Gudja United 3
Gżira United 1

Gudja United claimed their third successive victory after coming from a goal down to inflict the first defeat on promotion hopefuls Gżira United 3-1.

The manner of their win yesterday served notice of Gudja’s potential to challenge for promotion as they stayed top of the standings with a maximum nine points.

Gudja went close after only three minutes when Peter Paul Sammut prodded wide in front of a gaping goal following a good move.

A minute later, Gżira’s Spanish striker Moises Avila Perez, served by Ryan Dalli, forced Gudja goalkeeper Marco Gori into a fine save.

It was then the turn of Anthony Curmi, the Gżira goalkeeper, to produce a good save from Angelo Catania’s attempt after a one-two with Sammut.

But it was the Maroons who went ahead after 17 minutes when Jamie Pace’s long pass saw Dalli nipping through before hitting a low drive that had the better of Gori.

Gudja struggled to make a reaction but, on the stroke of half-time, Catania was just wide after swapping passes with Adrian Carabott.

On 57 minutes, Gudja came close again when Sammut headed just wide from Udo Nwoko’s teasing cross.

The score became level six minutes later. Catania rose well to head home Clayton Giordimaina’s free-kick. Then, with 17 minutes left, Curmi made a superb save to stop Catania’s strike from just outside the area.

Gudja forged ahead 11 minutes from time when Carabott’s cross-shot deceived Curmi after the ball appeared to have taken a deflection off defender Josef Mifsud.

Carabott was denied by Curmi three minutes from the end but the Gżira custodian was beaten again when Sammut crossed for Carabott who stabbed home from close range.

Gudja: M. Gori (M. Xerxen), G. Sammut, C. Farrugia (C. Fenech), R. Buhagiar, C. Giordimaina, E. Micheletti Awoh, G. Chircop (M. Groves), A. Carabott, P.P. Sammut, U. Nwoko, A. Catania.

Gżira: A. Curmi, D. Micallef, S. Moreno Marin (A. Shennowo), D. Scerri, D. Vukovic, A. Ewurum, J.P. Scerri, M. Avila Perez, J. Pace (G. Aquilina), J. Mifsud, R. Dalli (G. Calabretta).

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Man of the match: Peter Paul Sammut (Gudja).

Summaries

Fgura United 2
Msida St Joseph 1

Fgura: R. Marmara, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J. Ruiz Perez, J. Bugeja, I. Curmi (A. Lagana), D. Attard, A. Farrugia, P. Chircop, A. Williams (M. Abdul Razak), R. Emeka.

Msida: K. Rizzo, R. Faria, M. Ferreira da Costa, D. Attard (L. Micallef), K. Borg, P. Chircop, R. Forace, L. Cassar (S. Schembri), S. Vella, Y. De Jesus Messias, G. Vella.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Scorers: De Jesus Messias (M) 8 pen.; William (F) 65; Chircop (F) 86.

Man of the match: Mendy Abdul Razak (Fgura).

St Andrew’s 2
Pembroke 1

St Andrew’s: S. Bartolo, D. Zampa, M. Johnson, M. Sehitas, E. Grech, J. Farrugia, M. Guillaumier (M. Desira Buttigieg), D. Camilleri, K. Nwoko (J. Walker), T. Grozev, E. Lattes.

Pembroke: A. Cassar, C. Mamo, R. Caruana (N. Grech), O. Sidibe, A. Azzopardi, S. Hili (S. Arab), A. Agius, G. Azzopardi, A. Laudisi, L. Omeruo (D. Toure), R. Bajada.

Referee: Eman Grech.

Scorers: Laudisi (P) 44; Johnson (SA) 72; Farrugia (SA) 86.

Man of the match: Joseph Farrugia (St Andrew’s).

Żurrieq 0
Mqabba 2

Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, K. Magro (M. Schembri), S. Giglio, S. Wellman, S. Azzopardi, R. Bakare, D. Darmanin, A. Agius (M. Cocks), O.L. Agboebina, J. Ogonuppe (D. Zammit).

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, O. Farrugia, R. Da Silva Gomes, M.A. Psaila (J. Fenech), C. Micallef, G.F. Suares, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, D. Da Silva Silveira (T.P. Oladotun), R. Schembri (D. Azzopardi).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Scorers: Da Silva Silveira 47; Suares 78.

Man of the match: Guilherme de Freitas Suares (Mqabba).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Gudja	3	3	0	0	12	2	9
Vittoriosa	3	2	0	1	6	2	6
St George’s	3	2	0	1	5	3	6
Mqabba	3	2	0	1	6	5	6
Msida	3	2	0	1	5	4	6
Melita	3	2	0	1	4	3	6
Fgura	3	1	2	0	3	2	5
Gżira	3	1	1	1	2	3	4
St Andrew’s	3	1	1	1	2	5	4
Lija	3	1	0	2	3	2	3
Żurrieq	3	1	0	2	1	5	3
Pembroke	3	0	1	2	3	5	1
Rabat	3	0	1	2	1	5	1
Birżebbuġa	3	0	0	3	1	8	0