Melita 0
Mqabba 2
Marlon Briffa came off the bench to inspire Mqabba to a 2-0 victory over Melita in a balanced match at the Tedesco Stadium yesterday.
For the record, this was Mqabba’s fifth victory on the trot after they won their four group matches in the Knock-Out competition.
Scoring chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes as most of the action was restricted to midfield.
The few spectators present had to wait until the 20th minute to witness a shot at goal, a weak effort from the edge of the box by Mqabba’s David Azzopardi.
Melita tried to play their usual style of football, one based on quick passing and hard pressing when they chased possession.
On 28 minutes, a good passing move by Melita ended with Kane Micallef finding space in the Mqabba box but his drive hit the side-netting.
The latter stages of the first half belonged to Melita. A cross-shot by Micallef was saved by Kris Calleja.
Mqabba began to show their true mettle at the start of the second half. On 57 minutes, Thiago Do Santos Mazitelli rose well to meet Briffa’s cross and headed firmly into the net.
Eight minutes later, Calleja, the Mqabba goalkeeper, pulled off a fine save to stop Matthew Borg’s grounder from underneath the crossbar following a Micallef cross from the right.
A minute later, Mqabba doubled their lead. John Paul Muscat blasted the ball home from inside the box after being picked out by another measured Briffa cross.
Melita came close to reopening the issue on 69 minutes when Micallef chipped a pass to substitute Nicolo Baldacchino who drove the ball just wide from inside the area.
In the dying minutes, Micallef’s free-kick was met by George Gribbon whose header ended inches wide.
Melita: K. Zahra, R. Alinho, L. Martinelli, G. Gribbon, M. Martin, M. Borg (S. Galea), K. Micallef, J. Galea, L. Micallef (N. Baldacchino), K. Vella Petroni, M. Batel.
Mqabba: K. Calleja, A. Scicluna, M. Bonnici, P. Grima, B. Timotic, D. Azzopardi, T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja (C. Cuschieri), J.P. Muscat (J. Shead), J. Debattista, S. Magro (M. Briffa).
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri.
Man of the match: Marlon Briffa (Mqabba).