Mosta 2
Qormi 2
Although there was too much at stake this game was a classic, similar to the one between these two teams in the first round which had a 3-3 final scoreline. Mosta were comfortably in the lead with 10 minutes to go but lost composure when they had Antonio Saliba sent off.
Mosta looked like they were edging closer to Premier League football after taking a 2-0 lead with barely 18 minutes gone. Michael Molzahn's side were the better side in the first half. They were faster and playing more direct football.
After only four minutes Mosta forged ahead when from an Elton Vella delivery Ndayi Kalenga rifled home from inside the box leaving the Qormi custodian helpless.
Mosta continued to show the better ideas and with Jesmond Zerafa's side still stunned from the goal conceded, they surrended the initiative to Mosta who after a series of attacks made it 2-0 on 18 minutes.
Following a melee inside the Qormi box, Steve Borg came from nowhere and hit a missile that flew in goal.
Mosta could have wrapped up the game up on the half hour when Massimo Grima found Kalenga unmarked, but the Congolese wasted the opportunity by shooting wide.
On resumption, Qormi tried to change tactics by adopting a pressing game and on 63 minutes Nigerian substitute Alloysius Ihebulu hit a first-time shot which was saved in two attempts by Jonathan Debono.
On 71 minutes Qormi suffered a setback when they had Ihebulu sent off after head-butting Grima in midfield. The game did not lose interest though and three minutes later Carmel Formosa escaped the marking of Saliba but the latter grounded the Qormi man and got sent off.
Nine minutes from time Qormi were back in it when Kurt Zammit overlapped from the right and his shot went in off the keeper and the post.
A minute later Zammit surged forward again before sending an inviting ball at the far post to Joseph Chetcuti who headed the equaliser.
In added time Qormi could have snatched a dramatic winner but a Chetcuti shot at goal was cleared by a Mosta defender on the line.
Now it seems all will go down to the wire with Tarxien having their destiny in their own hands as two wins in their last two matches would guarantee them promotion.
Mosta: J. Debono, A. Borg, S. Borg, M. Brincat, C. Camenzuli (P. Vassallo), R. Deguara, A. Saliba, D. Theuma, E. Vella (N. Gatt), N. Kalenga, M. Grima (C. Pace).
Qormi: M. Farrugia, K. Zammit, P. Camilleri, J. Saliba, M. Borg, J. Francica (C. Camion), A. Debono, J. Farrugia, J. Chetcuti, M. Borg Olivier (A. Ihebulu), C. Formosa.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Man of the match: Joseph Chetcuti (Qormi).
Marsa 1
Vittoriosa Stars 4
Larry Lagana's early goal at the Hibs Ground put Vittoriosa on their way to victory and plunged struggling Marsa into even deeper relegation trouble.
In fact, Jimmy Briffa's side are still firmly rooted at the bottom of the table, three points adrift of fellows-in-distress St Patrick and Mellieha.
Just three minutes after kick-off Lagana volleyed a free-kick in the top-left corner of Roderick Spiteri's goal. In the first round, mid-table side Vittoriosa had beaten Marsa 2-1 and a double for the Cottonera side looked on the cards yesterday.
Despite the return of veterans Alan Mifsud and Daniel Gatt, Marsa looked disorganised and lacking self-belief. Stars striker Johan Spiteri spurned a chance on 11 minutes and Marsa replied with a Mifsud free-kick that was stopped by Ivan Cassar.
Vittoriosa were dictating matters and Marsa only had one shot at goal in the first 45 minutes, a Warren Chircop drive that finished over the crossbar.
Anthony Evi Parker was hardly in action in the opening half but on 50 minutes was very close to double his team's lead with a fierce drive.
On 64 minutes, however, the Stars scored again when following a quick counter break, Leighton Grech sped past the Marsa defence before hitting low past the Marsa keeper.
On 72 minutes Marsa were dead and buried when Evi Parker rounded goalkepeer Spiteri before slotting the ball into an empty net - 3-0.
Marsa tried to get back into the match and on 80 minutes they pulled one back, Chircop beating Ivan Cassar with a shot from the distance.
With five minutes to go Vittoriosa had veteran Ivan Zammit sent off for dissent. But despite playing with a man less, Vittoriosa added another goal to their tally thanks to an Evi Parker strike who persisted in his action before having the better of the Marsa keeper.
Marsa: R. Spiteri, J. Rizzo (J. Martin), S. Cutajar (B. Zammit), D. Vella, J. Borg, A. Mifsud, D. Gatt , J.P. Zammit, K. Cassar, W. Chircop, J. Dalli.
Vittoriosa: I. Cassar, S. Privitelli (R. Adami), I. Zammit, H. Hughes, L. Grech (A. Ancilleri), D. Gauci, J. Spiteri (K. Darmanin), A. Evi Parker, J. Spiteri, C. Cachia, S. Calleja.
Referee: Glenn Tonna.
Man of the match: Leighton Grech (Vittoriosa Stars).