St George’s 1
St Andrew’s 0

A Gabrielle Okechukwu strike early in the second half was enough for St George’s to take all three points against promotion contenders St Andrew’s at the Centenary Stadium.

St Andrew’s could have gone top of the standings with a victory yesterday but they were beaten by a superior St George’s side who have now entered the race for a place in the top flight next season.

In fact Patrick Curmi’s side have now moved up to fifth in the standings on 20 points, three points behind leaders Pembroke Athleta and two adrift of Gudja United, Vittoriosa Stars and St Andrew’s.

St Andrew’s looked the brighter side early on and after five minutes a Joseph Farrugia free-kick was pushed away by Claude Carbonaro. Three minutes later Emiliano Lattes hit a firm drive that was again repelled by the St George’s goalkeeper.

Gradually St George’s came more into the picture and on 16 minutes Okechukwu’s effort was well saved by Jake Galea and then the St Andrew’s no.1 denied Daniel Zerafa on the half hour.

On resumption, St Andrew’s tried to step up a gear and on 51 minutes Lattes hit just over from a Farrugia cross.

But it was St George’s who struck on 53 minutes when Okechukwu latched onto a long ball and cooly slotted the ball past Galea.

Four minutes later, the Cottonera side were unlucky not to have doubled their lead when Mark Tanti’s free-kick rattled the crossbar.

St Andrew’s could have drawn level ten minutes from time when Farrugia fired wide from routine distance following a low cross by substitute Mark Scicluna as St George’s held on for a merited victory.

St George’s: C. Carbonaro, E. Sevasta, R. Vella, R. Tanti, N. Ojuola, D. Zerafa, E. Amaira (D. Camilleri), M. Tanti, L. Mallia (O. Giordano), I. Francis (W. Ifeanyi), G. Okechukwu.

St Andrew’s: J. Galea, E. Grech (M. Scicluna), D. Zampa, L. Grech, M. Johnson, D. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, E. Lattes, T. Grozev, K. Nwoko (M. Desira Buttigieg), L. Busutill (N. Vella Petroni).

Referee: Andre Arciola.

Man of the match: Mark Tanti (St George’s).

Summaries

Gżira United 2
Birżebbuġa 1

Gżira United: F. Tabone, D. Scerri, S. Moreno Marin, D. Vukovic, S. Meilak, M. Avila Perez, G. Aquilina, J. Mifsud, E. Ndjodo, R. Dalli (P. Dandolo), Y. Tonna (D. Agius).

Birżebbuġa St Peter’s: A. Boa-tto, G. Camilleri, J. Briffa (V. Camilleri), J. Ani, D. Grech (G. Magri), L. Micallef, K. Muscat (N. Clerico), E.L. Bonati, G. Caruana, L. Camilleri, S. Eboh.

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.

Scorers: Meilaq (G) 41; Avila Perez (G) 55; Clerico (B) 85.

Man of the match: Moises Avila Perez (Gżira United).

Rabat Ajax 2
Lija Athletic 0

Rabat Ajax: J. Azzopardi, S. Gauci, W. Borg (S. Abela), J. Caruana, N. Caruana, A. Smeir (D. Galea), D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, E. Scicluna, D. Azzopardi, A. Azzopardi (C. Vella).

Lija Athletic: J. Spiteri, P. Borg, M. Clinch, N. Spiteri, L. Casha, D. Zarb, P. Babic, R. Taliana (D. Mintoff), A. Caruana, B. Antignolo, A. Ige.

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Scorers: D. Azzopardi 76 pen; Chiedozie 82.

Man of the match: David Azzo-pardi (Rabat Ajax).

Melita 0
Fgura United 0

Melita: P. Schranz, R. Alinho, G. Gribbon, N. Micallef, L. Bianco, F. Mennini Righini, M. Fenech, E. Carnago (A. Borg Olivier), J.P. Attard, A. Attard (K. Coleiro), K. Micallef (M. Valenzia).

Fgura United: R. Marmara, Q. Bregman, R. Previ, J.M. Ruiz Perez, J. Bugeja, I. Curmi, D. Attard (A. Galea), A. Farrugia, P. Chircop, J. Dalli, R. Emeka.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Red card: Fenech (M) 75.

Man of the match: Josef Dalli (Fgura).

Standings

  P W D L F A Pts
Pembroke 12 7 2 3 24 12 23
Gudja Utd 12 6 4 2 25 12 22
Vittoriosa 12 6 4 2 22 13 22
St Andrew’s 12 7 1 4 24 19 22
St George’s 12 6 2 4 21 17 20
Melita 12 6 2 4 15 14 20
Gżira Utd 12 6 1 5 18 17 19
Lija Athletic 12 6 0 6 20 19 18
Rabat Ajax 12 5 2 5 13 16 17
Fgura Utd 12 3 7 2 12 12 16
Mqabba 12 4 2 6 20 20 14
Żurrieq 12 3 1 8 12 23 10
Msida SJ 12 3 1 8 9 24 10
Birżebbuġa 12 0 3 9 14 31 3

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