Żebbuġ Rangers 2
Naxxar Lions 4
Naxxar Lions came roaring back from behind to do the double over Żebbuġ and shoot to the top of the standings, yesterday.
Rangers ventured forward in attack first and Lions keeper Omar Borg had to be alert to keep out a Demba Toure header. But Vince Carbonaro’s men soon opened the score thanks to Yuri Messias who fired home from close in.
Messias saw his effort hitting the bar but midway through the half the scores became even following a goal by Trebovac.
The match was open and Żebbuġ scored again before half-time after Toure ran past Adamec and hit low past Borg.
Naxxar started the second half in attack and got back on level terms through Jurgen Debono who blasted home from the distance.
Another Debono shot almost deceived keeper Julian Azzopardi but on 65 minutes the unmarked Lorenzo Andriuoli slotted in from a corner to put the Lions 3-2 up.
Winston Muscat’s tried hard to save the match but in stoppage time Clive Psaila floored Joel Ellul in the box to give away a penalty and get sent off. Messias kept his cool to net his 18th goal of the season.
Żebbuġ: J. Azzopardi, D. Tabone, J.P. Formosa (R. Bajada), A. Micallef, C. Gauci, T. Trebovac, R. Da Silva Gomes, C. Psaila, S. Schembri, D. Toure (M.O. Rodiguez Britto), M. Borda.
Naxxar: O. Borg, A. Buhagiar, L.J. Agius (M. Fenech), D. Bonnici, R. Cassar, N. Spiteri (J. Ellul), R. Grech, L. Andriuoli (John Debono), Jurgen Debono, L. Ademec, Y. Messias.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele.
Best player: Jurgen Debono (Naxxar Lions).
Mqabba 3
Għargħur 0
Mqabba stayed in the hunt for the promotion play-off as they cruised past bottom side Għargħur.
Għargħur threatened first when Gordon Saliba drove his shot inches wide following some good work by Eduardo De Lima Nicolau.
But Mqabba soon took the lead through Arilson Mello Da Silva from an acute angle, his shot reaching the net after a neat Gesualdi pass.
Mqabba continued to put pressure on their opponents and midway through the first half Chimezie wasted a good opportunity when shooting wide from in front of goal.
But before the break Clive Mizzi’s side made it 2-0 when Michael Borg hit home following some good work by Chimezie.
The pattern of the game did not change much after the break. A Mello Da Silva free-kick hit a post with the Għargħur keeper beaten. A minute later Mello Da Silva was more accurate when beating the keeper from close in.
Keeper Valletta made a superb save to deny Adamovic as Mqabba again went close but Da Silva was denied by the upright.
On 82 minutes Mello Da Silva darted into the area and after going past several defenders hit a post following a nice curler.
Mqabba: J. Debono, L. Vella Critien, B. Muscat, G. Gesualdi, G. Adam-ovic, M. Bonnici (C. Bonnici), L. Mi-callef, M. Borg, P. Chimezie, A. Mello Da Silva, K. Cutajar (K. Azzopardi).
Għargħur: Z. Valletta, L. Galea, K. Fedele, D. Camilleri, J. Azzopardi (J. Agius), S. Mino, E. De Lima Nicolau, L. Busuttil, K. Conti (A. Zarb), C. Gie, G. Saliba (L. Vella).
Referee: Philip Farrugia.
Player of the match: Arilson Mello Da Silva (Mqabba).