Naxxar Lions 6
Dingli Swallows 0

Naxxar Lions were in rampant form yesterday as they hit six past relegation-threatened Dingli Swallows to go second , just one point behind leaders Lija Athletic.

With Pablo Doffo, Darren Falzon and Andre Rocha Da Silva on song, Dingli could not offer resistance.

Dingli goalkeeper Dunstan Zarb was soon called into action as after four minutes he did well to keep out Anderson Ribeiro’s header and minutes later he pushed away Falzon’s half volley.

Naxxar took the lead on 16 minutes when Angus Buhagiar shot home from an acute angle.

Dingli finally threatened on the half hour when Cain Roomes burst through but was blocked by goalkeepr Julian Azzopardi.

Just before the break, Ribeiro was unlucky to see his shot hit the bar. Falzon should have made it 2-0 when on 50 minutes he rounded Zarb but fired wide. But the Naxxar striker made amends four minutes later when he lobbed the ball over Zarb to double his team’s lead.

Naxxar continued to surge forward and on 58 minutes Rocha Da Silva headed past Zarb from a Doffo delivery. A minute later the Lions hit goal number four when from a swift break Falzon blasted home from just inside the area.

On 66 minutes, Lyden Micallef was denied by the woodwork but Naxxar made it 5-0 on 89 minutes with a firm effort from Ribeiro.

Falzon completed his hat-trick in time added on to wrap up a commanding victory for the Lions.

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, J. Vella, A. Buhagiar (G. Camilleri), M. Briffa, S. Eboh, V. Bellia, P. Doffo (K. Drago), A. Rocha Da Silva, L. Micallef (R. Cassar), D. Falzon, A. Ribeiro.

Dingli: D. Zarb, K. Pace (J. Sapiano), C. Muscat (A. Portelli), F. Cauchi, R. Vella (I. Bawuah), E. Grech, K. Roomes, K. Formosa, J. Pace, E. Farrugia, M. Borg.

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Man of the match: Pablo Doffo (Naxxar Lions).

Gudja United 1
Vittoriosa Stars 2

Vittoriosa Stars beat Gudja in a keenly contested match to boost their promotion hopes.

The Cottonera side surged into a two-goal lead but had to withstand Gudja’s late fightback to hold on to the three points that pushed them in third place alongside Marsaxlokk on 24 points.

Gudja held the upperhand early on with Kovachev testing Jean Matthias Vella from a free-kick.

But, it was Vittoriosa who took the lead on 21 minutes when from a central free-kick, Gary Muir’s shot had the better of Matthew Xerxen.

Two minutes later Marcelo Pereira set up Lyden Micallef but his low drive just missed the upright.

On 33 minutes Pereira dribbled past a couple of defenders with his shot finishing inches wide.

On the resumption Gudja increased their tempo in search of an equaliser and Vella had to be on the alert to keep out efforts from Kovachev and Aleksandrov.

However, it was the Stars who struck again on 61 minutes when Pereira profited from an indecision in the Gudja defence and quickly transferred the ball towards Micallef who had little difficulty in firing into an empty net.

Gudja, however, did not throw in the towel and their efforts were rewarded ten minutes from time with a well-executed move started between Aleksandrov and Cosmin Anton with the latter passing towards substitute Peter Paul Sammut who fired low into the net.

Gudja threw more men forward late on but to no avail as Vittoriosa held on for the win.

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

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, J. Camilleri, L. Vella Critien, R. Brincat, A. Spiteri, R. Dos Santos, M. Pereira (E. Qordja), G. Muir, L. Micallef, Samir Arab, S. Grech (Siraj Arab).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Player of the match: Marcelo Pereira (Vittoriosa Stars).