Vittoriosa Stars 2
St George’s 2
A late penalty, converted by St George’s player Larson Mallia two minutes from the end, capped an action-packed Cottonera derby as the Saints hit back from two goals down to hold their rivals Vittoriosa Stars to a 2-2 draw.
It was St George’s who produced the first real threat after five minutes. Anthony Bonello set up David Camilleri whose drive was saved by Karl Magri, the Vittoriosa goalkeeper.
Vittoriosa responded four minutes later when Anthony Eviparker’s cross-shot finished inches wide with Thomas Galea beaten.
The Stars nosed ahead in the 12th minute when Michael Camilleri skipped past two opponents before crashing his shot into the net from 25 metres out.
The Saints tried to react.
On 27 minutes, Daniel Zerafa’s effort from outside the box was stopped by Magri.
At the other end, Luke Vella Critien tried his luck after receiving from Eviparker with the ball sailing over the crossbar. Six minutes before the break, Vittoriosa made it 2-0 when Francesco Arriagada Mella hit home with a low drive from an acute angle.
St George’s came out for the second half looking more determined.
Emerson Amaira’s effort on 49 minutes ended just wide. Moments later a low shot by Brandon Muscat missed the target but the tide was turning in St George’s favour.
They pulled one back on 63 minutes when substitute Francis Ita picked up the ball outside the box and drove past Magri.
Six minutes later, Vittoriosa could have easily restored their two-goal lead when, in a swift counter-attack, Eviparker burst through the Saints rearguard and found Camilleri. The latter crossed towards the Nigerian who fired the ball high and wide from a good position.
Vittoriosa looked set to win the encounter but two minutes from time, St George’s equalised. Gabriel Okechukwu was floored in the box by Malcolm Buttigieg and from the spot, Mallia did not miss.
Vittoriosa: K. Magri, M. Camilleri (R. Mifsud), K. Scicluna, M. Barbara, L. Vella Critien, F. Arriagada Mella (V. Di Maggio), A. Eviparker, M. Buttigieg, S. Grech (C. Sammut), C. Compagnoli, C. Spiteri.
St George’s: T. Galea (C. Carbonaro), M. Tanti (Liam Mallia), E. Amaira, D. Camilleri, Larson Mallia, N. Ojuola, R. Tanti, A. Bonello, D. Zerafa (F. Ita), G. Okechukwu, B. Muscat.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Man of the match: Larson Mallia (St George’s).
Summaries
Melita 1
Żurrieq 0
Melita: P. Schranz, N. Micallef, L. Bianco, E. Cornago (L. Mifsud), R. Alinho, M. Valenzia, F. Mennini Righini, J. Galea, L. Sammut (N. Rizzo), J.P. Attard (K. Micallef), G. Gribbon.
Żurrieq: C. Caruana, M. Attard, K. Sacco, S. Giglio, S. Wellman, T. D’Amato, D. Darmanin (G. Ghigo), M. Mifsud, A. Agius (S. Azzopardi), O.L. Agboebina, J. Ogonuppe.
Referee: Mario Apap.
Scorer: Galea 10.
Man of the match: Julian Galea (Melita).
Pembroke Athleta 1
Gżira United 0
Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, C. Mamo, O. Sidibe, A. Azzopardi (R. Caruana), A. Agius, D. Sammut, A. Laudisi, G. Spiteri, S. Arab (S. Hili), L. Micallef (T.A. Mosunniola), R. Bajada.
Gżira: F. Tabone, D. Scerri, G. Calabretta (P. Dandolo) D. Vukovic, S. Meilak, M. Avila Perez, J. Pace, G. Aquilina, R. Dalli, Y. Tonna, M. Caribotti (A. Ewurum).
Referee: Emanuel Grech.
Scorer: Azzopardi 43.
Man of the match: Ariel Laudisi (Pembroke).
St Andrew’s 3
Rabat Ajax 1
St Andrew’s: J. Galea, M. Johnson, D. Zampa (E. Grech), B. Said, J. Farrugia, N. Bradshaw (N. Vella Petroni), M. Guillaumier, E. Lattes, T. Grozev, M. Desira Buttigieg (K. Nwoko), L. Busuttil.
Rabat: J Azzopardi, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, W. Borg, D. Falzon (J. Parry), L. Chiedozie, A. Smeir, K. Muscat (B. Micallef), E. Scicluna, D. Azzopardi, A. Azzopardi (D. Galea).
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Scorers: Desira Buttigieg (SA) 30; Lattes (SA) 69; Azzopardi (R) 80; Grozev (SA) 86.
Red card: Chiedozie (R) 53.
Man of the match: Trayo Grozev (St Andrew’s).
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| St Andrew’s | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 16 | 19 |
| Melita | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 13 | 8 | 18 |
| Pembroke | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 9 | 17 |
| Gudja Utd | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 15 |
| Vittoriosa | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 9 | 15 |
| Lija Athletic | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 17 | 12 | 15 |
| Mqabba | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 15 | 13 |
| Fgura Utd | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| St George’s | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 10 |
| Gżira Utd | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 16 | 10 |
| Msida SJ | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 10 |
| Żurrieq | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 9 |
| Rabat Ajax | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 8 |
| Birżebbuġa | 9 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 10 | 26 | 1 |