Gżira United 0
Senglea Athletic 0
Long-time Division One leaders Gżira United secured the point they needed to seal promotion to the Premier League after figuring in a goalless draw against third-placed Senglea Athletic.
With this result, Gżira, who last played in the top division of Maltese football 34 years ago, have opened an unassailable 10-point lead over the Cottonera outfit.
As expected, the game was very balanced and hard-fought with Gżira enjoying more possession.
But, it was Senglea who threatened first when, after only 11 minutes, James Obaje’s grounder from outside the box was kept out by goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.
Three minutes later, Curmi was again called into action to save Ryan Dalli’s fierce drive from the edge of the area.
The game continued to be played at the same rhythm with Gżira dictating matters but failing to trouble the organised Senglea rearguard.
For their part, the Yellow-Reds were more direct in their play. On the half-hour mark, Pablo Doffo’s free-kick finished just over the crossbar and, a minute before the break, Obaje’s header, from Mattia del Negro’s cross, grazed the crossbar.
Gżira were more aggressive after the interval.
On 53 minutes, Yanis Tonna’s effort, following a Raphael Kooh Sohna cross, was saved by Jeffrey Farrugia, the Senglea goalkeeper.
On 62 minutes, Karl Pulo’s half-volley from outside the box was again stopped by the Senglea custodian.
Gżira went close again two minutes later.
Moises Avila Perez crossed for Kooh Sohna, the ball was half cleared by the Senglea defence but the loose ball fell to Jamie Pace whose screamer was pushed away for a corner again by Farrugia.
With five minutes remaining, another Tonna shot hit the side-netting.
Gżira: A. Curmi, Y. Tonna, R.L. Zome (B. Farrugia), L. Martinelli, R. Kooh Sohna, J. Pace, D. Scerri, G. Muscat (S. Borg), M. Avila Perez, K. Pulo, I. Zammit (G. Aquilina).
Senglea: Jeffrey Farrugia, Juergen Farrugia, C. Cassar, K. Tanti, R. Vella, R. Dalli, M. Del Negro, J. Obaje, E. Lattes (D. Sytnik), P. Doffo, M. Ciantar.
Referee: Clayton Pisani.
Player of the match: Yanis Tonna (Gżira United).
Summaries
Lija Athletic 2
San Ġwann 0
Lija: K. Rizzo, C. Giordemaina, P. Babic, L. Muscat, E. Beu, A. Borg, M. Borg (B. Antignolo), M. Clinch (N. Bugeja), K. Cutajar (A. Galea), A. Caruana, A. Ige.
San Ġwann: M. Towns, Z. Bowman (J. Cutajar), G. Agius (D. Henry), M. Attard, J. Briffa, A. Cachia, N. Muscat, B. Abehanga, R. Zammit, J. Tanti, N. Abouhaisa.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Scorers: Clinch 32; Beu 46.
Player of the match: Erjon Beu (Lija).
Rabat Ajax 2
Gudja United 0
Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana, W. Borg (S. Gauci), B. Micallef, C. Vella, A. Smeir, D. Falzon, L. Chiedozie (A. Azzopardi), D. Azzopardi, Z. Tanti (S. Abela).
Gudja: G. Romano, I. Cachia, S. Micallef, D. Martini (J. Waseem), T. Nappa Licari, C. Grech, G. Chircop, A. Cutajar, J. Ciantar (C. Portelli), C. Frendo (D. Sciberras), D. Sohna.
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Scorers: Vella 33; Smeir 84.
Player of the match: Brandon Micallef (Rabat Ajax).
Mqabba 1
Ħamrun Spartans 2
Mqabba: J. Debono, D. Aquilina (K. Cutajar), M. Bonnici, A. Abela, A. Mello da Silva, D. Azzopardi (I. Galea), C. Calleja, K. Farrugia, P. Chimezie, G. Adamovic (C. Farrugia), B. Grech.
Ħamrun: F. Tabone, P. Chircop, G. Azzopardi, M.A. Borg, M. Hrubsa, J. Grech, O. Anonam (A. Tabone), T. Cilia (C. Caruana), S. Nanapere, R. Refalo, M. Muchiardi.
Referee: Marco Borg.
Scorers: Mello da Silva 14 (M); Grech (ĦS) 65; Nanapere (ĦS) 90.
Player of the match: Saturday Nanapere (Ħamrun Spartans).