NATIONAL AMATEUR LEAGUE II
MATCH DAY 17
Victoria Hotspurs 2-0 St George’s
All games of the penultimate Match Day of the 1st phase of the National Amateur League II were played on Sunday, with leaders Victoria Hotspurs and St George’s having the earliest kick off at the Centenary Stadium. The Hotspurs, home and dry, scored two early goals to add another victory to their impressive campaign, which they dominated from the start.
The Gozitan debutants started strongly as expected and took the lead after 11 minutes when an excellent cross by veteran Roderick Briffa found Kurt Borg who made no mistake heading home. On 24 minutes, Rondinely smashed home his 15th league goal of the season after some fine individual play.
Victoria could have made it three on 55 minutes when Emmanuel Mbong fired a rocket that slammed against the post with Clive Caruana rooted. On the hour mark, Mbong saw another effort blocked by Caruana whilst Kurt Borg hit the woodwork just a minute later as Victoria threatened to rack up a big score yet again.
The Hotspurs had another chance on 80 minutes when from an indirect free kick, Ferdinando Apap squared to Daniel Farrugia whose shot was brilliantly saved by Caruana, with the Pioneers eventually managing to keep the score at acceptable levels. Together with Mqabba and Kalkara United, both teams will meet again in the 2nd and final phase of the competition, which will be a single-round Top 4 contest.
Mdina Knights 1-2 Mqabba
The nearest followers of Victoria Hotspurs, albeit on a 15 points distance, remain Mqabba, who had to dig deep to beat a spirited Mdina Knights side, who have been showing good football lately and have most definitely grown into the season. Looking at ball possession and chances created, the odd goal in three win was however a justified outcome, although Mqabba struggled in the first half and their decisive goal arrived through a penalty given six minutes from time.
Mqabba took an early lead at the Sirens Stadium through Juan Andres Viveros, who rounded off a fine individual move from the right with an accurate grounder which had the best of Mdina custodian Yan Galea. But Mdina scored a deserved equaliser on 22 minutes when Gianluca Theuma headed home from a corner-kick. Not much later, Mqabba goalie Mario Bartolo did well to tip another Theuma attempt over the bar in what could have easily have meant the second goal for the Knights. Remarkably, Mdina held the upper-hand with Mqabba fast on the counter as Viveros wasted two excellent opportunities to kick his team ahead.
The team of coach Claudio Calleja took over the initiative after the break but the best chance was perhaps for Mdina on 54 minutes when Emmanuel Harrison was sent in the clear with Bartolo blocking his goal attempt. On 71 minutes on the other side, Galea did well to block a shot of the lively Viveros, keeping his side in the race for a prestigious point. But on 84 minutes, Mqabba earned a penalty when Viveros was brought down in the box. The Colombian took the spot-kick himself, blasting home elegantly to give his side a priceless three points in the race for promotion. In stoppage time, goalkeeper Galea was sent-off for handling the ball outside the penalty box with Dejan Cassar-Jackson taking his place for the last few minutes.
Kalkara United 3-1 Ta’ Xbiex
At the Mosta Ground, Kalkara had the better of Ta’ Xbiex, beating them 3-1 in an entertaining match, with Kalkara dominating the first half, and with Ta’ Xbiex coming back strongly in the second period. Two of the Kalkara goals came from veteran goal-getter Timmy Thomas, consolidating his top position in the Top Scorers chart with 17 campaign goals.
Kalkara were all over the place in the first half with Miguel Perez Jimenez putting them in front on seven minutes, and with Thomas scoring a beauty on 26 minutes, with a shot on the turn that finished in the top corner. On 35 minutes minutes, Kalkara went close again when an Andriy Pisani lob finished on the crossbar and sixty seconds from the break Thomas missed a sitter in front of goal.
In the second half, Ta’ Xbiex were a transformed side as Kalkara sat on their laurels. On 66 minutes Ta’ Xbiex were rewarded when they pulled one back when Clayton Mifsud beat the offside trap to slot past a helpless Liam Lagana. As expected, Ta’ Xbiex pushed for more and the Kalkara defence was under pressure, even though Ta’ Xbiex did not have clear cut chances to score the equaliser. On the stroke of full-time, with Ta’ Xbiex pushing forward, their defence was caught on the wrong foot and Thomas anticipated goalkeeper Cutajar to put the ball in an empty net and seal the issue.
