St Andrew’s 2
Msida St Joseph 1
St Andrew’s came from a goal down to beat relegation-threatened Msida and go top of the Division One standings.
Both teams gave a good account of themselves but in the end it was St Andrew’s who took the spoils with their attacking tandem of Emiliano Lattes and Trayo Grozev again making the difference for the Saints who have now moved one point clear of nearest rivals Gżira United at the top of the standings.
St Andrew’s threatened after five minutes when Lattes hit a firm shot that finished over.
Msida responded in the 14th minute when Stacey Vella rose well to meet a Zvezdan Vukovic cross but his header finished high and wide.
On 22 minutes, Grozev found Luke Busuttil on the right flank, and he immediately set up Lattes who saw his volley pushed away by Kurt Rizzo.
Msida took the lead on 28 minutes when Helder Souza beat his marker and drove the ball past Jake Galea.
Eight minutes before the break a Souza free-kick was saved by Galea.
On 50 minutes a good combination between Desira Buttigieg and Lattes saw the latter denied by Rizzo.
Msida almost doubled their lead minutes later when Faria’s shot was cleared off the line by Evair Grech.
St Andrew’s equalised on 64 minutes when from a Joseph Farrugia free-kick, Grozev rose well to head home.
The Saints now pushed more men forward and they grabbed the winner on 79 minutes when from another Farrugia free-kick Michael Johnson powered a header into the net.
Grozev could have added a third when he turned past Stacey Vella but shot inches wide.
St Andrew’s: J. Galea, L. Busuttil (J. Walker), E. Grech, B. Said, M. Johnson, D. Camilleri (D. Zampa), J. Farrugia, M. Guillaumier, M. Desira Buttigieg (K. Nwoko), T. Grozev, E. Lattes.
Msida SJ: K. Rizzo, L. Cassar, R. Forace (C. Saliba), J. Vella, S. Vella, D. Attard, K. Borg (I. Chircop), R. Faria, L. Agius, H. Souza, Z.Vukovic (U. Anywanna).
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Man of the match: Michael Johnson (St. Andrew’s).
St George’s 1
Mqabba 3
St George’s: C. Carbonaro, R. Tanti, E. Amaira, B. Mbonu Chikwado, B. Muscat (O. Giordano), M. Ojuola, M. Tanti, A. Bonello, D. Ditutala (M. Borg), D. Camilleri (Liam Mallia), Larson Mallia.
Mqabba: S. Cini, M. Bonnici, R. Gomes, O. Farrugia, D. Bonnici, G. Guedes de Freites, C. Calleja (B. Grech), K. Cutajar, R. Caruana (R. Schembri), A. Cassar, M. Tape.
Scorers: De Freites (M) 28, 53 pen; Bonello (SG) 69; Tape (M) 83.
Referee: Chris Lautier
Man of the match: Guilherme Guedes de Freites (Mqabba).
Melita 1
Birżebbuġa SP 0
Melita: P. Schranz, N. Micallef (T. Terpougoff), R. Alinho (E. Cornago), G. Gribbon, A. Borg Olivier, M. Valenzia, M. Fenech, F. Mennini Righini, J. Galea, K. Micallef, A. Eby (K. Coleiro).
Birżebbuġa: A. Boatto, J. Xerri, J. Briffa, G. Camilleri (D. Grech), A. Ewurum, K. Muscat, R. Micallef (A. Tabone), E. Bonati, G. Caruana, L. Camilleri, S. Eboh (P. Camilleri).
Referee: Stefan Pace.
Scorer: Coleiro 59.
Man of the match: K. Coleiro (Melita).
Gudja United 2
Rabat Ajax 4
Gudja: Y. Cini, N. Ghio, I. Galea, R. Buhagiar (P.P. Sammut), C. Giordemaina, E. Micheletti Awoh, G. Chircop, A. Carabott, U. Nwoko, A. Catania, Joselito (P. Oladotun).
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, W. Borg, J. Caruana, B. Micallef, L. Chiedozie (S. Cortis), A. Smeir (A. Azzopardi), D. Falzon, E. Scicluna, S. Gauci (Z. Tanti), D. Azzopardi.
Referee: Andre Arciola.
Scorers: Chiedozie (R) 13, 24, 86; Catania (G) 60; Borg (R) 85; Carabott 90.
Red cards: Galea (G) 78, Chircop (G) 79.
Man of the match: L. Chiedozie (Rabat).
Standings
P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | |
St Andrew’s | 17 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 31 | 23 | 33 |
Gżira Utd | 17 | 10 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 19 | 32 |
Pembroke | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 33 | 16 | 30 |
Gudja Utd | 17 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 32 | 17 | 30 |
Melita | 17 | 9 | 2 | 6 | 23 | 18 | 29 |
Fgura Utd | 17 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 18 | 29 |
St George’s | 17 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 29 | 25 | 25 |
Lija Athletic | 17 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 25 |
Vittoriosa | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 29 | 23 |
Mqabba | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 26 | 28 | 22 |
Rabat Ajax | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 23 | 21 |
Msida SJ | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 16 | 34 | 14 |
Żurrieq | 17 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 15 | 33 | 11 |
Birżebbuġa | 17 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 40 | 9 |