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Mqabba 1
Lija Athletic 2

Lija are the new Division One leaders after beating early pacesetters Mqabba. J.J. Aquilina's team deserved their win as they dominated the match from start to finish. Certainly, the 2-1 result does not really reflect Lija's superiority yesterday at the Tedesco Stadium.

Mqabba looked a shadow of the side that started so well earlier in the season. Even Ikechukwu Chibueze, the top scorer, disappointed. Despite scoring a superb goal from a free-kick, he looked more interested in arguing with his marker Daddy Okeke during the match.

Lija had six attempts at goal during the opening half as Mqabba only managed one decent effort, just before the stroke of half-time.

Lija surged forward in attack, a Daniel Scerri cross-shot and an Alan Ellul drive almost on target for Aquilina's team. They went ahead, however, after 32 minutes when Glenn Barry hit home from an angle.

Mario Micallef was then anticipated in last moment by Mqabba goalkeeper Eddie Bartolo and the latter again showed his mettle on 43 minutes when stopping a Scerri shot.

Just before the break, Mqabba's Martin Borg should have done better than hitting wide from inside the box.

Lija continued to control the match after the break, the upright denying Micallef from a goal.

Mqabba suffered a severe setback on 61 minutes when Marco Catania was sent off for a vicious foul on Scerri. Lija scored again 15 minutes from time, Scerri scoring with an acrobatic turn inside the Mqabba box.

Mqabba were poor in their reaction but three minutes from time they scored a consolation goal from a free-kick from the subdued Chibueze.

But it was surely not Mqabba's day yesterday as deep into stoppage time, the referee sent off Marlon Briffa for a foul on Lija's Alan Ellul.

Mqabba: E. Bartolo; R. Farrugia; M. Catania; L. Grech (A. Formosa, E. Borg); M.A. Psaila; J.P. Muscat; E. Gauci (K. Mallia); M. Briffa; M. Borg; M. Gauci; I. Chibueze.

Lija: S. Agius; D. Okeke; J.P. Scerri; A. Ellul; G. Lanzon; R. Mifsud; D. Scerri (A. Coleiro); M. Micallef; G. Camenzuli; G. Barry; P. Camilleri (G. Micallef).

Referee: Chris Lautier.

Senglea Athletics 2
Tarxien Rainbows 3

Tarxien, tipped by many as promotion candidates but who started the season on a bad footing, have now won their second match on the trot to move further away from the red zone.

With all teams being of same standard, Tarxien can now feel that they could start anew this season and put some more pressure on the teams above them in the standings.

Tarxien improved after the break when Aaron Guazzo came in for Chris Borg. He scored a brace and along with Simon Shead and Maczerob Okoro, was a constant threat in the Rainbows' attack. Unfortunately, he had to leave the field injured late in the game.

This was another negative result for Senglea that saw them slipping down the standings in Division One.

The first half was a balanced affair with a great deal of goalmouth actions. It was Senglea, however, who took the lead against the run of play after 24 minutes from an indirect free-kick inside the Tarxien box. Andrea Bonnici struck a low drive into the back of the net.

The Rainbows rushed forward in search of an equaliser but it was Senglea who almost doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time - John Fsadni incredibly hit wide with an open goal at his mercy.

Tarxien were even better after the restart. Massimo Schembri and Simon Shead went close but on 56 minutes it was all square. Simon Aquilina handled in his box and from the penalty Guazzo made it 1-1.

Two minutes later Tarxien scored again, this time Guazzo finishing off some fine Brian Camilleri work on the flank.

Senglea lost their composure and Tarxien looked to have made the game safe when Shead lobbed home his side's third goal.

But with 15 minutes to go Senglea were back in the game thanks to a fine Alan Spiteri goal. They started playing better as Tarxien goalie Curmi was kept busy for the rest of the match. However, it was the Rainbows who came closest to scoring again only for Okoro to fumble a good chance when put through by Shead.

Senglea: E. Attard; D. Aquilina; E. Azzopardi; S. Aquilina; K. Tonna (C. Caruana); A. Spiteri; D. Grech; A. Imbroll; J. Fsadni (L. McKay); A. Bonnici; T. Thomas.

Tarxien: A. Curmi; G. Cutajar (B. Camilleri); M. Farrugia; E. Saliba; M. Schembri; M. Caruana; G. Mallia; S. Shead; C. Borg (A. Guazzo, D. Baldacchino); J. Agius; M. Okoro.