Birzebbuga St Peter’s 5-2 Zejtun Corinthians
Edward Azzopardi’s Birzebbuga obtained their fourth win in a row and remain unbeaten in Amateur League 1 as on Saturday, the Blues beat Zejtun with a score of 5-2. The Saints were already 3-0 up at half-time, with their victory never in danger as the Corinthians continue their dismal start of the season, still waiting for their first win.
Within four minutes the seasiders found the net through Christopher Cutajar, heading past Anson Saliba at the second post from a Keith Muscat cornerkick. Two minutes later, Samuel Saldanha doubled with another header from a Marquinho cross. The one-way traffic continued and on 32 minutes, Saliba managed to pull off a great save from a Nathan Attard attempt. But five minutes later, Chris Baker tapped in the third goal from a wonderful Birzebbuga attack and another Marquinho assist. On the stroke of half-time, Zejtun finally managed to shoot on target through Stefi Cale, which forced Saints goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi into a routine save.
Quite incredibly, Zejtun pulled two back in no-time just after the break, with Cale scoring three minutes after the re-start and on 52 minutes, Clyde Bouvet headed past Azzopardi from a Matthew Farrugia free-kick. The Corinthians were therefore back in the game but on 76 minutes, Zejtun’s hopes of finding the equaliser were shattered as the Saints were awarded a penalty, converted by Saldanha. Deep into stoppage time, Leejoe Schembri even added a fifth for Birzebbuga, who therefore remain at the summit of the table with a one-point lead over Luqa and Attard.
Luqa St Andrew’s 1-0 Vittoriosa Stars
The unbeaten league start of the season by Vittoriosa Stars came to an end on Sunday morning with Luqa St Andrew’s thumping the Cottonera side by a single goal scored late in the match. It was a tight tactical affair in a match which did not really deserve a winner as both sets of players were proportionally weighted. Play was rather balanced with very little goalmouth action throughout the game between two very-well organized NAL I top teams.
On 28 minutes, Luqa centre-back Fred Kessie brought the best out of Stars custodian Carmelo Caruana, who turned the free-kick of the Ghanian into a corner. It proved to be the only shot on target in the first 45 minutes, but the match was surely not unattractive.
Both rear-guards were on top as well in the second half as most attacks each side were delt with professionally. However, on 73 minutes, Sherif Mohammed started a move from the edge of the area, with his powerful attempt hitting the crossbar. The Cottonera defence blocked Dasser Sammut’s rebound and in came Mario Jude Dominicius who coolly profited from the mayhem in the Stars defence, slotting home the winner.
Although this development submerged a reaction of Vittoriosa, it was Luqa’s Thomas Grech who came closest with a volley on 84 minutes from the edge of the box which sailed inches wide. Not much later, a long distance on target attempt by Gordon Saliba for the Stars was blocked by Dunstan Zarb. Luqa eventually managed to deal with the Vittoriosa pressure, with the original St Andrew’s bagging their sixth consecutive league victory, leapfrogging Vittoriosa and moving into the runners-up spot on equal points with Attard.
Attard 2-1 Kirkop United
On Friday night, Attard registered a relatively easy victory over Kirkop United although the team of coach Matthew Caruana made a game of it at the end. Counting the matches in the Amateur Cup as well, it was already the ninth victory for Attard of the season, who were only beaten so far by Vittoriosa Stars.
Attard went ahead on 23 minutes after a fine cross by Bledi Alla which found Josmar Galea whose header easily beat Krassimir Zammit. Four minutes later, Alla doubled by cooly converting a penalty, givenafter a collision in the box. Just before half time, Nicholas Schembri could have made it three for Attard, but his shot sailed well over the bar.
The second half was a quiet affair with Attard relatively easily controlling Kirkop’s forays forward. On 74 minutes, Attard were reduced to ten when Yanis Tonna bumped into his second caution of the match. With five minutes regular time left on the clock, Kirkop managed to reduce the deficit through a brilliant free kick by Matthew Borg. Despite Kirkop’s late rally, Attard saw out the final minutes to gain an important three points to keep them in the challenge for promotion.
