Gudja United 0
Mqabba 0

After suffering a heavy 6-0 defeat to Sirens in the FA Trophy in midweek, Gudja continued to misfire as yesterday they were held by lowly Mqabba in a league match at the Centenary Stadium.

This was one of the most boring matches this season but the point still saw Gudja joining St Andrew’s at the top of the standings.

With the wind howling behind their backs, Mqabba produced the better play in the first half.

They were unlucky early on when an Alessio Cassar strike from the edge of the area hit the post.

With Claudio Calleja a constant menace, Gudja endured a couple of anxious moments inside their box. On 26 minutes Mqabba went close again when Calleja nearly deceived goalkeeper Yenz Cini from the corner flag.

The second half was a different story as it was Gudja who saw more of the ball. On 50 minutes, Udo Nwoko latched on to a George Chircop delivery but his effort was stopped by Sean Cini.

Two minutes later Chircop hit his shot hard but the Mqabba keeper did well to keep the effort out following a deflection.

Late on, Joselito Reis Santos was put through by Nwoko but his shot from outside the area was again stopped by Sean Cini.

Gudja: Y. Cini, G. Sammut (W. Moodley), I. Galea, E. Michelette Awoh, C. Giordimaina, M. Brincat, G. Chircop, A. Carabott, R. Buhagiar, A. Catania (U. Nwoko), J. Dos Reis Santos.

Mqabba: S. Cini, M. Bonnici, R. Gomes, M.A. Psaila, B. Mamic, G. de Freitas, C. Calleja (R. Schembri), K. Cutajar, R. Caruana, D. Bonnici, A. Cassar.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

Man of the match: Bojan Mamic (Mqabba).

Fgura United 1
Pembroke Athleta 0

An error by the Pembroke goalkeeper two minutes from time gave mid-table side Fgura a dramatic victory which meant that Jacques Scerri’s side had failed to join Gudja and St Andrew’s at the top of the standings.

This match seemed destined to finish goalless but if there was a team that merited victory it surely was Fgura who pushed more men forward in the second half, a ploy that worked wonders for coach Ramon Zammit.

Fgura produced the first scoring opportunity when Josef Dalli brought the best out of Matthew Calleja Cremona with an attempt at goal.

Pembroke soon clicked into gear and on 22 minutes Ayrton Azzopardi had a free-kick which was turned away for a corner by Ryan Marmara.

At the other end, Calleja Cremona rushed out of his goal to block John Emeka and from the loose ball Philip Chircop’s lob finished just over the bar.

Just before the break, Lucky Omeruo saw his powerful drive stopped by Marmara and Ariel Laudisi hitting badly from the follow-on.

The game did not change too much tactically after the break as Fgura went close again through Emeka who shot at goal but Calleja Cremona saved.

An Azzopardi free-kick was stopped in style by Marmara.

A scoreless draw was on the cards but on 88 minutes Andre Farrugia’s shot tricked Calleja Cremona who could only look behind him as the ball rolled agonisingly inside the net.

Fgura: R. Marmara, R. Previ, J. Ruiz Perez, A. Galea, J. Bugeja, I. Curmi, J. Farrugia, A. Farrugia, P. Chircop, J. Dalli, R. Emeka.

Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, O. Sidibe, G. Azzopardi, A. Azzo-pardi, D. Sammut (S. Chircop), A. Laudisi (B. Abubakar), G. Spiteri, L. Omeruo, S. Arab, L. Micallef (A. Agius), R. Bajada.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Iro Curmi (Fgura United).