Dingli Swallows 1
Vittoriosa Stars 2

A penalty scored by Gary Muir handed Vittoriosa Stars three priceless points at the expense of ten-man Dingli Swallows that put the Cottonera outfit on top of the Division One standings, one point clear of Pietà Hotspurs.

Even though it was a marginal victory, the Stars were by far the better side and could have added to their tally had they been more sharp in front of goal.

Vittoriosa were on the offensive right from the outset but it was Dingli who struck first.

Kain Roomes played a good one two with Bawuam before beating Vittoriosa goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella with a beautiful drive.

Vittoriosa soon responded and Adam Spiteri was clean through but fired wide with only Dingli goalkeeper Dunstan Zarb to beat.

The Stars kept up the pressure but Dingli showed great defensive organization and were a threat with their quick breaks.

In fact on the half hour they could have doubled their lead when Roomes lobbed the ball over Vella but Ramon Dos Santos came to his team’s rescue when he cleared the ball off the line.

From the prospect of being two goals down, Vittoriosa drew level a minute later.

Lyden Micallef broke free on the right before serving Marcelo Pereira who rammed the ball into the net.

The Brazilian remained a severe threat and on the stroke of hal-time he burst clear on the left before serving the unmarked Micallef who failed to make contact with the ball.

On the resumption, the Stars were denied a second goal by Dingli goalkeeper Zarb who pulled off fine saves on efforts by Micallef.

Vittoriosa were now pinning Dingli in their own half and on 68 minutes Micallef, was floored in the area by Evair Grech.

The referee immediately pointed to the spot and dismissed the Dingli defender.

From the ensuing penalty Muir hit past Zarb.

The Stars were now finding more space in the Swallows defence but could not add a third goal.

Instead it was Vittoriosa goalkeeper Vella who had to preserve his team’s lead with a fine block on a Sapiano volley.

Dingli: D. Zarb, A. Portelli (J. Anyanwu) (T. Pace), C. Muscat, R. Vella, E. Grech, K. Roomes, K. Formosa (J. Sapiano), J. Pace, I. Buwah, M. Borg, Y. Micallef.

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

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Lyden Micallef (Vittoriosa).

Naxxar Lions 1
Birzebbuġa 3

Two spectacular goals scored by Bulgarian midfielder Martin Deanov handed a surprising victory to Birżebbuġa St Peter’s over promotion favourites Naxxar Lions at the Centenary Stadium yesterday.

For the Lions this was their second successive defeat and a further blow for their promotion aspirations.

On the otherhand, the three points gained yesterday have moved Birżebbuġa outside the relegation zone as they are now third-from-bottom, one point ahead of Dingli.

Birżebbuġa created the first chance when Felix Peplow’s long-range shot was kept out by Luke Pecorella .

At the other end Birżebbuġa goalkeeper Ivan Casha kept out efforts from Gilbert Camilleri and Anderson Mendes Ribeiro.

On the half hour, Birżebbuġa came close to taking the lead when Pecorella miscued his clearance but soon made amends with a fine block on Ryan Mintoff’s fierce drive.

But Birżebbuġa were not to be denied on 35 minutes when Deanov scored a gem of a goal. The Bulgarian stepped up to take a free-kick from around 30 metres and hit a powerful drive that gave no chance to Naxxar goalkeeper Pecorella.

A minute into the second half Birżebbuġa made it 2-0 when Rio Micallef scored with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Naxxar knew they had to find a goal quickly and on 55 minutes they pulled one back when Darren Falzon tapped home from close in.

Camilleri almost made it 2-2 a minute later but his effort came off the bar.

Both teams were now tearing at each other with Ribeiro heading just wide while at the other end Thiago Mazzitelli fired over after a quick break.

Fifteen minutes from time, Deanov again showed his class when again from a direct free-kick left Pecorella helpless.

This goal put the game to bed with the Lions tamed as they were never able to bounce back against an organised Birżebbuġa side.

Naxxar: L. Pecorella, J. Vella, L. Micallef, S. Eboh, D. Falzon, V. Bellia, P. Doffo, M. Briffa, G. Camilleri, A. Mendes Ribeiro, A. Rocha Da Silva.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, R. Micallef, M. Pullicino, M. Hrubsa, R. Mintoff, F. Peplow, J. Sammut, K. Borg, J. Farrugia (M. Mifsud), M. Deanov (M. Camilleri), V. Pereira Dos Santos (T. Mazzitelli).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Martin Deanov (Birżebbuġa).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Vittoriosa	18	11	4	3	30	22	37
Pietà Hotspurs	18	11	3	4	37	16	36
Lija Athletic	18	11	2	5	33	26	35
Naxxar Lions	18	10	4	4	36	19	34
St Andrew’s	18	9	3	6	34	27	30
Marsaxlokk	18	8	5	5	31	28	29
Gudja United	18	7	5	6	29	24	26
Żejtun Cor.	18	5	6	7	17	23	21
Gżira United	18	4	6	8	21	25	18
Birżebbuġa	18	3	4	11	23	40	13
Dingli	18	3	3	12	14	39	12
Mqabba	18	1	5	12	20	36	8