AMATEUR LEAGUE I TOP SIX
Vittoriosa Stars 3-0 Attard
On Friday night in the early Centenary Stadium kick-off, Vittoriosa Stars returned on top of the table after finding no difficulty to beat Attard 3-0, with the match practically already over half-way the first half as all three goals were scored in the first 22 minutes of the match.
Attard dearly missed the services of playmaker Sebastian Perdomo and have now thrown the towel indefinitely as the hunt for the two promotion slots, with two matches left to play, is now a race between three teams.
Attard made an uninspiring impression from the start and were three goals down in no-time. On four minutes, Paul Aderibigbe was on the right place to round off from a corner action and 16 minutes, the Stars side doubled when Aidan Agius-Gilford rounded off a fine attack from the left side from close-range. Six minutes later, Godwin Emmanuel was sent on a probing run down the right flank, beating his direct marker and passing towards the unmarked Aderibigbe who cooly slotted home the third goal.
Also after the break, Vittoriosa remained in full control of the match but reversing a gear, with Attard getting slowly more into the match but still without creating any danger in the Birgu box. Whenever the team of coach Ivan Zammit ventured forward, the Stars were dangerous on the counter attack with the trio of Aderibigbe, Emmanuel and Agius-Gilford being a constant threat.
On 65 minutes, Bledi Alla blasted wide from an ideal angle with only Edward Gatt to beat, in what was most certainly Attard’s best opportunity of the match. Eight minutes later on the other side, Agius-Gilford should have done better in the six-yard box from a precise Gordon Saliba cross but the unmarked striker could not convert. Barely a minute later, an Aderibigbe scorcher from the edge of the area skimmed the crossbar with Miguel Caruana anchored.
The match was duly over however at that point, with the Stars bagging a priceless three points. They have things into their own hands now and will celebrate promotion by beating Xghajra and Luqa in their last two matches.
Birzebbuga St Peter’s 2-1 San Gwann
Surely the most attractive fixture for this weekend in the Amateur League I was the direct encounter for promotion between San Gwann and Birzebbuga St Peter’s, who were occupying rank one and two in the standings respectively before the start of the game. Although San Gwann created numerous goal scoring opportunities throughout the game, Birzebbuga came from behind to beat the team of coach Xavier Saliba by the odd goal in three.
It was therefore a hard-earned win for the team of Edgar Degabriele, who collected their second win in a row and look to have found their previous shape back. San Gwann on the other hand, following their shock defeat last week against Xghajra, failed to return to winning ways and had to swallow their second consecutive defeat, throwing away again precious points and their first spot in the standings. With one point behind the leading duo, they now fully depend on the results of Vittoriosa and Birzebbuga in the last two league games.
San Gwann started strongly and after just six minutes, Nahuel Velasquez put his side ahead with a simple tap in following a shot from close range by Matteo Vella. Despite the attacking efforts of Birzebbuga, San Gwann remained well organised in defence and were always in control of the ball throughout all the first period with dominant ball possession and fast counterattacks.
But Birzebbuga reacted after the restart, starting strongly offensively and scored the equaliser on the hour mark thanks to a powerful shot from outside the box by Dylan Micallef. Some minutes later, San Gwann nearly restored their one-goal advantage through Gonzalo Virano with Julian Azzopardi making an excellent save.
St Peter’s boys realised nothing less than a win would count and on 66 minutes, substitute Yusuf Suleiman scored from close range after Samuel Saldanha’s attempt was partially saved by Luciano Camilleri. San Gwann tried hard to get the equaliser and fifteen minutes from time, Azzopardi turned an excellent Virano free-kick into a corner. Just before the final whistle, the seasiders could have added a third goal when a powerful shot by Jurgen Farrugia hit the crossbar.
Birzebbuga, now on equal points with Vittoriosa on a promotion spot, need to beat Attard and Xghajra in their final two games to return to the second tier of Maltese football after a ten years absence, exciting times for the seasiders.
Luqa St Andrew’s 1-1 Xghajra Tornados
The early Sirens Stadium kick-off on Saturday between Luqa and Xghajra was another wonderful commercial for Amateur League football. Realising both needed a win to stay in the race for promotion, the Saints and the Tornados played full on attack, creating numerous chances throughout the game. However, a draw is what they got, a fair outcome of the match, but for both sides most definitely not the result they wanted. Much travelled veteran Luqa striker Giovanni Galea made his 200th third tier league game.
Luqa saw more of the ball in the opening period with Mario Jude Dominicius opening the scoring on 15 minutes, rounding off after a great individual move. The Saints kept pressing high with Galea, with a header from a corner, and another Dominicius attempt both missing target in what could have been easily a 3-0 score up to that point.
On 28 minutes, Xghajra had their first shot on target through Raylon Paisley, paraded with ease by Luqa goalkeeper Aidan Portelli-Isherwood. Just after the half hour mark, Francesco Gusman saved the ball from the goal line after another attempt by Dominicius, surely the most lively player in the first half.
