Gudja United 2
Birżebbuġa SP 1

Gudja United bounced back from their opening day defeat to Żurrieq when yesterday they had the better of Birżebbuġa to chalk up their first win of the season.

New signing Matthew Groves enjoyed a positive debut with the Reds as the Canadian striker struck a great partnership with Nigerian Anthony Ewurum as the Gudja forwards proved a handful for the Birżebbuġa defence.

Groves made an instant impact as after only two minutes he exchan-ged the ball with Ewurun before firing the ball past goalkeeper Christian Cassar.

Birżebbuġa threatened on 20 minutes when Martin Hrubsa met Ryan Zammit’s cross but his header was pushed away by Matthew Xerxen.

Guglielmo Ginocchi’s Gudja suffered a setback on 25 minutes when Groves limped out injured and was replaced by Daniele Buzzacchero.

But Gudja doubled their lead in stoppage time when Ewurun sped into the area before hitting a firm drive that flew into the net.

On the change of ends, Birżebbuġa looked a transformed side and they pulled a goal back on 54 minutes when Ademola Sheno-wo dribbled his way past two defenders but his shot was partially blocked by Xerxen. From the rebound, Deanov slotted home.

Gudja should have added a third when Cassar failed to hold on to Mauro Brincat’s shot but from the rebound Ewurun shot straight at the Saints goalkeeper.

Xerxen saved the result for Birżebbuġa two minutes from time when he pulled off a fine save to deny Claudio Calleja.

Gudja: M. Xerxen, D. D’ Agostino, C. Farrugia, K. Azzopardi, R. Buhagiar, A. Scigliano, R. Dalli (G. Chircop), S. Agius, A. Ewurun (F. Presaghi), M. Brincat, M. Groves (D. Buzzacchero).

Birżebbuġa: C. Cassar, R. Zammit, J. Briffa, D. Baldacchino, M. Hrubsa, F. Peplow (R. Celeste), K. Borg, A. She-nowo, C. Calleja, M. Deanov, J.C. Da Silva.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Man of the match: Mauro Brincat (Gudja).

Lija Athletic 2
Żebbuġ Rangers 3

Żebbuġ bagged their first win of the campaign when they had the better of Lija in a five-goal thriller. For Lija, who had won their opening two matches, this was their first defeat.

It was Lija who took the lead on the half hour when Predrag Babic controlled an Evano Briffa’s cross and blasted the ball home.

Żebbuġ drew level on 50 minutes. From a Miguel Francica corner-kick, Lee Galea anticipated his marker to head home.

The Rangers took the lead on 68 minutes when John Nwoba’s shot had the better of Lija’s Kris Calleja.

But a minute later Lija equalised when Ige headed in Briffa’s cross.

But it was Żebbuġ who grabbed the winner ten minutes form time when Britto unleashed a powerful volley into the top corner of the net.

Lija: K. Calleja, T. Fleri Soler (J.P. Scerri), C. Giordemaina, M. Fleri Soler, D. Scerri, R. Sell (A. Grabowski), D. Vukovic, E. Briffa, P. Babic (B. Antignolo), K. Alexandrov, A. Ige.

Żebbuġ: J. Farrugia, L. Camilleri, M. Francica, K. Scicluna, L. Galea, T. Paris, M. Farrugia, L.J. Agius (J. Nwoba), D. Da Silva Silveira (A. Tabone), M. Britto (S. Hili), A. Ribeiro.

Referee: Sebastiano Gambuzza.

Man of the match: M. Britto (Żebbug R.)

Ħamrun 0
Melita 2

Melita made it three wins in a row as they eased past Ħamrun Spartans to go three points clear at the top.

The Spartans played well for much of the first half but once they fell behind against the run of play they could not recover as the more experienced Amateurs took control.

The Spartans started brightly and Antonio Pignataro should have put them ahead but fired wide after a neat pass from Jake Grech.

On 27 minute Grech forced his way into the area but was denied by Schranz. But it was Melita who took the lead on 32 minutes when Kurt Coleiro headed home from a Luke Bianco cross.

On the resumption Melita took control and doubled their lead on 59 minutes when Cueto Rodriguez released Julian Galea who slotted the ball past Cassar.

Ħamrun: A. Cassar, M. Busuttil, L. Grech, A. Borg, D. Nazari, J.P. Kameni (S. Castellucci), R. Mangion (R. Refalo), J. Grech, R. Spiteri, A. Micallef (D. Busuttil), A. Pignataro.

Melita: P. Schranz, M. Borg, M. Sierra Camacho, I. Tufegdzic, L. Bianco, J. Cueto Rodriguez, M. Valenzia, L. Micallef, J. Galea (M. Hyzler), N. Rizzo (A. Borg Olivier), K. Coleiro (M. Fenech).

Referee: Paul Caruana (Melita)

Man of the match: J. Cueto Rodriguez (Melita).

Żejtun C. 1
St Andrew’s 3

Trayo Grozev grabbed a hat-trick as St Andrew’s had the better of Żejtun to go second in the standings.

Grozev struck after only 16 minutes when he was upended in the area by goalkeeper Erikson Aga. A penalty was awarded and Grozev beat Aga to put the Saints ahead.

The Saints made it 2-0 on 28 minutes when Grozev dispossessed Kai Risholt and slid the ball past Aga.

Grozev completed his hat-trick on 50 minutes when he hit a fierce drive that flew into the net.

Żejtun pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when Aleksander Cekulajevs beat Bartolo from close in.

Żejtun had Dylan Xuereb sent off for a crude challenge on Andrew Amato late on.

Żejtun: E. Aga, A. Farrugia, R. Previ, K. Abela, K. Risholt, G. Tanti, J. Spiteri, M. Mifsud (A. Abela), A. Cekulajevs, E. Vella (D. Xuereb), A. Carabott

St Andrew’s: S. Bartolo, N. Chetcuti, B. Said, D. Gera, J. Farrugia, A. Amato (M. Grima), J. Falzon (N. Vella Petroni), D. Cucciardi (J. Briscoe White), E. Lattes, W. Barbosa, T. Grozev.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Trayo Grozev (St Andrew’s).

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Melita	3	3	0	0	6	1	9
St Andrew’s	3	2	1	0	7	4	7
Lija A.	3	2	0	1	7	3	6
Pietá H.	3	1	2	0	4	2	5
Żurrieq	3	1	1	1	5	3	4
Ġzira U.	2	1	1	0	1	0	4
Żebbuġ R.	3	1	1	1	6	8	4
Birżebbuġa SP	2	1	0	1	4	4	3
Gudja U.	2	1	0	1	2	4	3
Msida SJ	3	0	1	2	4	7	1
Żejtun C.	3	0	1	2	3	7	1
St George’s	2	0	1	1	1	3	1
Ħamrun (-8)	3	0	1	2	3	6	-7