Vittoriosa Stars 2
Melita 0

Michael Camilleri struck a second-half brace as Vittoriosa Stars had the better of Melita to join them at the top of the standings along with Gudja United and Pembroke who face each other this afternoon.

The Cottonera side, who last week appointed Italian Fausto Silipo as their new coach, returned to winning ways after two consecutive draws.

Melita slipped to their second consecutive defeat after losing to St George’s last week.

The first 45 minutes were balanced.

Melita were the better side but Vittoriosa began to threaten as the first half progressed.

In the 14th minute, Vittoriosa Stars were all over the place in defence. Julian Galea picked up a loose ball and, after sprinting forward, drove just wide from inside the area.

Eight minutes later, Melita’s Jean Pierre Attard was off target from Galea’s cross.

Vittoriosa responded on 25 minutes when Camilleri robbed Antoine Attard of the ball and found Carl Sammut whose drive was blocked by Philip Schranz.

Now it was all Vittoriosa with Anthony Eviparker just missing the target from the edge of the area.

Melita replied a minute later when Jean Pierre Attard’s header, from Federico Mennini Righini’s cross, was saved by James Mercieca who was deputising for Karl Magri.

Two minutes from half-time, Gauci brought the best out of Schranz from inside the area and, at the other end, Antoine Attard hit wide after Mercieca failed to hold Kane Micallef’s effort.

Vittoriosa opened the scoring on 55 minutes. Mark Barbara’s fierce drive from around 30 metres out was somehow kept out by Schranz but the ball dropped near the goal-line with Camilleri applying the final touch.

Melita twice went close to an equaliser but Galea’s cross found no takers and, two minutes later, Antoine Attard’s cross-shot just missed the target.

With 13 minutes remaining, Camilleri sealed the issue for Vittoriosa when he met Sammut’s cross at the far post.

Vittoriosa: J. Mercieca, M. Camilleri (O. Rababah), K. Scicluna, M. Barbara, C. Sammut (R. Mifsud), L. Vella Critien, L. Gauci (R. Degiorgio), M. Buttigieg, A. Eviparker, S. Grech, J. Camilleri.

Melita: P. Schranz, N. Micallef, G. Gribbon, R. Alhinho, E. Cornago (K. Coleiro), A. Attard, M. Valencia, J.P. Attard (A. Njie), F. Mennini Righini, K. Micallef (A. Borg Olivier), J. Galea.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Man of the match: Michael Camilleri (Vittoriosa Stars).

Birżebbuġa St Peter’s 0
Mqabba 0

Birżebbuġa St Peter’s and Mqabba shared the spoils in a goalless stalemate that satisfied neither side.

Italian Pino Murgia made his debut as Birżebbuġa coach.

After 14 minutes, a free-kick by Douglas Da Silva Silveira was magnificently saved by Birżebbuġa goalkeeper Andrea Boatto.

Six minutes later, Mauro Bonnici’s header, from a corner action, finished just over.

Mqabba continued to dictate matters. Karl Cutajar’s header, from Da Silva Silveira’s cross, hit the crossbar, with the ball coming off Boatto before going wide.

From the resultant corner, Rafael Gomes’s header just missed the target.

Birżebbuġa then threated to score following two quick counter-attacks.

In the 31st minute, Jerry Ani concluded wide after a good run and a minute before the break, Keith Muscat served Bonati who lifted the ball over from close in.

The game was a dull affair in the second half with practically no shots at goal until the final stages.

Mqabba’s Claudio Calleja dribbled past two players but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

At the other end, Gary Caruana’s free-kick was headed by Glenn Magri but Mqabba goalkeeper Brandon Debono saved well.

Birżebbuġa: A. Boatto, J. Ani, J. Briffa, R. Micallef, N. Clerico (G. Magri), L. Micallef, K. Muscat (G. Camilleri), E. Bonati, G. Caruana, L. Camilleri, S. Eboh.

Mqabba: B. Debono, A. Cassar, M. Bonnici, R. Da Silva Gomes, C. Micallef, G. Suares, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, D. Da Silva Silveira, J. Fenech (A. Camilleri), R. Schembri (L. Scorfna).

Referee: Eman Grech.

Man of the match: Douglas Da Silva Silveira (Mqabba).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Gudja Utd	10	5	4	1	23	10	19
Vittoriosa	11	5	4	2	20	12	19
St Andrew’s	10	6	1	3	23	18	19
Melita	11	6	1	4	15	14	19
Lija Athletic	10	6	0	4	20	14	18
Pembroke	10	5	2	3	20	12	17
St George’s	10	5	1	4	19	16	16
Mqabba	11	4	2	5	19	18	14
Fgura Utd	10	3	5	2	11	11	14
Rabat Ajax	11	4	2	5	11	16	14
Gżira Utd	10	4	1	5	13	16	13
Żurrieq	10	3	1	6	12	19	10
Msida SJ	11	3	1	7	8	22	10
Birżebbuġa	11	0	3	8	13	29	3