Xghajra should have equalised on 35 minutes when a free-kick of Paisley was met by Shaban Chick Ali, but the Syrian homegrown striker aimed his attempt too high with only Portelli-Isherwood to beat. Just before the half-time whistle, the unmarked Dario Borg was released but also his attempt sailed wide.
Two minutes after the re-start, Xghajra were awarded a penalty when Thomas Grech brought down Cheyzen Spagnol in the box. Captain Francesco Gusman stepped up and converted stylishly to bring his side next to Luqa. Not much later, Chikh Ali hit the post from a Paisley corner while in the attack that followed on the other side, Levi Saliba performed a great save on a Dominicius attempt from the edge of the six-yard box.
It was an exceptional hot March day last Saturday, which was reflected on the 22 players as both teams clearly tired out at the end. On 80 minutes, Saliba performed another great save from a Jake Stensen on-target attempt from close-range, which was, despite the attacking intensions of both sides, the last worth mentioning action of the game.
Xghajra will play Vittoriosa and Birzebbuga in their last two league games respectively and therefore, with five points behind on a promotion slot, are not yet mathematically out of the promotion race, but also realise all other results, including these of San Gwann, need to go their way. Luqa are six points behind the top-two and therefore both sides need a miracle and, realistically, have to prepare for another season Amateur League I football.
AMATEUR LEAGUE I PLAY-OUT
Qormi 2-0 Qrendi
On Sunday afternoon in the early Luxol Stadium kick-off, Qormi made sure to be mathematically save from the drop before the international break by beating Qrendi 2-0 thanks to two goals by young striker Jayden Borg.
With five matches left, Qormi can now relax a bit more and perhaps introduce some more youngsters from their successful youth nursery. Qrendi also need one more victory to rest their minds in this roller-coaster campaign, and then will move their attention to the Amateur Cup in which they reached the semi-finals along with Victoria Hotspurs, Mellieha and Attard.
Qormi took the lead after just 4 minutes when Jayden Borg was presented with an irresistible tap in just a few yards from the goal. The team of coach Jesmond Zerafa, still suspended, doubled on 37 minutes with an almost identical move when Kewell Fardell squared to Borg who tapped home whilst under pressure from Nigel Spiteri.
Qrendi had a good chance to pull one back on 40 minutes when Brandon Bray went off on a marauding run but his cross was somehow cleared by the Qormi defence.
After the change of ends, Qrendi missed a glorious chance to reduce the deficit on 51 minutes when Bray crossed an inch perfect ball to Isaac Abela who fluffed his shot from in front of goal. Bray remained in he thick of the action and had a couple of shots in the next 10 minutes that were well saved by Miguel Montfort. Qormi sat down and defended with more chances coming Qrendi’s way but the team of coach Gotthard Conti failed to find the net.
Marsaskala 2-2 Zejtun Corinthians
Although Marsaskala were undone by a Zejtun stoppage time goal on Sunday in the late Luxol Stadium kick-off, the team of Brian Vella moved further away from the relegation zone as nearly all direct competitors, except Kirkop, failed to bag any points last weekend. Yes, it could have been three points for the seasiders but their hopes were shattered by Stefi Cale, who notched a stoppage time equaliser, fully admitting that the draw was the fairest of all outcomes.
The Corinthians, who are nearly safe from the drop, started strongly and could have gone ahead after just seven minutes when an excellent effort by Cale, in fine shape lately, was saved by Marsaskala custodian Clyde Aquilina. Three minutes later however, Zejtun were ahead after Matthew Farrugia slammed home from close range.
Marsaskala were not taking things lying down and equalised on 26 minutes courtesy of Kieran Grech whose fine effort beat Anson Saliba. The rest of the half was a balanced affair with Zejtun on the attack but creating precious little in front of goal.
Four minutes after the re-start, Marsaskala stunned their neighbours by taking the lead courtesy of James Oghenekewaro who pounced on a loose ball in the box. Zejtun could have got back on level terms almost immediately after a fine move from Cale whose shot was parried into the path of Miguel Aquilina who however blasted over the bar.
On 57 minutes, Zejtun had another chance when Adrian Carabott was in the clear but his effort was saved by Aquilina. Zejtun continued pressing forward but Aquilina was in inspiring form practically saving everything thrown at him. However, Zejtun equalised deep into stoppage time with a fine individual effort from Cale to grab a well-deserved point.
Mellieha 4-0 Gharghur
Like Marsaskala, it looks like also Gharghur have five finals left as they failed to upset Mellieha on Saturday afternoon at the Luxol Stadium, with the Blues coming out worthy winners with an emphatic 4-0 score-line. As a few mainstay players left the club, or are unavailable for various reasons, Gharghur coach Christian Cassar need to deal with a small and an extreme young squad of players, which certainly does not help in their survival bid.
It was a low-key match without a real story line as Mellieha were dominating the fixture and displayed a steady performance. On 14 minutes, Gharghur goalkeeper James Abela did well to avoid an early Blues lead, denying Marc Bolane Adonis from close-range. However, on 34 minutes, Adonis scored his first of two goals with an excellent finish to break the deadlock. Nestor Canas could have pulled one back two minutes later in a rare Gharghur attack but failed to find target from an ideal position. Adonis created more havoc in the Gharghur defence and nearly doubled in first-half stoppage time with a shot which skimmed the post.
