The BOV Youth League continued over the week, as the four divisions reached the closing stages of the season. Birzebbuga St Peter’s Montekristo FC became the latest team to confirm their status as champions, after winning League D of the BOV Youth League.
Section A – Phase 2 Matchday 5
Naxxar Lions FC climbed to the top of Section A of the BOV Youth League after former league leaders Valletta FC dropped points.
On Monday, Valletta took on Floriana FC in a thrilling derby at the Centenary Stadium that had six goals and was filled with action.
Valletta came into the game as favourites given their excellent run of form and their superior league position. However, they were cautious of the fact that the Greens had held them to a 2-2 draw earlier in the season, knowing the threat they possessed going forward.
This time around, the Lilywhites started the stronger of the two sides, and it did not take them too long to find an opener. Just eight minutes into the encounter, Zak Barbara fired Valletta in front with his 10th goal of the season, continuing his impressive performances in the league.
Four minutes later, it was 2-0 to Valletta, as Peter Nnaemeka Ohaka scored to double their lead. This goal was Ohaka’s sixth in five games, as he continued to be a thorn in opposition defences.
The Greens regrouped and started to have more possession as the half wore on. They got themselves back into the game in the 27th minute, with Emerson Piscopo firing a strike past Valletta goalkeeper Liam Frendo to halve the deficit.
The two sides went into the break with the score 2-1 to Valletta, with the match still open.
Following half-time, Valletta tried to reclaim some form of control on the encounter, while Floriana were pushing for an equaliser. The Greens got back on level terms in the 70th minute, as Gerrard Cann Rodgers scored to make it 2-2.
However, Valletta’s fluid attack did find another way through the Floriana defence in the 79th minute, as defender Lydon Seychell popped up with a goal, with Valletta thinking it would be enough to seal the win. Their celebrations were short-lived though, as Floriana managed to find an equaliser in the 86th minute to level the scoring, with Zyas Vella Newell getting the decisive goal, just six minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The match finished 3-3, leaving Naxxar with an opportunity to go top, and they did just that, narrowly beating Melita FC at Melita Ground.
Melita put up a good fight against Naxxar, holding off the Lions while also possessing some attacking threat themselves.
Naxxar had come off the back of a resounding victory over Floriana, yet they could not find the same space on Monday as they had done on that occasion.
The crucial goal for Naxxar came right before half-time, as Olalekan Qudus Opajobi, the Lions’ main source of goals this season, put the ball into the net past James Sissons to fire them in front. This goal was his 13th goal of the season, putting him level with St Andrews FC’s William James England.
Aside from the goal, the match was a rather timid affair, with neither side managing to create many opportunities on goal. Naxxar’s resolute defence saw out the win, earning them another set of three points and lifting them to the top of the table.
Section B – Phase 2 Matchday 5
In Section B, Fgura United retained their eight-point lead at the top of the table after another impressive win, this time against Kirkop United.
Fgura showed their quality and firepower going forward right from the start, getting the better of Kirkop’s defence on three occasions within the opening 27 minutes.
Innocent John Awori was on hand to open the scoring for the league leaders in the ninth minute to get the ball rolling, before Gareth Desira and Isaiah Micallef also found the net in the 22nd and 27th minutes, respectively.
While Kirkop have the best attack of the division, they could not break down the resolute Fgura defence, which has conceded just 14 goals this season, the least out of any team in Section B.
Fgura looked to get another goal to cement their win, yet Kirkop held their own and denied the league leaders any more space, but they could not muster any real opportunities of their own.
As a result, Fgura went away with another set of three points, putting them a step closer to sealing the league title.
Their closest title rivals, Swieqi United, did manage to also win against Zebbug Rangers FC, keeping them in contention.
Prior to the match, Swieqi and Zebbug were level on points, with just goal difference there to separate them. In the encounter earlier this season, the two teams played out a goalless draw, highlighting how close they are.
This time around, the Owls seemed more up for it, and they seized control of the match from the opening few minutes.
Swieqi got their reward for their early pressure in the 38th minute, as Benjamin Giles fired them ahead, ensuring they go into half-time with a one-goal advantage.
However, Swieqi got the second-half off to a difficult start, as captain Denzel Calleja, who had picked up a yellow card in the first-half, was shown a second booking on the hour-mark, leaving the Owls with 10 men for the remaining 30 minutes.
