Żurrieq 1
St George’s 2

St George’s clinched their first win of the season after they edged past Żurrieq in an entertaining match yesterday.

It was a merited victory for the Cottonera outfit who were buoyed by the fine performance of their forwards Jhonathan Bernardo Mariano, John Emeka and Mendy Abdul Razak who were a constant threat to the Żurrieq defence.

St George’s made all the early running and after 18 minutes Razak drove the ball wide from a favourable position. Four minutes later Razak and Emeka combined with the latter’s effort pushed away by Jeremy Alden.

The Saints’ finally grabbed a breakthrough on the half hour when Mariano darted into the box and hit a low shot that nestled into the net.

Żurrieq came back strongly and drew level on 39 minutes. Jovan Vukanic sent a looping cross inside the area and in came Matthew Schembri to fire home with a fierce drive.

The Reds almost struck again seconds from the break when Vukanic’s firm drive was pushed away by Marmara.

St George’s kept the initiative after the interval and on 57 minutes Mariano’s header came off the bar before Żurrieq cleared to a corner.

From the ensuing flag-kick, Emeka headed the ball onto the post but from the rebound the St George’s striker bundled the ball home.

Żurrieq were hit hard and struggled to force a reaction.

Instead it was the Saints who almost grabbed a third when Dylan Sammut’s deflected free-kick forced Alden into a fine save.

Żurrieq never managed to react and in fact it was the side from Cottonera who came close again with 15 minutes to go when a Dylan Sammut free-kick was deflected by the wall with Alden saving well.

Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, N. Abdilla, K. Magro, J. Vukanic, Z. Vukovic, J. Briffa, G. Bonello (G. Inguanez,), D. Zammit (S. Azzopardi), M. Schembri (D. Darmanin), O. Lucky Agboebina.

St George’s: R. Marmara, D. Sammut (J. Gerada), E. Sevasta, J. Farrugia, A. Ellul (A. Bonello), M. Abdul Razak, J. Bernardo Mariano, E. Amaira (L. Lagana), J. Emeka, R. Vella, K. Tanti.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Man of the match: John Emeka (St George’s).

Birżebbuġa 3
Gżira United 1

Birżebbuġa St Peter’s handed Gżira United their first defeat of the season in a balanced encounter yesterday.

Birżebbuġa quickly took control of proceedings after surging into a two-goal lead they managed to hold off Gżira’s fightback to hold on for their second win of the campaign.

Gżira made the early running and on nine minutes veteran striker Simon Shead was unlucky when he hit a post following a Steve Meilak inswinger.

The Saints responded in the 14th minute with a Ronnie Celeste effort which was well blocked by Frederick Tabone. Shead threatened again midway through the half but his header finished just over.

However, it was Birżebbuġa who took the lead on half hour when in a swift break, Shennowo picked Martin Deanov who quickly served Ronnie Celeste who was brought down in the area by Tabone.

From the resulting penalty, Deanov drove the ball into the net.

The Maroons tried to step up their game and Emiliano Polanco just missed the target.

Shead should have pulled Gżira level three minutes from the break but with only goalkeeper Ivan Cassar to beat he hit wide.

Gżira continued to push forward and on 47 minutes Christian Cassar’s curling drive was tipped over by Ivan Casha.

But it was Birżebbuġa who added to their lead two minutes later when in a swift break Celeste slotted the ball home from close in.

Gżira pulled a goal back on 61 minutes when Shead concluded a well-worked move that involved Jamie Pace and Martin Kotyza.

The Maroons almost grabbed a dramatic equaliser when in stoppage time Steve Meilak was denied by Casha.

Instead it was Birżebbuġa who killed off the match with a third goal when Keith Muscat surged clear and rammed the ball past Tabone.

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, M. Hrubsa, D. Baldacchino, K. Borg, A. Shennowo, J.C. Da Silva, R. Zammit, M. Deanov (F. Peplow), C. Calleja, D. Grech (G. Caruana), R. Celeste (K. Muscat).

Gżira: F. Tabone, E. Polanco (J.J. Ogunnupe), R. Forace, B. Bondin, S. Pace (J. Pace), N. Tasic, R. Deguara (A. White), C. Cassar, S. Shead, S. Meilak, M. Kotyza.

Referee: Marco Borg.

Man of the match: J.C. Da Silva (Birżebbuġa).

  P W D L F A Pts
St Andrew’s 4 3 1 0 10 6 10
Melita 4 3 0 1 7 3 9
Pietá H. 4 2 2 0 7 3 8
Żebbuġ R. 4 2 1 1 9 9 7
Lija A. 4 2 0 2 9 6 6
Birżebbuġa SP 4 2 0 2 8 7 6
Żurrieq 4 1 1 2 6 5 4
Ġzira United 3 1 1 1 2 3 4
Żejtun C. 4 1 1 2 5 8 4
St George’s 3 1 1 1 3 4 4
Gudja United 3 1 0 2 3 7 3
Msida SJ 3 0 1 2 4 7 1
Ħamrun (-8) 4 0 1 3 4 9 -7

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