Rabat Ajax 0
Gżira United 3

Gżira United maintained their grip on top spot in the standings following a comfortable victory over relegation-threatened Rabat yesterday.

The Maroons, who have already secured promotion, had a very slow start but in their first real attempt at goal they almost broke the deadlock.

Raphael Kooh Sohna’s shot was stopped by goalkeeper Andrew Zammit who was playing instead of regular Jamie Azzopardi.

Gżira went close again when Kooh Sohna had a fine shot missing the upright by a whisker.

But, midway through the half, the leaders found the way towards goal when Jamie Pace scored a great goal with a fierce drive from around 30 metres out.

An Ian Zammit header sailed past the far post but on 37 minutes, Gżira doubled their lead.

Rene Luis Zome fired home from an acute angle, his shot taking a deflection on its way home.

The Magpies were more in the game in the second half with Gżira keeper Anthony Curmi effecting two fine saves from efforts by Chris Vella and Aiden Azzopardi.

At the other end, Kooh Sohna hit badly from a good position but made amends soon after, hitting home his 23rd goal of the season with a precise lob that flew over Zammit and into the net.

Late on, Chris Vella was brought down inside the Gżira box but from the resultant penalty, Curmi denied Adam Smeir with a smart save.

Rabat: A. Zammit, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, S. Gauci, W. Borg, C. Vella (G. Bugeja), A. Smeir, D. Falzon (E. Scicluna), K. Muscat, D. Azzopardi, A. Azzopardi (S. Abela).

Gżira: A. Curmi, G. Muscat, R.L. Zome, L. Martinelli, R. Kooh Sohna, J. Pace (A. White), D. Scerri, J. Bondin, Y. Tonna (B. Farrugia), K. Pulo, I. Zammit (G. Aquilina).

Referee: Etienne Mangion.

Mqabba 1
Vittoriosa Stars 2

An Adrian Carabott brace proved enough for Vittoriosa Stars to prevail in their mid-table clash with Mqabba.

The pace was fast at first but Vittoriosa were surely the better team and had more possession.

The only efforts early on came from long-distance shots. Mqabba’s Rodney Caruana hit well over and, at the other end, a Milan Lukic drive also flew off target.

A Lukic free-kick was easily dealt with by Debono but just before half-time the Stars took the lead. The Mqabba defence was caught on the wrong foot and in nipped Carabott to blast home.

Vittoriosa extended their lead soon after the restart. Liam Gauci crossed towards Carabott who hit home with a low shot from close range.

Mqabba tried to hit back. Chimezie released Claudio Calleja whose first-time effort went wide.

Late on, Arilson Mello da Silva pulled one back for Mqabba with a shot from the edge of the box.

Mqabba: J. Debono, M. Bonnici, A. Abela, A. Mello da Silva, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, A. Farrugia (C. Farrugia), R. Caruana (B. Grech), P. Chimezie, G. Adamovic, I. Galea (C. Cutajar).

Vittoriosa: K. Magri, J. Galea (K. Ellul), J. Camilleri, A. Galea, P. Mrvic, D. Fava, M. Lukic, C. Spiteri, L. Gauci (T. Abela Wilson), A. Carabott, M. Milivojev (T. Nasiti).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

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