calleja and into the net.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha; R. Mintoff, G. Tanti (G. Goodlip), K. Borg, F. Peplow, P. Camilleri, V. Pereira Dos Santos (R. Duca), J. Farrugia, T. Dos Santos Mazzitelli, M. Mifsud, M. Camilleri (M. Rizzolo Brisolla).

Mqabba: K. Calleja; A. Scicluna, C. Cutajar, M. Sciortino, M.A. Psaila, K. Suleman, C. Calleja (D. Azzopardi), J.P. Muscat, J. Okonkwo, C. Micallef, E. Lattes.

Referee: Andrew James Sammut.

Man of the match: Mead Mifsud (Birzebbugia).

Gżira United 0
Żejtun Corinthians 0

Gżira and Żejtun shared the spoils in a scoreless draw. Both sides had goal scoring opportunities to win the match, with Żejtun looking the more dangerous but in the end a draw was a fair outcome.

The Maroons threatened after six minutes when Steve Meilak darted into the box but his shot was saved by Jurgen Tabone. Three minutes later Ryan Deguara tried his luck from the edge of the area with the ball just missing the target.

Joey Falzon’s side threatened again on 28 minutes when the unmarked Adrian Carabott saw his shot deflected by a defender.

But it was Gżira who continued to show the better ideas and on the half hour Ademola Shennuuo hit just wide following a good move by Yanis Tonna.

On 36 minutes Simon Shead drove the ball just wide following a Tonna corner.

Three minutes before the break it was Omar El Ghaouti who broke free but his attempted lob finished over the bar.

On 57 minutes Sunny Omorerie headed wide from a Pierre Grima free-kick while minutes later the same player was clean through but shot straight at Jurgen Tabone.

On 74 minutes, Oldi Majtara picked El Ghaouti, who with his back at goal, adjusted his body but his shot finished just wide.

Three minutes later Majtara burst in the area but was denied by Agius.

On 83 minutes Majtara threatened again when his effort from a free-kick was pushed away by Agius.

Two minutes later Omorerie sprinted into the Żejtun area but his low drive hit the foot of the post.

Omorerie had another golden opportunity on 88 minutes but he headed wide from a Meilak cross.

Gżira: S. Agius; R. Deguara, A. Xuereb, J. Chetcuti, P. Grima, S. Meilak, A. Shennuuo, D. Cachia (J. Hussey), Y. Tonna, S. Ogbemudia Omorerie, S. Shead.

Żejtun: J. Tabone, D. Zahra (K. Zahra), R. De Gabriele, E. Azzopardi, C. Magro, K. Vassallo, Z. Vukovic, K. Abela, A. Carabott, O. El Ghaoti, O. Majtara.

Referee: Clayton Pisani.

Man of the match: Ryan Deguara (Gżira United).