Lija Athletic 1
Marsaxlokk 4
Marsaxlokk sent a clear warning of their promotion credentials after hitting four past Lija Athletic to join the latter at the top of the standings on 17 points.
Marsaxlokk played an almost perfect tactical game, with the hard-working Andre Grabowski covering acres of spaces, and capping his display with a brace to earn his team their fifth win of the season.
Marsaxlokk took just two minutes to forge ahead when Lija goalkeeper Luke Bonnici tried to keep out Grabowski’s close-range effort with the ball hitting the Swedish player before ending in the net.
On 15 minutes Lija were awarded a penalty when Terence Farrugia handled the ball inside his own area and Erjon Beu duly converted to make it 1-1.
Lija were unlucky on 22 minutes when Abdullahi Adeshina’s free header hit a post while six minutes later Beu’s shot came off the upright and from the rebound Almeida miscued his effort.
Marsaxlokk regained their lead on 33 minutes courtesy of a Rupert Mangion free-kick.
Four minutes later Lija should have equalised but Beu fired over from close in.
On the hour, Marsaxlokk scored a third when Grabowski was released by Dylan Micallef and the Swedish striker coolly slotted the ball home.
Fifteen minutes from time Grabowski tried to surprise Bonnici but his lob finished over.
Two minutes into injury time Douglas Da Silva Silveira put more misery on Lija when he bundled over from the rebound after his initial shot was blocked by Bonnici.
Lija: L. Bonnici; C. Giordmaina, M. Fleri Soler (A. Sacco), D. Scerri, E. Beu, E. Briffa, B. Fenech (D. Vukovic), A. Scicluna, B. Antignolo, A. Ige, R. Almeida (A. Mercieca).
Marsaxlokk: O. Borg; T. Farrugia, R. Mifsud, M. Brincat, K. Scicluna, D. Micallef (P. Paris), R. Mangion, G. Caruana (S. Cutajar), D. Attard (D. Grech), A. Grabowski, D. Da Silva Silveira.
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Man of the match: Andre Grabowski (Marsaxlokk).
Vittoriosa Stars 1
Żejtun Corinthians 0
Vittoriosa Stars piled more misery on off-form Żejtun Corinthians after a solitary goal from Marcelo Pereira earned them a valuable win.
The Cottonera outfit have now joined fifth-placed Pietà Hotspurs on 14 points, and just three points behind joint-leaders Lija Athletic and Marsaxlokk.
Żejtun threatened first after only two minutes when Hamza Chaib’s shot was pushed away by Jean-Mathias Vella.
On 12 minutes, Pereira burst clear but his shot flashed wide. At the other end, Zvevdan Vukovic almost scored directly from a corner but was denied by Vella.
On 23 minutes Ranier Farrugia made a brilliant to deny Lydon Micallef while minutes later Pereira’s cross-shot found no takers in front of a gaping goal.
A minute into injury time it was Farrugia again who saved his side after brilliantly parrying away a Micallef drive from the edge of the area.
Żejtun came out attacking in the second half and on 48 minutes a Kenneth Abela header was saved by Vella.
Farrugia remained the busier custodian when keeping out efforts from Muir and Perreira.
Vittoriosa deservedly went ahead on 65 minutes when Muir picked Pereira who beat two defenders before firing home with a low shot.
Żejtun tried to get back into the match but for all their pressure they rarely threatened the Stars’ goal.
Vittoriosa : J.M. Vella; M. Buttigieg, G. Muir, L. Micallef (Sir. Arab), M. Barbara (Sam. Arab), L. Dos Santos, S. Grech (A. Spiteri), M. Tabone, L. Vella Critien, M. Perriera, J. Camilleri.
Żejtun : R. Farrugia; E. Azzopardi, A. Farrugia, M. Borg (D. Zahra), D. Zarb, K. Vassallo (B. Gockay), H. Chaib (O. Majtara), A. Carabott, K. Abela, C. Magro, Z. Vukovic.
Referee: Alan Mario Sant.
Man of the match: Ranier Farrugia (Żejtun).