Mġarr United 3
Żejtun Corinthians 4
Żejtun Corinthians were crowned Third Division champions yesterday after beating Mġarr United in a championship decider at the Tedesco Stadium that saw captain Charlo Magro scoring his team's winner a few minutes before the final whistle.
The Corinthians will now hope to notch the double as they play Għargħur in the KO final on Friday.
Żejtun opened the score after just four minutes through a low shot by Andy Portelli following a square pass by Magro.
Magro then shot just high over the bar from the edge of the penalty area as Żejtun held the edge. They doubled their lead on 32 minutes when Kenneth Abela hit home following a good move by Carmel Formosa.
Mġarr regrouped and reduced the arrears thanks to a Chris Abela goal but the first half belonged to Żejtun who went in for the break two goals to the good following another Portelli goal just before half-time.
Keeper Josuel Caruana did well to keep out a Johan Said shot after the restart but the Corinthians no.1 could do nothing to stop Abela from making it 2-3 on 59 minutes from a James Borg free-kick.
Żejtun were stunned. Mġarr sustained the pressure and eight minutes from time Steve Aquilina scored the equaliser for his team.
The decider seemed heading to extra time but on 87 minutes Magro headed in from a Karl Vassallo corner to snatch a very late winner for his team.
Żejtun were presented with the championship trophy by MFA vice president Carmelo Bartolo.
Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, C. Bugeja (S. Aquilina), W. Buttigieg, M. Bugeja, Mario Abela (Mark Abela), J. Borg, C. Tabone, J. Said, N. Busuttil (K. Vella), C. Abela, M. Muscat.
Żejtun: J. Caruana, J. Cachia, E. Azzopardi, K. Vassallo, J. Abela, C. Giordemaina, C. Magro, C. Formosa (V. Camilleri), K. Abela, A. Portelli (J.P. Abela), G. Busuttil (D. Vella).
Referee: Paul Caruana.
PROMOTION PLAY-OFF
Preliminary round
Għaxaq 1
Gudja United 2
Għaxaq: J. Agius, E. Dimech, C. Xuereb (B. Barbara), P.P. Cassar, C. Cristiano, L. Falzon, M. Axiaq, L. Camilleri, F. Galea, J. Zammit (K. Caruana), A. Caruana (C. Camilleri).
Gudja: M. Xerxen, C. Mangion, E. Vella, J. Schembri, C. Galea, A. Cutajar, E. Gauci, A. Guazzo (D. Bonnici), R. Debattista, T. Thomas (J. Micallef), D. Zammit.
Referee: Fyodor Zammit.
Scorers: Guazzo (G) 7; Thomas (G) 59; Cassar (GĦ) 82.
Missed penalty: Zammit (Għaxaq) 38.
Semi-finals (Thursday, Centenary Stadium): 6 p.m. Mdina Knights vs Naxxar Lions; 8 p.m. Gudja vs Sta Venera.
Final (Centenary Stadium): Sunday, 9.30 a.m.