San Ġwann 2
Pieta Hotspurs 1
San Ġwann beat Pieta Hotspurs with their winner coming very late in the match following a John Emeka own goal at the Centenary Stadium.
However, the three points won by Saints were not enough to save them from the drop as at the Tedesco Stadium Melita got the point they needed against Vittoriosa Stars to retain their status for another year.
San Ġwann join Gudja and St George’s in Division Two next season.
Pieta, also aided by the strong winds behind their backs, started to dictate matters. And after winning several corners they forged ahead on 14 minutes when after a flowing move Emeka freed Christian Grech who beat the keeper from an angle.
Patrick Curmi’s Hotspurs could have made it 2-0 soon after but Neil Pace Cocks’s shot hit the foot of a post.
But the Saints did come out of their shell and equalised on 21 minutes. Stefano Grima’s side won a free-kick 25 metres out and Nikolai Muscat curled his effort past keeper Levi Saliba.
Pieta hit back and Pace Cocks was unlucky when his delivery from a free-kick came off the woodwork.
San Ġwann came out attacking their opponents as the second half got underway.
Nezar Abouhaisa’s shot was stopped by Saliba and Bruno Bati Abehanga saw his effort finishing just over the crossbar.
San Ġwann’s insisted in attack and their efforts were rewarded in stoppage time when Jan Tanti’s shot took a deflection off Emeka and into the net. However, that goal proved futile as news from Ħamrun emerged that Melita had managed to avoid defeat against Vittoriosa to finish the season one point ahead of the Saints.
San Ġwann: D. Sciberras, Z. Bowman, J. Azzopardi, M. Attard, J. Briffa, A. Cachia, R. Zammit, N. Muscat, B.B. Abehanga, N. Abou-haisa (J. Bowman), J. Tanti.
Pieta: L. Saliba, K. Micallef, C. Degabriele, N. Pace Cocks, D. Agius (J. Busuttil), J. Emeka, N. Pisani (C. Gauci), J. Gorskie, C. Grech, G. Micallef (W. Rizgalla), A. Mizzi.
Referee: Emmanuel Grech.
Vittoriosa Stars 1
Melita 1
Melita were made to fight hard to avoid getting relegated in this last match of the league season.
Vittoriosa took the lead on 17 minutes when a Gianluca Sultana centre bounced off Melita’s Alan Borg Olivier and into the net for an own goal.
The Amateurs were stunned but Julian Galea had two good chances to draw the teams level again only to hit badly from good positions.
Borg Olivier tried to make amends but his dipping shot from the edge of the box was stopped by the alert Magri.
Melita introduced Francois Guihard after the break to bolster their attack but they almost conceded a second when an Adrian Carabott effort hit the upright.
Then, Melita keeper Sapiano was on the right spot to keep out a Sultana shot that looked destined the reach the net.
The Amateurs seized the initiative and a header by Tufegdzic hit the bar before Borg Olivier scored the goal that pushed Melita one point ahead of third-bottom San Ġwann in the final standings following a cross from substitute Antoine Attard.
Vittoriosa: K. Magri, J. Camilleri, D. Fava, A. Galea, J.C. Galea, L. Gauci, T. Nasiti (I. Saludeen), R. Previ, C. Spiteri (T.A. Wilson), G. Sultana (J. Fenech), A. Carabott.
Melita: M. Sapiano, A. Borg Olivier (M. Cachia), N. Micallef, L. Bianco, M. Fenech, G. Schranz, E. Cornago, J.P. Attard (A. Attard), I. Tufegdzic, D. Cachia (F. Guihard), J. Galea.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.