Mqabba 2
Sirens 1

Mqabba went on top of the Division One standings when they edged Sirens by the odd goal in three yesterday.

It was a hard-fought victory for Clive Mizzi’s men who withstood late pressure from Sirens to hold on to their fifth successive win.

It was Mqabba who created the better chances early on with Michael Borg’s free-kick tipped over by Gabriele Romano while Goran Adamovic’s header was pushed away by the Italian goalkeeper.

Clive Mizzi’s side continued to press men forward and seven minutes from the break, Mello da Silva hit wide from a short-clearance.

Mqabba struck in the 58th minute when Paul Chimezie’s cross-shot deceived Romano.

Sirens responded on 66 minutes when Christian Caruana’s header just missed the target.

But it was Mqabba who doubled their lead on 69 minutes when Chimezie stabbed the ball home following a Luca Casha cross.

Sirens almost pulled a goal back on 70 minutes but Charles Newuche’s shot hit the post.

Sirens reopened the match on 84 minutes when Nicolas McLaren beat Debono from inside the area.

Sirens threw more men forward and they almost grabbed an equalizer on 88 minutes but Newuche was again denied by the post.

Tensions flared at the end of the match when there were some scuffles between several players but order was soon restored.

Mqabba: J. Debono, G. Gesualdi, J. R. Vella, K. Cutajar (D. Azzopardi), P. Chimezie, B. Muscat, M. Borg, A. Mello da Silva, L. Micallef, G. Adamovic, L. Casha (M. Bonnici)

Sirens: G. Romano (S. Cini), D. Zampa, L. Zammit (N. McLaren), D. Martini, D. Sant, J. N. Azzopardi, I. Curmi, L. Grech (R. Sciberras), D. Agius, C. Caruana, C. Newuche

Referee: Darko Stankovic.

Best player: Paul Chimezie (Mqabba).