Pietà Hotspurs 2
Marsaxlokk 2
Pietà Hotspurs missed the chance to go at the top of the standings after a last-gasp goal by substitute Dylan Attard saved the day for Marsaxlokk.
Pietà have only themselves to blame for not winning the three points as they missed a hatful of chances in the second half including a penalty.
This draw meant that the Hotspurs move up to second, level with Vittoriosa who have a game less.
There were few scoring chances early on but the match finally came to life on 25 minutes when Marsaxlokk forged ahead. Rupert Mangion was unmarked to divert the ball into the Pietà net following a Da Silva Silveira free-kick.
The Hotspurs responded with a Raphael Kooh Sohna header that was kept out by Omar Borg.
Pietà drew level on 38 minutes when from a central free-kick, Cleaven Frendo’s shot was deviated past Borg.
The Hotspurs struck again a minute later when Kooh Sohna burst clear and squared the ball toward Senior David who hit home.
Quelin Refalo could have made it 3-1 but shot straight into the hands of Borg.
On the hour, Pietà were awarded a penalty after Matthew Clarke fouled Kooh Sohna in the area but Refalo’s shot from the spot-kick was pushed away by Borg.
Marsaxlokk piled up the pressure and their efforts were rewarded on 89 minutes when Attard fired home from a Silva Silveira pass.
PIETA: M. Montfort, C. Cassar, M. Borg, J. Zarate, Q. Refalo (K. Cutajar), S. David, A. Kooh Sohna (L. Mallia), C. Grech, C. Spiteri (J. Pisani), T. Agius, C. Frendo.
MARSAXLOKK: O. Borg, R. Mifsud, K. Scicluna, M.P. Clarke, D. Fava (D. Attard), G. Caruana, D. Micallef, R. Mangion, D. Grech (R. Xuereb), D. Da Silva Silveira, A. Grabowski.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Man of the match: Omar Borg (Marsaxlokk).
Gudja United 1
Gżira United 0
Gudja United stayed on course for a promotion spot with a merited victory against Gżira United.
Substitute Peter Paul Sammut struck the all-important goal that enabled Gudja keep the pace with their promotion rivals.
The first half turned out to be a drab affair with the only notable scoring opportunity coming from Gżira five minutes from the break.
Simon Shead headed just over from a Vincenzo Brincat cross.
The second half improved although it was Gudja who dictated matters for long stretches.
In the 64th minute it was Gudja who came close when a Ryan Sell header, following a Cosmin Anton cross, was saved by Kyle Gerada.
Four minutes later, Dino Cachia tried his luck with a first-time effort from 25 metres which Gerada was well positioned again to save.
Gudja kept pressing forward and they earned a breakthrough on 75 minutes. Sell passed the ball towards the sprinting Sammut who slotted the ball past Gerada.
Gudja could have added a second goal on 83 minutes but Kiril Aleksandrov headed just wide.
Gżira could have netted an equaliser a minute later but Sunny Ogbemude Omoregie’s headerwas pushed away by Matthew Xerxen.
Gudja: M. Xerxen, G. Buttigieg (P.P. Sammut), A. Abela, J. Tonna, K. Azzopardi, N. Alnoudji, K. Bonello, D. Cachia, R. Sell, J. Antagana Ekobo(O. Anton), K. Aleksandrov.
Gżira: K. Gerada, A. Xuereb, J. Chetcuti, A. White, J.B. Gatt, P. Grima, A. Shennowo, Y. Tonna, V. Brincat (S. Meilaq), S. Ogbemuda Omoregie, S. Shead (A. Naffouri Mohammed).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Man of the Match: Peter Paul Sammut (Gudja United).