Vittoriosa Stars 0
Dingli Swallows 0

Vittoriosa Stars failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage as they could not go beyond a goalless draw against 10-man Dingli Swallows yesterday.

The Swallows put on a hard-working performance and, despite having their influential midfielder Leontiv Konda dismissed early in the second half, they remained compact at the back to grind out a valuable point.

Vittoriosa enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but were let down by their finishing.

The Stars could have taken the lead on 13 minutes but Marcelo Pereira, served by Gary Muir, was foiled by an excellent save from Jeffrey Farrugia.

Dingli responded a minute later when Jonathan Sapiano profited from a sloppy back-pass from Ramon Dos Santos but drove the ball wide with only Jean-Mathias Vella to beat.

On 24 minutes, Pereira should have put his team ahead but fired over from close in from another Muir pass.

On the half-hour Pereira shot weakly into the hands of Farrugia and nine minutes later, Siraj Arab was a fraction too late to connect with a Muir cross.

Dingli suffered a setback on 53 minutes when Konda was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Yet, despite this blow, it was the Swallows who almost struck on the hour when Lyden Micallef’s goalbound shot was blocked by Justin Camilleri.

Pereira was guilty of another missed opportunity seven minutes from time when he headed just over from routine distance.

Farrugia saved the result for Dingli in time added-on when he somehow kept out Ramon’s header.

From the resultant corner, the Dingli no.1 did well to push away Arab’s low shot as the Swallows held out for the point.

Vittoriosa: J.M. Vella, R. Brincat, A. Spiteri, J. Camilleri (M. Barbara), S. Grech, G. Muir, S. Arab, R. Dos Santos, M. Pereira, M. Tabone, M. Buttigieg.

Dingli: J. Farrugia, A. Portelli, K. Pace, R. Briffa, R. Micallef, L. Konda, J. Sapiano (K. Formosa), J. Pace, S. David, E. Farrugia, L. Micallef (F. Cauchi).

Referee: Esther Azzopardi.

Man of the match: Rio Micallef (Dingli Swallows).

Standings