Xghajra Tornados 5-2 Marsaskala
On Saturday afternoon at the Mosta Ground, Xghajra came from behind to record their fifth league victory of the season and are, with Birzebbuga, the only two unbeaten teams in the Amateur League I. The Tornados had to work harder than expected as Marsaskala were leading by the odd goal in three at half-time.
The match barely started or the ball was in the net as Xghajra’s Shaban Chikh Ali was sent away on the left, with the Syrian homegrown winger released a wonderful shot which was blocked by Clyde Aquilina but Richmond Hanson was in the right place to give the Tornados an early lead. However, on 15 minutes, Marsaskala drew level with Carl Magro scoring an unfortunate own goal by trying to clear the danger in the six-yard box. On the half hour mark, Kenneth Abela set-up Hanson for the Tornados in the box but the lanky Nigerian hit the crossbar. Five minutes later, Fabrizio Zammit should have given Marsaskala the advantage after fumbling the ball from Magro but Levi Saliba blocked the attempt. Aquilina was called back in action on 39 minutes, blocking another close-range Hanson attempt. Minutes later, Chikh Ali missed a sitter for Xghajra with only Aquilina to beat but partly miskicked his attempt which went wide. Xghajra’s profligacy was punished one minute before the break when Zammit sent newcomer Byron Madu through, who beat Saliba with an intelligent lob to give Marsaskala a one-goal advantage at the half-time whistle.
However, there was complete dominance by the Tornados after the break as the team of coach Keith Darmanin scored four without reply. Nine minutes after the re-start, Hanson equalized from another neat Tornados attack from the right wing. On 65 minutes, Aquilina once more interfered well on a Chikh Ali attempt, with the rebound being flagged for off-side. However, with 15 minutes regular time left, 49-year-old Abela gave Xghajra the advantage with an excellent close-range finish. With five minutes left on the clock, Xghajra were given a penalty when Chikh Ali was felled in the box, with Hanson converting to seal his hat-trick. Deep into stoppage time, Abela added goal number five by scoring his second of the match with an shot from the left angle of the box which Aquilina partly parried with the ball hobbling over the goal-line.
San Gwann 3-0 Msida St Joseph
On Sunday afternoon at the Mosta Ground, San Gwann kept the pace with the top clubs of the Amateur League I with a convincing display against struggling Msida. The team of coach Xavier Saliba emerged easy and worthy winners with a 3-0 final score in a one-sided affair especially in the first half, in which San Gwann built a two-goal cushion. In the second half Msida improved considerably and had a couple of good opportunities to get back in the game, but on the other hand San Gwann were always menacing in their breaks and could have also obtained a bigger victory.
On nine minutes, San Gwann took the lead when from a corner action, Mattia Zarb’s low drive surprised the Msida custodian with the ball hitting the base of the upright before finishing at the back of the net. Three minutes from the break a good run on the right flank by Liam Portelli with his low pass met by Ricardo Velasquez who slotted home from close range.
Five minutes from the end of the game San Gwann put the issue beyond further doubt when in one of their numerous fast breaks the ball came to substitute Ryan Muscat who shot low into the net with a precise grounder. San Gwann are now on equal points with Vittoriosa and remain fully in the race for promotion in this very competitive campaign.
Qormi 1-0 Gharghur
In the late Mosta Ground kick off on Saturday afternoon, Qormi incredibly lost control of the match in the second period against lowly Gharghur, in a typical game of two halves. Qormi dominated proceedings before the break but the team of coach Kevin Borg-Degiorgio came back strongly after the change of ends and were, eventually, unlucky not to snatch an equaliser. Qormi played without influential Brazilian striker Cadu, who was ruled out injured.
On eight minutes Qormi took an early lead through Jake Bone, who tapped in from a Carlos Debattista cross from the left, a goal which proved to be the winner. Qormi held the initiative and on 23 minutes Jayden Borg should have doubled after being sent through by Jordan Sampson but failed to find target with only Gharghur goalkeeper James Abela to beat. Gharghur had a penalty claim on 27 minutes when Hungarian dangerman Mihaly Gidaly was clearly pushed out of balance in the box from an ideal angle but the referee waved to play on.
