Leaders Sannat score last-gasp equaliser

Qala St Joseph 0
KerCem Ajax 3

This was a deserved victory for Kercem over Qala to start the second round on a positive note and move away from the bottom positions.

Ajax opened the score in the 16th minute following a perfect Jerry Ani lob. In the following minutes they had an attempt by Charles Hili cleared off the line and a Frankie Camilleri shot hitting the bar.

The score became 2-0 in the 32nd minute with another Ani goal and Mario Cutajar made it 3-0 with a shot from the distance seven minutes from half-time.

Kercem opted to control play in midfield in the second half. They were still more dangerous than their opponents through efforts by Elton Vella, Mario Azzopardi and Charles Hili.

Qala's best scoring opportunities arrived with speculative shots from Alex Ribic and Mario Mifsud that fell off target.

Qala: J. Mizzi, G. Cefai, I. Grech, P. Camilleri, M. Bonello, R. Oba (P. Said), D. Abela (C. Portelli), M. Mifsud, J. Xerri, A. Ribic, K. Mercieca.

Kercem: L. Camilleri, F. Camilleri, E.M. Diallo (M. Vella), M. Azzopardi, A. Tramboo, M. Cremona, J. Portelli, M. Cutajar, J. Ani, E. Vella (M. Mamo), C. Hili (J. Grech).

Referee: Gordon Barbara.

Nadur Youngsters 0
Xaghra United 0

Nadur and Xaghra shared the spoils in a goalless draw that was of no use to both sides. Nadur are still lagging behind Sannat in the standings as Xaghra are deeply embroiled in the relegation issue.

Xaghra held territorial sup-remacy during the first period but Nadur were well deployed and never in danger of conceding a goal. Ejofor Nkwocha had a shot saved by the Nadur keeper and also had a goal disallowed for offside.

Nadur could have opened the score in the 48th minute but Anthony Portelli concluded over from an inviting position following a melee in Xaghra's goalmouth.

Nadur ended up with a player less in the 57th minute when Anthony Portelli was sent off. But Xaghra never profited from the situation and had keeper Donald Gauci to thank after saving a couple of shots late on that could have given Nadur victory.

Nadur: J. Xuereb, P. Buttigieg, J. Meilaq, F. Marius, B. Meilak, I. Djordjevic, F.P. Azzopardi, M. Portelli, A. Portelli, E. Nkwanko, J.C. Portelli (K. Mifsud).

Xaghra: D. Gauci, S.F. Bajada, S. Sultana, J.G. Vella (Z. Milosevic), J. Galea, J. Attard, C. Camilleri, B. Njoku, E. Nkwocha, A. Evi Parker, J. Camilleri (J. Sultana).

Referee: Pierre Bonnici.

Ghajnsielem 1
Xewkija Tigers 1

Ghajnsielem and Xewkija re-turned home with a point each. This was a fair result as the Blacks were seeking to stay in touch with the front-runners while the Tigers are in dire need of points to stave off the drop.

Xewkija opened the score in the 12th minute through Edmond Tchawou. Ghajnsielem had an immediate reaction and applied some pressure on Xewkija.

They went close to scoring with attempts by Fernando de Andrade and Charles Mercieca.

Their stance paid off in the 37th minute when Charles Mercieca headed the equaliser following a Leandro de Castro free-kick.

Ghajnsielem retained the upperhand after the break and could have turned the result in their favour with efforts by Frank Buttigieg, Mercieca and Frank Lee Galea.

At the other end, a 70th-minute Tchawou shot was turned to corner by keeper Victor Agius. Xewkija's no.1 Joseph Grima saved the point for his side late in the match with two fine saves on shots by Buttigieg and Jeremy Camilleri.

Ghajnsielem: V. Agius, D. Debattista, F. Buttigieg, C. Mercieca, J. Buttigieg, L. de Castro, J. Camilleri, F. de Andrade (R. Apap), L. Buttigieg, T. Belhaj (A. Buttigieg), F.L. Galea.

Xewkija: J. Grima, J. Dingli (A. Said), J. Cefai, S. Farrugia, R. Said, A. Fotso, D. Cilia, J. Azzopardi, S. Hili, P. Rapa (J. Vella, C. Borg), E. Tchawou.

Referee: Paul Apap.

Kercem Ajax 1
Sannat Lions 1

After losing their previous match against Nadur, Sannat had to settle for a draw in their next fixture against Kercem. The point, however, was still good enough for the Lions to move top of the standings, one point ahead of the Youngsters.

Kercem were looking to make it a double over Sannat and close the gap with the leaders. However, their ambitions suffered a setback when Sannat scored a dramatic equaliser in the 90th minute.

The match was entertaining during the opening half even though the Ajax enjoyed the edge.

Sannat's Franco Magrin cleared in time an angled shot by Jerry Ani and Lions goalkeeper Paul Galea did well to hold out a Charles Hili effort from a Jason Portelli free-kick.

Sabri Rais failed to connect in the Ajax box after an inswinging cross from Andrew Debono.

Kercem opened the score in the 27th minute following a Marlon Mamo tap-in after an Ani scorching run on the left flank.

Sannat looked demoralised and after the break Kercem controlled play and kept danger away from their half of the pitch. But on 66 minutes they suffered a blow when skipper Frankie Camilleri was sent off for a second booking.

The Lions pushed more men forward and levelled the score in the very last minute when Paul Spiteri hit home following a corner.

Kercem: L. Camilleri, F. Camilleri, E.M. Diallo (M. Tabone), M. Azzopardi, A. Tramboo, J. Portelli, M. Cutajar, J. Ani, E. Vella, C. Hili, M. Mamo (J. Grech).

Sannat: P. Galea, A. Debono, M. Formosa, F. Magrin, P. Spiteri, C. de Oliveira, J. Vella, S. Rais, M. Muscat, E. Grima (J. Agius), R. Saverino.

Referee: Reno Refalo.