Pietà Hotspurs 1
Gudja United 2
Pietà Hotspurs missed the chance to finish the first round on top after going down 2-1 to Gudja yesterday.
Coming a week after their 1-0 loss to Żebbuġ, Pietà have now suffered back-to-back defeats. They are second in the standings, two points behind Żebbuġ.
After six minutes, Cain Attard’s cross-shot was partially saved by Gudja’s Matthew Xerxen. The ball dropped to Jurgen Pisani who shot high.
Gudja responded four minutes later when Ryan Dalli’s acrobatic shot finished just over. They continued to play the better football and, on 16 minutes, Andrea Scozzese’s overhead kick was off target.
Five minutes later, Dalli headed wide from Karl Azzopardi’s cross. Dalli missed another chance when shooting wide.
Gudja paid dearly for these misses as Pietà opened the scoring on 31 minutes. Matthew Borg was floored in the box by Scozzese and from the 11 metres, Pisani’s effort was saved by Xerxen but the Pietà forward scored from the rebound.
Gudja equalised two minutes later, Dalli firing home from close range.
Ten minutes into the second half, Gudja went ahead. Scozzese’s header was beaten away by David Cassar but Anthony Ewurum swooped to head the ball home.
On 72 minutes, Gudja came close to a third when Ranier Buhagiar fed Matthew Groves who was denied by Cassar. The latter also stopped Clive Fenech’s header.
Pietà’s only opportunity came in the final minutes when Raphael Kooh-Sohna’s close range effort was neutralised by Xerxen.
Pietà: D. Cassar, C. Attard, O. Anonam, C. Grech, A. Spiteri, Q. Refalo (D. Agius), M. Borg, T. Agius (J. Zarate), C. Cassar (L. Mutasi), R. Kooh Sohna, J. Pisani.
Gudja: M. Xerxen, R. Buhagiar, C. Farrugia (S. Agius), A. Scozzese, C. Fenech, M. Brincat, K. Azzopardi (D. D’Agostino), G. Chircop, R. Dalli, M. Groves, A. Ewurum.
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Man of the match: Ryan Dalli (Gudja).
Melita 3
Gżira United 2
Melita are back in the promotion race after securing a last-gasp 3-2 win over Gżira United.
Pape Gueye and Moises Avila-Perez, Gżira’s new signings, had a good game but their efforts were not enough to save their team from defeat.
Melita took an early lead thanks to a well-taken free-kick by Jose Jairo Cueto Rodriguez from around 30 metres.
As the first half wore on, Gżira improved and on 20 minutes, a Bjorn Bondin screamer was tipped away for a corner by Philip Schranz.
The Maroons managed to draw level on 23 minutes.
A good move by Martin Kotyza and Avila-Perez saw the latter cross into the area and Yanis Tonna slotted the ball home.
On the half-hour, Avila-Perez was thwarted by Schranz.
Melita responded on 40 minutes, Julian Galea heading over from a Borg cross. In first-half stoppage time, Gżira’s Steve Meilak drove the ball high after a good one-two between Gueye and Kotyza.
Melita regained the lead six minutes into the second half thanks to a strong drive from Luke Micallef.
At the other end, Gżira were unlucky when Kotyza’s effort was deflected onto a post.
The Maroons continued to attack, winning several corners.
They equalised six minutes from time when substitute Joseph JoJo Ogunnupe chested the ball before hitting a low shot . A minute later the Nigerian mishit his effort.
Melita snatched a late winner when substitute Kurt Coleiro beat Kyle Gerada with a perfect lob.
Melita: P. Schranz, M. Borg, M. Mamo, I. Tufegdzic (L. Bianco), M.R. Sierra Camacho, J.P. Attard, L. Micallef, N. Rizzo, J.J. Cueto Rodriguez, L. Sammut (T. Terpougoff), J. Galea (K. Coleiro).
Gżira: K. Gerada, R. Deguara (J. Francica), R. Forace, A. White, J. Pace, B. Bondin, Y. Tonna, M. Kotyza (J.J. Ogunnupe), P. Gueye, M. Avila-Perez, S. Meilak (S. Shead).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Man of the match: Manuel Ramon Sierra Camacho (Melita).
