Msida St Joseph 1
Pembroke Athleta 2

Lucky Omeruo came off the bench early in the second half to score the winner as Pembroke beat Msida St Joseph 2-1 to go top of Division One, level on 33 points with St Andrew’s who have a game in hand.

Inside the opening minute, Msida’s Ricardo Faria was thwarted by goalkeeper Andrea Cassar.

Pembroke replied on 13 minutes but Abubakar Bello-Osagie’s flick was cleared off the line by Stacy Vella.

Msida continued to dictate matters, though, and forged ahead on 22 minutes when Faria’s pass found Souza Silva who slotted home.

On 25 minutes, Msida’s Renie Forace almost committed an own goal as he tried to clear a cross but keeper Kurt Rizzo saved well.

Five minutes before the break, Pembroke levelled. Forace floored Ayrton Azzopardi in the box and the youngster converted from the spot.

At the start of the second half, Msida’s Souza Silva dribbled the goalkeeper but shot wide.

On 63 minutes, Bello-Osagie’s header was tipped away for a corner by the Msida custodian.

At the other end, nine minutes later, Souza Silva was unlucky when his long-range drive hit the crossbar.

Pembroke scored the winning goal on 76 minutes.

Omeruo, racing into the box to receive Azzopardi’s pass, swept past Rizzo and stabbed the ball home.

Four minutes later, Msida’s Vella was denied an equaliser by Cassar.

Msida: K. Rizzo, G. Vella, R. Faria, D. Attard, R. Forace (D. Cachia), L.J. Agius (K. Borg), H. Souza Silva, I. Chircop, S. Vella, L. Cassar, Z. Vukovic (U. Anyanwu).

Pembroke: A. Cassar, C. Mamo, O. Sidibe (L. Omeruo), S. Magro (G. Spiteri), A. Azzopardi, S. Chircop, A. Agius (S. Arab), D. Sammut, A. Laudisi, A. Bello-Osagie, R. Bajada .

Referee: Stefan Pace.

Man of the match: Lucky Omeruo (Pembroke Athleta).