Gharghur reacted strongly after the change of ends, with more attacking intent then the first half. However, they initially only managed to threaten Lydon Moore a few times with some long-distance attempts, which nearly all resulted into routine saves by the Qormi shot-stopper or failed to find target.
On 78 minutes, Abela made a save on a Jamie-Lee Micallef effort, which was the first was one of the few goalscoring opportunities Qormi created after the break. A minute later on the other side, Gharghur substitute Samuel Agius was unlucky by hitting the crossbar from an accurate angle. Micallef had another opportunity on 84 minutes when, after some good work by Christopher Saliba, Abela once more blocked. With these three points, Qormi remain one of the early pace-setters in the league, trailing league leaders Birzebbuga St Peter’s by just four points.
Qrendi 3-2 Pembroke Athleta
On Friday night at the Centenary Stadium, Qrendi got the better of Pembroke by the odd goal in five in an entertaining match that went down to the wire. Pembroke paraded Colombian midfielder Sebastian Montano and were an improved side with Weverton causing the usual headaches for the Qrendi rear-guard. Despite taking an early two-goal lead, the Athleta came back strongly in the second half.
Pembroke drew first blood early on with an effort by Maverick Cassar that went just over the bar. Qrendi replied on 16 minutes through Ruan Spiteri who also shot well over from a good position. On 27 minutes, Qrendi took the lead when a header by Jean Claude Vella gave Brylan Tabone no chance. Three minutes later it was 2-0 when Leo Salgado made no mistake from close range with a simple tap in from a Ryan Spiteri cross. Roderick Taliana could have pulled one back just before half time, but his effort was well saved by Chris Cassar.
The combative second half sprang to life on 71 minutes when Leo Salgado had a shot that went just over the bar. On 78 minutes, Pembroke reduced the deficit through substitute Ryan Sciberras. However, on 83 minutes, Qrendi made it 3-1 through Leo Salgado who scored his brace. Deep into stoppage time, Sciberras added one more for Pembroke but Qrendi held on for the three points, which means they keep on having hopes to play in the Top Six at the end of the regular phase.
Mellieha 2-0 Rabat Ajax
In the late Sirens Stadium kick-off on Saturday, Mellieha scored twice in the second half as they defeated Rabat Ajax 2-0. A most welcome three points for the Blues who, like Qrendi, will keep on having hopes to break into the Top Six of this season’s campaign. Rabat remain without points, with the Magpies going through one of the hardest periods in their rich history.
The Notherners made their intentions clear right from the start although Ajax held on well during the first half. Michael Camilleri had a low shot from the right saved by goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella on five minutes and ten minutes later, an Alexander Akl effort was also saved by the Rabat custodian. Rabat replied with a Yuya Emura effort ending just wide on 16 minutes but just before the end of the first half, Akl went close for Mellieha off a cross by Marc Bolane Adonis.
Seven minutes in the second half, Rabat midfielder Gary Bugeja had a shot from outside the area deflected into a corner but four minutes later Mellieha captain Jacob Farrugia had a shot from outside area saved by Vella. On the hour, Mellieha goalkeeper Anthony Curmi performed a good save on an Aidan Azzopardi freekick, who played his 200th game in the black and white colours of Rabat Ajax.
One minute later, Mellieha took the lead when off a cross from the right, Michael Camilleri tapped the ball home from close range. Mellieha threatened once again on 68 minutes with a great effort by Sebastian Perdomo from outside the area which hit the crossbar. Vella, the Rabat custodian, did well to deny further attempts by Malcolm Vella-Vidal and Perdomo as Mellieha tried to double. Emura went close for Rabat with a shot which was deflected into a corner six minutes from time. However, Mellieha scored the relieving second goal on the 90th minute mark when consecutive shots were blocked but Adonis eventually managed to slot the ball past the Rabat goalkeeper.