St Andrew’s 1
St George’s 1
The clash of the ‘saints’ ended all square after St Andrew’s and St George’s drew 1-1.
Danilo Doncic, making his debut as St Andrew’s coach, endured a difficult start as St George’s forged ahead after just five minutes.
Jhonatan Barnardo Mariano’s scorcher from the distance soared into the net. Two minutes later, Vilson Caushi’s shot was cleared off the line by Neil Chetcuti.
On 13 minutes, John Roland Emeka’s shot came off the crossbar.
St Andrew’s managed to draw level in the 18th minute thanks to Alex Podda’s firm grounder.
On 49 minutes, St George’s defender Keith Tanti headed towards his own goal but Ryan Marmara produced a fine save. Six minutes later, St George’s were awarded a penalty after a foul on Emeka but Dylan Sammut’s drive was saved by Bartolo.
On the hour, Bartolo pulled off another fine save to push Mariano’s free-kick away for a corner.
At the other end, Trayo Grozev’s volley grazed the crossbar.
St Andrew’s: S. Bartolo, N. Chetcuti, B. Said, J. Briscoe White, D. Micallef, N. Vella Petroni (L. Busuttil), J. Farrugia, A. Podda, M. Grima, E. Lattes, T. Grozev.
St George’s: R. Marmara, D. Sammut, A. Ellul, E. Sevasta, V. Caushi (A. Bonello), R. Vella, K. Tanti, M. Tabone, J. Bernardo Mariano, J. Farrugia, J. Emeka.
Referee: Jude Amin Utulu.
Man of the match: John Roland Emeka (St George’s).
Żejtun Corinthians 2
Msida St Joseph 1
Veteran Kenneth Abela scored at the death to give Żejtun Corinthians a 2-1 victory over Msida St Joseph.
Żejtun’s Kai Risholt should have scored early on but opted to dribble the goalkeeper instead of shooting and his final effort was wide.
Żejtun broke the deadlock on 10 minutes. Everton crossed for Risholt who headed the ball into the path of Adrian Carabott and the striker nodded past Jean Matthias Vella.
Msida responded with a half-volley from Ariel Laudisi which ended just wide. Ten minutes from half-time, Msida were reduced to 10 men after Pellegrino Albanese was shown the red card.
Four minutes later, Żejtun also lost a player after Glenn Tanti was sent off for a second yellow card.
Msida drew level on 63 minutes, Ayrton Azzopardi slotting the ball home from close range following a Mario Caruana cross.
The game burst to life in the final stages. On 77 minutes, Laudisi’s attempt was saved by Roderick Debattista and, with six minutes to go, Żejtun scored the winner when Abela headed home from Everton’s free-kick.
Żejtun: R. Debattista, I. Briffa, R. Previ, K. Abela, C. Magro, D. Borg, K. Risholt, G. Tanti, A. Farrugia (J. Spiteri), Everton, A. Carabott.
Msida: J.M. Vella, S. Vella, F. Guzman, L. Cassar, G. Gesualdi (I. Schembri), M. Caruana, S. Magro, A. Laudisi, A. Azzopardi, M. Tape, P. Albanese.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Man of the match: Kai Risholt (Żejtun).
Standings
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
| Żebbuġ R. | 12 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 27 | 16 | 26 |
| Pietà Hotspurs | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 11 | 24 |
| Lija Athletic | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 21 | 12 | 22 |
| Melita | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 14 | 21 |
| St George’s | 12 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 18 | 17 | 19 |
| Gudja United | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 21 | 18 |
| Gżira United | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 17 |
| Birżebbuġa | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 15 |
| St Andrew’s | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 18 | 21 | 13 |
| Żejtun Cor. | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 16 | 26 | 13 |
| Żurrieq | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 9 |
| Msida SJ | 12 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 16 | 21 | 8 |
| Ħamrun (-8) | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 2 |