Gżira United 0
Gudja United 0
Newly-promoted sides Gżira United and Gudja United produced a goalless stalemate yesterday that left the Maroons still in search of their first win after four matches.
The matched turned out to be a scrappy affair with scoring chances few and far between.
It was Gudja who should have taken the lead on 13 minutes but Kiril Aleksandrov failed to make contact with the ball from close in.
Gżira responded six minutes later when Jimmy Martin Hussey’s deflected drive forced a fine save from goalkeeper Matthew Xerxen.
The game lost much of its rhythm and it was only on 35 minutes that Gudja threatened, Simon Shead’s efort was saved by Simon Agius.
On resumption Gudja started better with an Ivan Kurtusic free-kick tipped to a corner by Agius. The match again fell into a lull and the next opportunity arrived on 78 minutes when Hussey fired wide.
Gujda were unlucky on 83 minutes when Sell’s shot hit the bar and four minutes later Peter Paul Sammut’s backheel almost surprised Agius who did well to block. Hussey should have won it for Gżira in time added on but fired wide after being set up by Effiong.
Gżira : S. Agius, K. Saliba (B. Nimic), P. Grima, A. White, J. Chetcuti, J. Hussey, R. Deguara (Y. Tonna), D. Cachia, S. Shead, S. Meilak, A. Effiong.
Gudja : M. Xerxen, E. Bugeja, A. Abela, F. Owusu (R. Kovachev), R. Buhagiar, I. Kurtusic, R. Sell, K. Azzopardi, K. Aleksandrov, K. Bonello (P.P. Sammut), E. Vella (K. Polidano).
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Man of the Match: Ryan Sell (Gudja United).
Marsaxlokk 0
Pietà Hotspurs 2
Pietà Hotspurs overcame the second-half dismissal of Andrew Spiteri to see off Marsaxlokk and go three points clear at the top.
The Hotspurs held the edge over their opponents and showed great composure to hold off the southerners’ late rally. Cameroon’s Rapahele Kooh Sohna was the protagonist for Pietà after grabbing a brace.
The Hotspurs took the lead on 21 minutes when Sohna was released by Larson Mallia and the Pietà forward burst in the area and lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Omar Borg.
Marsaxlokk responded on the half hour when Rupert Mangion hit the post from a corner and five minutes later Andre Grabowski saw his shot finish over.
Just before the break Sohna sped through but lost his balance with the ball falling into the path of Quelin Refalo who was denied by Borg.
The Hotspurs doubled their lead on 55 minutes when Sohna blasted home the rebound after Borg denied Refalo.
Five minutes later Spiteri was shown the red card for a rash challenge on Gary Caruana.
Here Marsaxlokk sensed they could get back in the match but they rarely threatened.
Four minutes from time the unmarked Douglas Da Silva Silveira shot straight into the hands of Montfort as the Hotspurs held on for the win.
Marsaxlokk : O. Borg, R. Mifsud (D. Attard), M. Brincat, K. Scicluna, M. Clarke, A. Grabowski, D. Micallef (J.C. Vella), R. Mangion, G. Caruana, D. Da Silva Silveira, D. Grech.
Pietà : M. Montfort, C. Grech, Q. Refalo (C. Spiteri), R. Kooh Sohna (D. Caruana), K. Cutajar, T. Agius (K. Cesare), L. Mallia, C. Cassar, J. Zarate, A. Spiteri, I. Grech.
Referee: Martin Spiteri.
Man of the Match: Raphaele Kooh Sohna (Pieta Hotspurs).