Msida St Joseph 1
Mqabba 1

Msida St Joseph and Mqabba shared the spoils in game that both sides wanted to win for different reasons.

Msida were looking to build on their victory over lowly Birżebbuġa as Mqabba had lost their last two encounters. So, a draw satisfied no team as Msida remained in the lower half of the table while Mqabba lost the pace with the leading sides.

Mqabba started on attack forcing two corners in quick succession but Msida forged ahead in their first venture in attack when Ricardinho Faria hit a volley with the ball hitting the upright on its way home.

Msida almost added a second when Dylan Attard was freed by Murakami but was foiled by goalkeeper Kris Calleja who produced a superb save.

Mqabba came out full of energy after the break.

On 52 minutes a Mauro Bonnici drive finished wide with Msida looking happy to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Substitute Luke Scorfna headed wide from in front of Msida keeper Matthew Camilleri but Mqabba’s pressure paid dividends 12 minutes from time when Scorfna scored with a rasping grounder from the edge of the area.

Mqabba tried very hard to score a second in the remaining minutes of the match but Msida held on for a point.

Msida St Joseph: M. Camilleri, S. Vella, D. Cachia (K. Borg), G. Murakami (L. Micallef), R. Faria, M. Borda, I. Chircop, D. Attard, Z. Vukovic, L. Cassar, S. Schembri.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Bonnici, O. Farrugia (P. Taiye), R. Da Silva Gomes, C. Micallef, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, D. Da Silva Silveira, J. Fenech (L. Scorfna), R. Schembri, A. Camilleri (J. Gerada).

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Man of the match: Luke Scorfna (Mqabba).