The only match from the top flight last weekend proved to be the most entertaining so far this season as leaders Sannat Lions were beaten by rivals Victoria Hotspurs in a five-goal thriller played in front of a sizeable crowd at the Gozo Stadium.
A victory for Sannat would have signalled the end of the Hotspurs' interest in the league but as things turned out it is now an open title race with four teams still in the running.
The Lions, without a league title for 19 years now, opened the score after only four minutes from a penalty awarded for a foul by Jason Portelli on Sandro Brazilino. Fernando de Andrade made it 1-0 from the spot.
Sannat looked on their way to a crucial victory but the Hotspurs levelled matters in their first approach to their opponents' goal when Fabiano Bassi fired home from a free-kick on nine minutes.
The Hotspurs kept the momentum going and turned the tide in their favour 11 minutes later from a penalty, awarded for a foul by Benneth Njoku on Bassi. Martin Hanus made no mistake from the spot.
Hanus was unlucky not to score again on the half hour but his shot hit the base of the post and from the rebound he hit wide with an open goal at his mercy.
Sannat were lacking ideas but on 35 minutes Victoria keeper Grima made a difficult save to stop a De Andrade header and an over-head kick by John Camilleri was cleared off the line by Hotspurs skipper Michael Vella just before half-time.
John Camilleri and Sabri Rais had good chances to score for Sannat but on 58 minutes, the Citizens re-established their two-goal lead when Hanus scored from another penalty, this time awarded for a Debono handball.
Sannat were not throwing in the towel and four minutes later they pulled one back.
An attempt by Rais was cleared off the line by John Paul Grima but Mark Muscat fired the loose ball home from an angled position.
The Lions grew in confidence and applied some hot pressure on the Victoria goal, going close on various occasions to level the score.
However, the Citizens held tight and also had an opportunity to seal victory two minutes from time but Farrugia missed the target from an acute angle.