Melita 1
Żejtun Corinthians 2

Żejtun chalked up their first victory of the season with Melita suffering their first upset following three successive victories.

The Amateurs were in the driving seat for most of the match but the Corinthians hit back late on to clinch three priceless points.

Żejtun had the first shot at goal when Aleksandar Cekulajevs’s drive was blocked by keeper Philip Schranz. But as the minutes ticked by, Melita seized the initiative and started moving forward more frequently.

On one occasion, a Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho header, following a Jose Rodriguez free-kick, was saved by Żejtun keeper Erikson Aga. The Corinthians almost broke the deadlock before half-time when, from a quick break, Alan Abela’s lob from outside the area finished just over the bar.

Melita were still doing most of the attacking play after the break and it was no surprise that they forged ahead on 65 minutes when Julian Galea hit home following a melee inside the opponents’ box.

But Żejtun never threw in the towel and hit back strongly.

In fact, they drew level on 77 minutes when substitute Elton Vella caught the Melita custodian outside his lines to beat him with a shot from outside the box.

The goal gave Żejtun a new lease of life and minutes later Schranz saved Melita when stopping a Cekulajevs drive from just inside the box.

The game had a dramatic finale as two minutes from time Żejtun scored the winner.

Referee Stefan Pace spotted a handling infringement in the Melita box and a penalty was given. Ryan Previ did the rest to leave the promotion favourites empty-handed.

Melita: P. Schranz, M. Mamo, M. Ramon Sierra Camacho, I. Tufegdzic, L. Bianco, J. Rodriguez, M. Valenzia (L. Sammut), L. Micallef, A. Borg Olivier, J. Galea, K. Coleiro (M. Borg).

Żejtun: E. Aga, I. Briffa, R. Previ, A. Abela, A. Schkalla, G. Tanti (J. Spiteri), K. Abela, A. Farrugia, A. Cekulajevs (K. Risholt), A. Carabott, G. Tanti (E. Vella).

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Man of the match: Aleksandar Cekulajevs (Żejtun Corinthians).