Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Senglea Athletic 1
A stunning goal from Diego Pereira Fernando seven minutes from time gave an important win to Żebbuġ Rangers over promotion hopefuls Senglea Athletic yesterday.
The initial stages were quiet.
Senglea looked the more determined side with Żebbuġ playing a waiting game as they relied on counter-attacks.
The first real threat came on 20 minutes when Senglea midfielder Christian Cassar was denied by the Żebbuġ goalkeeper Justin Spiteri.
On 26 minutes, from a Dylan Sammut corner, Senglea forward Abubakar Bello-Osagie nodded the ball to Keith Tanti whose bicycle kick finished high and wide.
At last, on 34 minutes, Rangers created their first chance. From a corner action, it was Angelo Catania who, from underneath the crossbar, saw his header sail just over the bar.
Two minutes later, Senglea tried their luck from another free-kick, this time taken by Sammut, but Spiteri was well positioned to save.
On 38 minutes, a good Rangers move saw Thomas Paris dart into the box but his low shot was saved by Jeffrey Farrugia.
A minute later, Kurt Zammit’s drive just missed the target.
Senglea started the second half on the attack. They forged ahead on 58 minutes when Pablo Doffo found Miguel Ciantar who crossed into the area and Bello-Osagie flashed in to hit a firm drive for his first goal since joining Senglea.
The Rangers made it-1-1 eight minutes later thanks to Paris whose sizzling shot from some 30 metres out beat Farrugia hands down.
Senglea came close to regaining the lead on 70 minutes but Terrence Scerri’s header was cleared off the line by Matthew Gauci.
The Cottonera side continued to play the better football and an effort from James Audgustine Obaje ended just wide.
On 83 minutes Żebbuġ scored the winner. Pereira Fernando produced a delightful half-volley from the edge of the area with the ball finishing in the top corner.
Żebbuġ: J. Spiteri, R. Bakare, G. Mckay, K. Zammit (C. Pace), A. Catania, S. Hili (D. Tabone), T. Paris, M. Gauci, K. Vella (K. Sacco), L. Galea, D. Pereira Fernando.
Senglea: J. Farrugia, K. Tanti, K. Conti, R. Vella (J. Farrugia), D. Pisani, P. Doffo, C. Cassar, D. Sammut (T. Scerri), A. Bello-Osagie, J.A.Obaje, M. Ciantar.
Referee: Esther Azzopardi.
Man of the match: Diego Pereira Fernando (Żebbuġ).
Summaries
Ħamrun Spartans 4
Gudja United 2
Ħamrun: D. Cassar, L. Grech (G. Azzopardi), P. Chircop, M.A. Borg, M. Hrubsa (M. Muchardi), J. Grech, O. Anonam (M. Busuttil), A. Tabone, S. Nanapere, R. Refalo, H. Garba.
Gudja: D. Balzan, C. Portelli (D. Pirotta), I. Cachia (J. Waseem), G. Chircop, J. Maulugue (D. Aluf), T. Nappa Licari, B. Bondin, C. Grech, X. Kapaj, J. Clifford, A. Agius.
Referee: Emmanuel Grech.
Scorers: Clifford (G) 15; Agius (G) 25; Garba (ĦS) 55; Tabone (ĦS) 63 pen; Nanapere (ĦS) 71, 85.
Man of the match: Saturday Nanapere (Ħamrun Spartans).
Melita 1
Rabat Ajax 0
Melita: J.C. Debattista, L. Busuttil (L. Zammit), B. Jaccarini (N. Bonello), I. Tufegdzic, E. Cornago, L. Bianco, M. Fenech, N. Micallef, J.P. Attard, A. Borg Olivier, F. Guihard (F.M. Righini).
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, S. Gauci (W. Borg), B. Micallef, C. Vella, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie, F. Azzopardi (A. Azzopardi), D. Azzopardi (L. Cauchi).
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Scorer: Guihard 50.
Man of the match: Francois Guihard (Melita).
Mqabba 1
St George’s 1
St George’s: C. Carbonaro, K. Abela, B. Daluta, R. Buhagiar, M. Thorne (M. Mentosa), E. Amaira, I. Uwadia, N. Falzon, C. Farrugia (K.Tabone), T. Thomas, J. Ogonuppe.
Mqabba: J. Debono, D. Aquilina, C. Farrugia, J. Borg, J. Obagbemiro, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, K. Farrugia, G. Ademovic, B. Grech (O. Farrugia), V. Pereira Costa (R. Caruana).
Referee: Sandro Spiteri.
Scorers: Thomas (SG) 47; Calleja (M) 60.
Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba)
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Gżira United | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 12 |
| Żebbuġ | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Senglea | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 7 |
| Rabat Ajax | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Ħamrun | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Lija | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Melita | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
| Fgura United | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| St George’s | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Vittoriosa | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| Pietà | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Gudja United | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 3 |
| San Ġwann | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 |
| Mqabba | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 |