Xghajra Tornadoes 0
Balzan Youths 1

Balzan Youths substitute Pavlos Buhagiar came off the bench to stun unlucky Xghajra Tornadoes with a killer goal in the 93rd minute.

Buhagiar's decisive contribution occurred eight minutes after Balzan goalkeeper Paolo Bugeja was sent off for a foul on Kevin Naudi.

With Balzan having already used their three substitutions, they were forced to continue playing without a natural goalkeeper, skipper Christian Micallef filling in the void.

Fatos Daja's side, one of the promotion favourites, failed to impress. On the contrary, it was Xghajra who dictated play for long stretches.

The first half surely belonged to the Tornadoes and, with a little luck, they could have gone 2-0 up. After only five minutes, Xghajra's Lee Grima found Alistair Buhagiar whose attempt to dribble the Balzan goalkeeper failed as Bugeja blocked. From the rebound, the same Buhagiar shot wide.

On the half hour, Xghajra's Brian Gilford was unlucky when his header hit the woodwork. Ten minutes later, Gilbert Mock, very active up front yesterday, had a shot from just inside the box finishing just wide.

Balzan came more into the picture once the second half got underway. On 50 minutes, Mark Galea's pin-point pass found Nebiosa Jankovic unmarked but the Yugoslav striker shot high and wide.

Two minutes later, Galea was dangerous again in the penalty area but his effort was thwarted by Xghajra custodian Ivan Cassar. In the 58th minute the former Floriana striker forced his way past two defenders but fired wide with only Cassar to beat.

Balzan continued to venture forward and in the 64th minute, Jankovic's cross reached Kurt Coleiro who blasted wide.

Xghajra responded three minutes later but Keith Spiteri should have done better than shooting wide after connecting to a Bobolayefa free-kick.

Ten minutes from time a Jankovic effort was saved for a corner by Cassar. The match looked to have taken a decisive twist in the 85th minute when Naudi came face to face with Bugeja who, in an attempt to clear the danger, floored the Xghajra striker and was subsequently expelled by referee Adrian Azzopardi.

With Micallef instructed to abandon his defensive role to take Bugeja's place in goal, Xghajra pressed forward in search of a winner.

However, three minutes into injury time a Mark Marlow free-kick was deflected into the path of Buhagiar who easily slotted the ball home.

Xghajra T.: I. Cassar, G. Mock, E. Bobolayefa, K. Chircop (K. Spiteri), M. Catania, P. Muscat, K. Naudi, B. Gilford (J. Zammit), A. Buhagiar (N. Attard), E. Gauci, L. Grima.

Balzan Y.: P. Bugeja, N. Arpa, I. Bilocca (L. Mackay), C. Micallef, A. Deidun, J. Farrugia, K. Farrugia (M. Marlow), M. Galea, N. Jankovic, D. Agius, K. Coleiro (P. Buhagiar).

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi.

Rabat Ajax 0
Naxxar Lions 2

Two goalkeeping blunders by Rabat's George Edwards paved the way for Naxxar's win, putting the latter level on points with St Patrick and Balzan at the top of the table.

In contrast with the first match, few goalscoring chances were created as both defences had the upperhand.

Rabat surely missed defender Joe Galea and striker Ullrich Engoya Onesime, both injured.

Most of the action took place in the middle of the park in the first 45 minutes. In fact, there was only one serious attack in the first period and this resulted in a goal. On the half-hour a Paul Sixsmith free-kick looked easy prey for Edwards, but the ball slipped through his hands and Chima Dozie was on hand to score.

Rabat tried to rally but never tested Paul Psaila in the Naxxar goal. On the resumption, the Lions made the game safe. Dozie's shot looked to have been saved by the Rabat custodian, but somehow the ball bounced off his grasp for Aaron Pendry to score with ease.

In the 65th minute Edwards partially redeemed himself for his two schoolboy errors when he magnificently tipped the ball for a corner following a Ramon Schembri first-time effort.

Rabat looked dead and buried even though Keith Micallef should have done better when he hesitated in front of goal following Borg's pass.

On 83 minutes, Pendry could have made it 3-0 for Naxxar when, after a fine run from half pitch, he shot straight at the Rabat 'keeper. To make matters worse for the Magpies, they had two players sent off in the closing stages of the match.

Rodney Camilleri was red-carded in the 87th minute for a second bookable offence and a minute from time, William Borg suffered the same fate when he was dismissed for a vicious foul on Jonathan Grech.

Rabat coach Dragan Zivkovic's strong protests after Borg's dismissal prompted referee Adrian Casha to banish him to the stands.

Rabat A.: G. Edwards, J. Tonna, E. Muscat, M. Micallef, C. Borg, R. Camilleri, C. Schembri (C. Muscat (J. Bezzina), F. Degabriele, W. Borg, J. Farrugia, K. Micallef.

Naxxar L.: P. Psaila, K. Seychell, K. Schembri, P. Sixsmith, E. Lufi, J. Grech (S. Galea), R. Schembri (K. Sammut), C. Spiteri, G. Buhagiar, A. Pendry, C. Dozie (H. Pullicino).