The numerical disadvantage did not dampen Swieqi’s spirit though, as they were awarded a penalty just two minutes later. Nikola Milenkovic was entrusted with the spot-kick, and he calmly put it past goalkeeper Shenzil Briffa to give Swieqi a two-goal lead.
Swieqi proceeded to see out the 2-0 win, ensuring they stay as close as possible to Fgura before the two sides face off next week in a game that could decide the title.
Section C – Phase 2 Matchday 4
Luqa St Andrew’s FC joined Mgarr United in securing promotion from Section C to B after a comfortable 3-0 win over Rabat Ajax FC on Wednesday.
Luqa have been in great form over recent weeks, having gone unbeaten since the start of 2025, and they showed that attacking quality yet again against Rabat.
They were the more adventurous of the two sides at the start, and it took them only 17 minutes for them to go ahead thanks to Jake Cappello, who hit a great strike to open the scoring.
Following the goal, Rabat regrouped, and they started to hold on to the ball more, yet it was proving difficult for them to make it into the Luqa final third.
After half-time, Luqa really took control of the match, and they doubled their lead in the 60th minute, with Cappello once again getting on the end of a fine move.
The Saints’ lead was quickly extended to three goals, as just seven minutes later, firing forward Andreas Psaila made it 3-0 with his 13th goal of the season.
Rabat could not find a way back into the game, and Luqa emerged as 3-0 winners, getting promoted to Section B.
Elsewhere, champions Mgarr United maintained their unbeaten run this season with another win, this time against Marsaskala FC.
The encounter, played at Mgarr Ground, was filled with action from the very start. Both sides went forward and threatened to open the scoring in the opening minutes of the game, which was being played at a very quick pace.
Mgarr’s Vivi-Gaetan Mahop continued his stellar season with a goal to break the deadlock in the 23rd minute, before getting another to his name only two minutes later, putting the Greens two goals up. Following his quickfire brace, his tally for the season is now up to 15 goals, putting him on his own at the top of the goalscoring table.
However, Marsaskala responded with a goal of their own in the 27th minute, as Jayden Degiorgio halved the deficit.
Marsaskala used this goal as a platform to try to get themselves back into the match, yet Mgarr proved too strong, and they could not find another way through the stubborn Greens backline.
In the latter stages of the second-half, Mgarr sealed the win with a goal from Kyle Bonnici to make it 3-1 and ensure they walked away with three points.
Section D – Phase 2 Matchday 5
Birzebbuga St Peter’s Montekristo FC secured the Section D title after a resounding win over Santa Venera Lightnings FC in a gripping title race that went down to the final matchday.
Santa Venera Lightnings FC 0-5 Birzebbuga St Peter’s Montekristo FC – 06.03.25 – Photo by Rodianne Xerri
Birzebbuga and their title challengers, Dingli Swallows FC, have been exchanging positions at the top of the table for large portions of the season, yet Birzebbuga ended up getting the last laugh. Birzebbuga only needed a point to secure the title, while Dingli would need to their rivals to lose and for them to win their own game, against Zejtun Corinthians FC.
The match, played at Birzebbuga Ground, was very well-attended, with a number of Birzebbuga fans there to support their side. The players used this to their advantage, and they were three goals up before the break.
Yusuf Abdullahi Sulaiman, who has had a stunning goalscoring season, fired Birzebbuga ahead with his 24th goal of the league campaign only 19 minutes into the game.
Their lead was doubled in the 29th minute thanks to a goal from the penalty spot by Thomas Vassallo Mintoff, before Shaun Galea extended the lead to three goals in the 43rd minute.
Birzebbuga already had one hand on the title at the start of the second-half, yet they continued to attack, wanting to end the season on a high.
They got their reward, as 62 minutes into the encounter, Ruben Malo Rat made it 4-0, before Liam Brincat wrapped up the win with a goal of his own in the final 15 minutes of the match. This meant that whatever the result at Dingli Ground between Dingli and Zejtun, Birzebbuga were crowned champions.
From their part, Dingli did get the win over the line, albeit a much narrower one that was anticipated.
Zejtun have struggled defensively all season, and Dingli have not been the most prolific of teams, with them relying on their resolute defence to get wins over the line.
In fact, the match could only be separated by a single goal, as Owen Yoro Gbekia found the net in the 31-minute mark. The rest of the match was rather even, with neither side mustering plenty of opportunities on goal.
Despite Dingli not getting the league title, they will be joining Birzebbuga in Section C next season, after securing promotion relatively comfortably.