Three minutes after the restart, Alexander Akl was close to doubling the advantage for the Northerners but his powerful shot sailed high. Mellieha got their much desired second goal on 67 minutes however, with Adonis doubling from an excellently executed Blues attack. After Tejumola Ayorinde and Adonis came close to add Mellieha’s third on 75 and 77 minutes respectively, it was Sasa Glumac who found the net on 83 minutes from an Adonis assist. Youngster Liam Spiteri, on his debut, sealed the issue by adding a fourth goal towards the very end of the game.
While Gharghur have a direct relegation clash with Kirkop coming up next, in this shape and with ten points above the red zone, Mellieha should kick themselves into safety against Msida in the first Match Day after the international break.
Pembroke Athleta 0-3 Kirkop United
On Saturday at the Sirens Stadium, Kirkop collected an important three points in a direct relegation clash with Pembroke Athleta. It was Kirkop’s second victory this year from 10 games, which indicates that victories don’t come easy for the team now coached by David James Saliba. With their third defeat on the trot, Pembroke look to be in a crisis and time is running out for the team of Jeffrey Mifsud to save their season.
Pembroke, again without the injured Weverton, saw more of the ball in the opening phase and on seven minutes, came close when Andrew Sant tried his luck from long-range with his attempt skimming the crossbar. Play balanced out however with Kirkop having their moments as well, with Drissa Dicko having a bright moment on 33 minutes when his attempt was blocked by Immy Micallef. Moments later, the young French striker found Pembroke goalkeeper Dean Sciberras on his way in one of the few opportunities of the first half.
Not long after he re-start, Kirkop should have gone 1-0 up with Quelin Micallef having a free passage towards Sciberras but the Pembroke goalie came out on top with an excellent save.
Just after the hour, Kirkop had two excellent opportunities to break the deadlock. The first one through Matthew Borg who manoeuvred himself into a wonderful position for an angled shot which hit the woodwork, with substitute Scion Cassar-Grech missing target from close-range moments later in the same attack. The latter however, scored Kirkop’s opener on 63 minutes from a goalmouth melee’, putting his side in the driving seat.
On 81 minutes, Kirkop were awarded a penalty with Quelin Micallef coolly converting while in stoppage time, Kirkop secured the three points by David Callus, who hit home into an empty net from close-range.
In the next Match Day after the international break, both teams have a relegation clash to play with Kirkop facing Gharghur and Pembroke crossing swords with Marsaskala.
Rabat Ajax 1-1 Msida St Joseph
In a clash between the two bottom teams, Rabat Ajax and Msida St Joseph shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
Msida went in search of an early goal and a Moustafa Maloul effort from outside the area was cleared off the goal line by Zachary Tanti after just two minutes. Rabat replied with a good move by Jean Scholey who entered the area from the right, having a low shot saved by goalkeeper Nathan Mangion a minute later. Another Maloul effort from outside the area was parried by goalkeeper Giancarlo Borg on eight minutes.
However, a minute later, Msida took the lead when Maloul managed to place the ball at the back of the net, despite being brought down by the goalkeeper, when served on the right. The Saints almost added another on 10 minutes when former Rabat midfielder Yuya Emura advanced on the left and hit low but Tanti cleared the ball off the goal line. Msida remained in control and following a brilliant run on the right by Maloul, his conclusion was partially saved by substitute goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella with Luke Camilleri’s attempt off the rebound saved by the Rabat custodian.
The Magpies tried to recover and Jake Cordina had a low shot ending just wide on 23 minutes and four minutes later, a Scholey effort was saved partially by Mangion. Four minutes from the end of the first half, Shawn Cutajar came to the rescue for Rabat clearing off the goal line another attempt for Msida and a minute later, Sven Azzopardi’s fine rising shot was tipped into a corner by the Msida goalkeeper.
Three minutes in the second half, Vella performed a good save on a Luke Camilleri freekick. However, four minutes later, Scholey concluded a good run for Rabat with a cross with Deon Caruana handling the ball inside the area with the referee in charge ordering a penalty and from the spot, Ousman Ismaila converted.
Another freekick by Camilleri ended just over the bar on 56 minutes and three minutes later, Scholey missed a good opportunity for Rabat, hitting high following a good move on the right. Nigel Borg went close with a fine shot on 70 minutes which was blocked into a corner and six minutes from time, the same player had a freekick from the left ending just over the bar.
TOP SCORERS
16 – Joshua Ojelabi (Marsaskala)
15 – Leo Salgado (Qrendi)
14 – Marc Bolane Adonis (Mellieha), Godwin Emmanuel (Vittoriosa Stars), Richmond Hanson (Xghajra Tornados) & Samuel Saldanha (Birzebbuga St Peter’s)
13 – Nahuel Velasquez (San Gwann)
12 – Brandon Bray (Qrendi) & Claudio Antunes Pavlidis ‘Cadu’ (Qormi)
