Gżira United 1
St George’s 2

Gżira United’s promotion aspirations suffered a blow yesterday after they lost to an energetic St George’s side who occupy a mid-table position.

The Maroons’ hopes were compromised early in the second half when, with the score still goalless, winger Steve Meilak was sent off after handing the ball on the line to concede a penalty from which St George’s took the lead.

The first half was a dull affair.

Gżira enjoyed more possession but never troubled Thomas Galea in the Saints goal.

Despite some neat passing, especially from Meilak, Gżira’s punch up front was non-existent.

It was St George’s who had a couple of shots at goal, first on 11 minutes through Bruno Nbuno Chikwado who, four minutes later, also fired high from virtually the same position.

Gżira were playing the more constructive football and, on the half-hour, Jerry Ani had the ball in the net after connecting with Meilak’s fine cross but the Nigeria-born forward was offside.

A minute before the break, another Chikwado effort for Patrick Curmi’s side just missed the target while, a minute into stoppage time, a David Camilleri free-kick was easily saved by Anthony Curmi, the Gżira United goalkeeper.

The defining moment came five minutes into the second half.

St George’s won a penalty when Emerson Amaira’s header, from a Camilleri cross, was stopped by Meilak.

Referee Andrè Arciola dismissed Meilak and Larson Mallia hit home from the 11 metres.

Three minutes later, Gżira’s Gabriel Aquilina made a surging run into the box but his effort from an acute angle was saved by Galea.

On the hour, the Saints made it 2-0 when Amaira headed home Rennie Tanti’s cross.

Three minutes later, Eduardo Ndjodo’s strike from outside the area was partially saved by Galea.

From the rebound, Ani’s first effort was again saved by Galea but the Gżira striker made no mistake after the loose ball landed at his feet.

Gżira United tried to intensify the pressure in the final stages but their efforts were controlled by St George’s.

To make matters worse, Gżira ended the game with nine men after experienced defender Josef Mifsud was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying minutes.

Gżira: A. Curmi, J. Ani, N. Milovanovic, D. Scerri, S. Meilak, M. Avila Perez, I. Meli (R. Dalli), J. Pace (P. Dandolo) G. Aquilina, J. Mifsud, E. Ndjodo (M Caribotti).

St George’s: T. Galea, E. Amaira, D. Camilleri, Larson Mallia (R. Vella), B.N. Chikwado, D. Nzembani Biaka (M. Ditutala), M. Borg, B. Muscat, N. Ojuola, R. Tanti, A. Bonello (Liam Mallia).

Referee: Andrè Arciola.

Man of the match: David Camilleri (St George’s).

Summaries

Gudja United 0
Vittoriosa Stars 2

Gudja: Y. Cini, N. Ghio (G. Sammut), R. Cauchi (M. Brincat), C. Farrugia, C. Giordemaina, E. Micheletti Awoh, A. Carabott, U. Nwoko, P. Sammut, A. Catania, J. Dos Reis Santos (P. Oladotun).

Vittoriosa: K. Magri, L. Ndiaye (S. Bertagna) , C. Spiteri, K. Scicluna, M. Barbara, F. Canavan (E.G. Henrique), G. Martin (G. Sultana), M. Camilleri, S. Grech, C. Campagnoli, C. Sammut.

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Scorers: Canavan 3 pen.; Ndiaye 55.

Man of the match: Michael Camilleri (Vittoriosa).

Melita 1
Mqabba 0

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

Mqabba: S. Cini, R. Da Silva Gomes, M.A. Psaila, C. Micallef (Andre Cassar), S. Tape, G. De Freitas, C. Calleja (O. Farrugia), K. Cutajar, R. Caruana (R. Schembri), D. Bonnici, Alessio Cassar.

Referee: Emmanuel Grech.

Scorer: Eby 12.

Man of the match: Guilherme de Freitas (Mqabba).

Rabat Ajax 1
Żurrieq 5

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, W. Borg, J. Caruana (J. Muscat), B. Micallef, L. Chiedozie, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, E. Scicluna (Z. Tanti), S. Gauci (A. Azzopardi), D. Azzopardi.

Żurrieq: J. Alden, K. Sacco, M. Attard (D. Zammit), R. Bakare, K. Magro, D. Darmanin (K. Saliba), A. Agius, M. Schembri, O. Agboebina, J. Okonkwo (J. Ogonnupe), G. Ghigo.

Referee: Philip Farrugia.

Scorers: Agboebina (Ż) 40, 60, 9)+; Darmanin (Ż) 69; Agius (Ż) 90; Azzopardi (R) 90+.

Man of the match: Raimi Bakare (Żurrieq).

Standings

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
St Andrew’s	18	11	3	4	35	24	36
Pembroke	18	10	3	5	35	17	33
Gżira Utd	18	10	2	6	31	21	32
Melita	18	10	2	6	24	18	32
Fgura Utd	18	8	8	2	24	18	32
Gudja Utd	18	8	6	4	32	19	30
St George’s	18	8	4	6	31	26	28
Vittoriosa	18	7	5	6	29	29	26
Lija Athletic	18	8	1	9	28	31	25
Mqabba	18	6	4	8	26	29	22
Rabat Ajax	18	6	3	9	20	28	21
Żurrieq	18	4	2	12	20	34	14
Msida SJ	18	4	2	12	17	36	14
Birżebbuġa	18	2	3	13	19	41	9