Lija Atheltic 1
Gudja United 0

An injury-time goal from substitute Rosalino Martins Pais De Almeida helped Lija Atheltic to complete the double over Gudja United to go top of the Division One standings, one point clear of Naxxar Lions, who, however, have a game in hand.

The match turned out to be an even affair which came to life after the interval with both sides creating scoring opportunities.

Gudja created the first chance on 25 minutes when Karl Azzopardi shot straight into the hands of Lija goalkeeper Luke Bonnici.

Four minutes later Lija suffered a severe blow when Albanian Erjon Beu limped off injured and was replaced by De Almeida.

The best chance of the half fell Gudja’s way on 36 minutes when Kiril Aleksandrov’s half volley was well kept out by Luke Bonnici.

Lija came close on the stroke of half-time when Beppe Antignolo’s cross-shot came off the bar.

On 66 minutes, Lija missed a golden opportunity when De Almeida latched on to a Daniel Scerri long pass but failed to beat the onrushing Matthew Xerxen who blocked his shot.

Thirteen minutes from time a good Gudja move finished with a firm drive from Karl Azzopardi who was denied by an acrobatic save from Bonnici.

At the other end, Evano Briffa’s cross-shot was pushed to a corner by Xerxen.

Gudja almost won it on 86 minutes when Peter Paul Sammut saw his effort blocked by Bonnici and from the rebound Alek-sandrov was again denied by the Lija goalkeeper.

When the game looked to be heading for a draw Lija struck.

Briffa sent a teasing cross towards the unmarked De Almeida who headed home to the delight of the Lija fans.

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

Gudja: M. Xerxen; E. Bugeja, A. Abela, J. Tonna, R. Kovachev, E. Vella (P.P. Sammut), G. Chircop, K. Azzopardi, C. Anton, R. Sell, K. Aleksandrov.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the Match: Karl Azzopardi (Gudja).

Żejtun Corinthians 2
Birżebbuġa St Peter’s 2

Birżebbuġa won a precious point in their struggle against the drop yesterday as they drew level with Żejtun courtesy of a last-gasp penalty scored by Vinicius Pereira dos Santos.

Now, the seasiders are level with Dingli on eight points albeit with a game more.

However, on this showing Birżebbuġa gave ample proof that they have not given up hope yet as new signing Martin Deanov made his debut after his move from Balzan.

Żejtun, in a safe mid-table position, were seeing more of the ball in the early stages but Joey Falzon’s team had to wait until the 21st minute to open the score when Kenneth Abela headed down into the path of Oldi Majtara who beat Ivan Casha with a low shot.

Birżebbuġa tried to hit back and the side coached by Patrick Curmi drew level seven minutes later with a Pereira dos Santos goal after an inviting ball from Glenn Tanti.

Pereira dos Santos should have done better when he mishit a Deanov pass and Birżebbuġa were made to pay for that miss as Żejtun regained the lead just before half-time with an Omar El Ghaouti goal.

A Deanov grounder 10 minutes from the restart finished inches wide as the seasiders lifted their game in search of a second equaliser. Thiago dos Santos Mazzitelli dribbled past three Żejtun defenders but his shot was stopped by Jurgen Tabone.

A Glanville Goodlip ‘goal’ was not given for offside but as Birżebbuġa looked heading for a ninth defeat Daniel Zahra floored Deanov in the Żejtun box and Pereira dos Santos blasted the penalty inside the net to make it 2-2.

Żejtun: J. Tabone, A. Farrugia, D. Zahra, E. Azzopardi, C. Magro, K. Abela, Z. Vukovic, K. Zahra, A. Carabott (J. Spiteri), O. Majtara, O. El Ghaouti.

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

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.

Man of the match: Vinicius Pereira dos Santos (Birżebbuġa).