Buhagiar's goal promotes St Patrick

Mosta 2
St Patrick 3

St Patrick made sure of Premier League football next season after coming from a goal down to beat Mosta at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Substitute Allister Buhagiar snatched the all-important goal that ensured the Saints promotion to the top flight as they are now sole leaders and cannot be overtaken by Mqabba who moved level on points with Lija Athletic in second place after a 1-1 draw against Senglea in their last league match yesterday.

St Patrick, who last played among the elite of Maltese football in season 1998-99, now need a point to be crowned Division One champions.

Their win yesterday was far from straightforward as the Saints were trailing Mosta 2-1 when they were reduced to ten men early in the second half but much to their credit, they still found the energy to turn the result in their favour.

Mosta created their first chance after only six minutes when Ryan Newell dashed into the Saints' area, his low shot beat goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi but in came Arnold Buttigieg to clear the danger.

St Patrick replied on 12 minutes when Peter Anizoba headed wide and a minute later the Nigerian's shot was blocked by Charles Sciberras.

The Zabbar outfit maintained the upperhand and on 22 minutes they forged ahead. Anizoba's powerful run saw him making headway into the Saints' half before he served Mark Tanti, the latter quickly passed to Caruana who stabbed the ball home.

Anizoba should have added a second two minutes later when he rounded Sciberras but his shot was blocked by Brian Galea.

Mosta's Pio Sciriha had a free-kick fisted away for a corner by Azzopardi in the 34th minute. But the St Patrick goalie could not stop Newell from scoring from the ensuing flag-kick, taken by Alex Chetcuti.

On the stroke of half-time, the Saints could have regained the initiative but Clayton Failla's header was cleared off the line by Newell.

Seconds into the second half, St Patrick spurned another fine chance to nose ahead when Caruana shot straight at Sciberras.

St Patrick paid dearly for that miss as on 52 minutes, Christian Tabone's cross found Ives Bilocca who rifled the ball home. At this juncture, St Patrick substitute Patrick Muscat was sent off from the bench for unsporting behaviour.

In spite of this double setback, St Patrick came back strongly and five minutes later Anizoba's header finished just wide. In the 62nd minute, the Nigerian did not miss, nodding home from a Sciberras free-kick. However, their joy was tainted by the expulsion of Caruana for dissent.

In the 77th minute, Buhagiar came on for Tanti and the Saints substitute made an immediate impact on the game. Pouncing on poor control by Jonathan Grech, Buhagiar fired the ball home to complete St Patrick's turnaround, in the process securing their promotion to the top flight.

Mosta: C. Sciberras, P. Sciriha (P. Zammit), P. Vassallo, M. Agius, R. Asciak, A. Chetcuti, R. Newell, I. Bilocca, C. Tabone, J. Grech, B. Galea.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg, D. Gauci, A. Galea (S. Sciberras), M. Tanti (A. Buhagiar), C. Failla (M. Pullicino), G. Failla, T. Caruana, P. Anizoba, S. Zerafa.

Referee: Adrian Casha.

Mqabba 1
Senglea Athletic 1

Mqabba's prospects of earning promotion to the Premier League were dealt a severe blow yesterday after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Senglea Athletic.

Anthony Garzia's side badly needed a victory from yesterday's encounter in order to open a two-point gap on Lija Athletic, leaving the latter needing to win their match against Mosta on the final day to secure promotion.

After taking an early lead, Mqabba's failure to maintain their early momentum was capitalised by Senglea who grabbed an equaliser just before the break.

Mqabba went on to besiege the Senglea goal after the change of ends but despite playing for most of the half with a man more, they failed to find the target, also missing a penalty. Now their hopes are hanging by a thread as Lija need just a point against Mosta to seal promotion.

Mqabba could not have hoped for a better start as within four minutes of the initial whistle, they had surged ahead. Ikechukwu Chibueze turned past his marker, his cross was fumbled by Edon Bobolayefa and Marlon Briffa darted in to hammer home.

Senglea replied on 16 minutes when Alan Spiteri controlled Frans Dingli's cross but shot weakly into Kris Calleja's hands.

On 25 minutes, Mqabba's Jean Paul Muscat tried his luck from the distance but his effort was blocked by Sean Cini.

Ten minutes from half-time, Claudio Calleja almost hit a second goal for Mqabba but his volley was turned for a corner by Cini.

Eight minutes from the break, Senglea restored parity when they were awarded a penalty after Muscat fouled Trevor Thomas inside the box. Simon Aquilina completed formalities from the 11-metre mark.

Mqabba almost suffered a second goal in first-half injury time when Spiteri released Thomas but the Senglea forward shot wide with only Calleja to beat. Moments later, Chibueze should have re-established Mqabba's lead but he failed to connect to a Muscat cross.

After the interval, Mqabba came out of the dressing rooms determined to regain the lead. Martin Borg spotted Muscat just inside the area but Cini charged out to block.

Senglea's threat from counter-attacks could not be ignored. On 53 minutes, Clint Caruana's shot finished just wide.

Two minutes later, Mqabba were given a penalty when Calleja was floored by Tyrone Ghirxi inside the box. Referee Mark Spiteri also dismissed the Senglea defender after he received his second booking.

Mqabba's joy at winning a penalty soon turned sour when Edmond Lufi's shot was saved by Cini.

Twenty minutes from the end, Mqabba twice went close to forging ahead, first through Briffa whose grounder ended wide and then, Calleja's shot just missed the target.

Eight minutes from time, Cini twice denied Mqabba when blocking efforts from Chibueze and Lufi.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, M. Gauci (K. Mallia), A. Busuttil, E. Lufi, M.A. Psaila, J.P. Muscat (E. Borg), M. Briffa, M. Borg, I. Chibueze, A. Formosa, C. Calleja.

Senglea A.: S. Cini, A. Spiteri (Timothy Thomas), L. Attard (C. Caruana), L. McKay, D. Grech (K. Tonna), S. Aquilina, T. Ghirxi, Trevor Thomas, A. Imbroll, F. Dingli, E. Bobolayefa.

Referee: Mark Spiteri.