Pembroke 5
St George’s 2

Pembroke Athleta were crowned First Division champions when they won their last game of the season against a St George’s side who were still within reach of making it to the play-offs if Melita had lost against St Andrew’s.

The first half was a thrilling affair with the league leaders going into the interval 3-2 ahead.

But on the restart Pembroke added two more goals to put the game beyond their opponents’ reach.

Pembroke could not have had a better start as after only four minutes they forged ahead. An Azzopardi free-kick was nodded down by Abubaker Bello-Osagie into the path of Ariel Laudisi who beat Carbonaro from close range.

Pembroke were dominant in the first 15 minutes with the Saints having their first go on 19 minutes when Spiteri’s back pass was intercepted by Chikwado but his lob finished high and wide.

St George’s drew level two minutes later when from a Muscat cross Anthony Bonello headed home.

But the Saints’ joy was shortlived as four minutes later Pembroke regained their lead. Lyden Micallef hit a perfect lob that had the better of a helpless Carbonaro.

St George’s soon hit back with Balzan somehow keeping out Ojuola’s close-range header.

But St George’s managed to draw level again on 26 minutes when Liam Mallia picked Ojuola who fired home with a low shot.

Pembroke again forged ahead a minute before the break when Bello-Osagie tapped the ball into the net following a Laudisi free-kick.

The rhythm slowed down in the second half and with 15 minutes to go Laudisi scored a beauty with a shot from the edge of the area.

Seven minutes from time the Saints were reduced to ten men when Daniel Zerafa was dismissed for a second booking.

Five minutes before the end substitute Lucky Omerou scored a fifth with his first touch of the ball when he headed past Carbonaro.

At the end of the match MFA vice-president Ludovigo Micallef presented the trophy to Pembroke captain Roderick Bajada.

Pembroke: D. Balzan, O. Sidibe, G. Azzopardi, S. Arab (A. Azzopardi), A. Agius, D. Sammut (S. Magro), A. Laudisi, G. Spiteri, L. Micallef, A. Bello-Osagie (L. Omeruo), R. Bajada.

St George’s: C. Carbonaro, A. Bonello (R. Vella), Liam Mallia, B. Muscat, N. Ojoula, E. Amaira, D. Zerafa, M. Borg (M. Mendoza), R. Tanti, B. Chikwado, Larson Mallia.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.

Man of the match: Ariel Laudisi (Pembroke).

Melita 2
St Andrew’s 2

A Marigen Sehitaj goal deep into stoppage time dented ten-man Melita’s hopes of sealing third place in the standings as the Amateurs were held to a 2-2 draw by St Andrew’s at the Centenary Stadium.

Melita will surely feel hard-done by the final outcome and now will have to await the outcome of today’s match between Gżira United, who are just three points adrift, and Mqabba.

A win for the Maroons would see them force a decider with Melita to elect the team who will contest a promotion play-off with the third bottom side in the Premier League.

Melita did all the early running and twice came close with efforts from the distance by Julian Galea and Nigel Rizzo.

St Andrew’s responded on 16 minutes when a Michael Johnson header was saved by Philip Schranz.

A minute into injury time Matteo Desira Buttigieg was released by Nicholas Bradshaw but the Saints striker drove the ball wide.

Melita started the second half brightly and Antoine Attard put them ahead with a shot from the edge of the area.

The Saints came close on 69 minutes when Joseph Farrugia released Trayo Grozev whose shot was pushed away by Schranz.

St Andrew’s equalised on 77 minutes when Ivan Tufegdzic brought down Desira Buttigieg inside the area with referee Glenn Tonna ordering a penalty and sending off the Melita defender. Grozev converted from the spot.

Despite being a man down Melita regained their lead on 83 minutes when Kane Micallef slotted past Grima.

But the Saints saved a point on 94 minutes when Sehitaj headed home from a Farrugia free-kick.

Melita: P. Schranz: N. Micallef, I. Tufegdzic, E. Cornago, L. Bianco, F. Mennini Righini, J.P. Attard, N. Rizzo (A. Attard), J. Galea, A. Borg Olivier, K. Coleiro (K. Micallef).

St. Andrew's: N. Grima, N. Vella Petroni, M. Sehitaj, B. Said, M. Johnson, M. Guillamier, J. Farrugia, N. Bradshaw (K. Nwoko), T. Grozev, M. Desira Buttigieg, E. Lattes.

Referee: Glenn Tonna.

Man of the match: Julian Galea (Melita).

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