Siggiewi 2-2 Dingli Swallows
Controversy in the early afternoon kick-off at the Sirens Stadium, with Siggiewi and Dingli sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw, on itself a result which was a fair one as the match was quite balanced. In the final stages, a last-minute penalty decision in favour of Siggiewi was remarkably overturned by the referee on advice of the nearest assistant. A decision which sparked outrage from the Siggiewi bench, with team manager Jake Azzopardi being sent-off for excessive protesting.
On five minutes, Leon Seisun made a great double save from a goalmouth melee’ while a few minutes later, the Siggiewi custodian did again well to block a close-range Jake Vella attempt. On 25 minutes, Siggiewi opened the scoring through Tyrone Grech, whose 20-meters distance attempt completely surprised Dingli goalkeeper Gianluca Pisani. On the stroke of half-time, Dingli scored a deserved equaliser through young French striker Owen Yoro Gbekia, who blasted home from close-range.
A freak incident on 57 minutes when Dingli substitute Jason Camilleri, doing the warm-up behind the Dingli goal, incautiously stopped the ball in the penalty area while still in play. As per the rules of law, the referee gave Camilleri a straight red and awarded a penalty to Siggiewi, which was coolly converted by Ghanian striker Isaac Dankwah-Asanyi.
Just after the hour, Dingli were unlucky when Gbekia rose high to head his goal attempt against the crossbar. On 81 minutes however, Gbekia equalised for the Swallows, rounding off some excellent individual work by substitute Karl Caruana. With three minutes regular time left, Dingli escaped when Shaun Spiteri hit the post from a Nelson Mangion cross-shot.
However, with the 90 minutes nearly over, Siggiewi were awarded another penalty when Brian Borg illegally halted Ryden Gatt in the box, which looked to be a fair decision. However, after some time lapsed and on advice of the assistant, the penalty decision was remarkably overturned, with the referee in charge, after having stopped the match to calm the situation, signalling the end of the game not much later. This decision was obviously not taken lightly by the Siggiewi clan, with the game ending in total disorder.
Santa Venera Lightnings 0-4 Ghaxaq
In the early Mosta Ground kick-off, Ghaxaq easily disposed of a below-par Santa Venera side, scoring two goals in each half for a commanding win. Ghaxaq veteran striker Aaron Agius stole the show with two goals, with the first one being his 100th career goal, but was then sent-off for dissent towards the end of the game.
The Saints had quite a good start and had the edge in the opening ten minutes but then it was Ghaxaq all the way. Agius had a good shot well saved by Lightnings goalkeeper Denio Azzopardi and on 28 minutes Ghaxaq took the lead when from a corner action, Clive Fenech’s shot hit the base of the upright and finished at the back of the net. Three minutes later, a Shylon Galdes effort just missed the target and four minutes from the break Ghaxaq doubled the score when Agius scored from close range following another corner action.
Five minutes into the second half and Ghaxaq made it three when substitute Sven Tonna scored after receiving from Shamizen Buhagiar. On 66 minutes Santa Venera were reduced to ten men when goalkeeper Azzopardi was sent off after stopping Agius just outside the area. Having no reserve goalkeeper, Ian Caruana left his striker position and became the new goalkeeper. From the resultant freekick, Agius fired home to make it 4-0. Ghaxaq controlled with relative ease but failed to add to their tally.
Ten minutes from time, Ghaxaq were also reduced to ten men when Agius received a straight red after arguing vividly with the referee.
TOP SCORERS
17 – Timmy Thomas (Mqabba/Kalkara United)
16 – Aaron Agius (Ghaxaq)
15 – Roberto Monteiro Rondinely (Victoria Hotspurs) & Juan Andres Viveros (Mqabba)
10 – Emmanuel Mbong (Victoria Hotspurs)
