Dingli Swallows 3
Birżebbuġa SP 2

This was one of the most contested matches so far this season as Dingli snatched a dramatic injury-time winner to chalk up three precious points at the expense of fellow relegation strugglers Birżebbuġa.

Dingli had midfielder Rio Micallef in fine form yesterday and it was fitting that he scored the goal that mattered for his team to slightly ease their worries at the bottom end of the standings.

The start was evenly balanced but as time went by Dingli settled down nicely and on 25 minutes a move between Senior David and Lyden Micallef was concluded with a Rio Micallef shot that was a whisker away from target.

Jonathan Sapiano hit just over the Saints’ goal as the Swallows continued to venture forward and justice was done on 35 minutes when David beat Ryan Mintoff’s challenge after receiving from Micallef to shoot home from close in.

The Saints looked a better lot after the break and were unlucky when Zoran Vuckovic saw his grounder hitting the post with goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia beaten. From the rebound, Thiago Dos Santos Mazzitelli hit badly from inside the box.

But Robert Magro’s Dingli doubled the score soon after when Micallef’s lob hit the woodwork and David was on the right spot to blast the loose ball in.

Birżebbuġa came roaring into the match, however, and drew level in the space of a few minutes.

First, Vinicius Pereira dos Santos scored from a penalty after Mead Mifsud was sent tumbling inside the Dingli box, and, on 64 minutes, Dos Santos beat Farrugia with a fierce shot that gave the keeper no chance.

Dingli were stunned but could still have regained the lead only for Kurt Pace to be denied by the quick-thinking Ivan Casha who rushed out of his box to avert danger.

However, Dingli were not to be denied and deep into stoppage time the inspirational Micallef was put through by David before scoring the winner with a cool finish.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli (E. Grech), K. Pace, R. Briffa, R. Micallef, F. Cauchi, J. Sapiano (K. Formosa), J. Pace, S. David, E. Farrugia, L. Micallef (E. Muscat).

Birżebbuġa: I. Casha, R. Duca, R. Mintoff, K. Borg (M. Pullicino), F. Peplow, M. Camilleri (D. Pace), V. Pereira dos Santos, J. Farrugia, T. Dos Santos Mazzitelli, M. Mifsud, Z. Vuckovic (M. Rizzolo Briscolla).

Referee: Mario Apap.

Man of the match: Rio Micallef (Dingli Swallows).

Standings