Mqabba bounce back

Mqabba 3
Lija Athletic 1

Mqabba atoned for their opening day defeat to Marsa yesterday when a hat-trick from their Nigerian striker Uchanna Anywanna gave them a deserved 3-1 win over Lija.

Gaining the upperhand from the early stages, Mqabba forged ahead after seven minutes. A good one-two between Albert Busuttil and Marlon Briffa produced a chance for Anywanna who rifled the ball home.

Vince Carbonaro's team continued to dominate, doubling their lead midway through the first half when a swerving cross by Busuttil was headed home by Anywanna.

One expected Lija to react but this never materialised as Mqabba remained in attacking mode. On 29 minutes, Briffa should have secured the points but, after receiving an accurate pass from Busuttil, he placed the ball wide of Lija's goal.

Lija's only scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 36th minute when Glenn Barry picked up a loose ball inside the Mqabba box but his shot was kept out by Kris Calleja.

Four minutes into the second half, Lija were back in contention. They pulled a goal back through a Michael Gatt header after a cross from Zjelko Anicic.

Six minutes past the hour, Mqabba were unlucky not to score a third when Roderick Spiteri's 25-metre scorcher hit the woodwork.

Fifteen minutes from time, Mqabba made sure of the points when Anywanna surged through the Lija defence and beat Etienne Mercieca with a low drive.

Lija could have reduced the deficit eight minutes from the end but John Camilleri's point-blank effort was saved by Calleja.

Mqabba: K. Calleja, P. Grima, A. Busuttil, J. Tellus, M.A. Psaila (A. Formosa), M. Briffa (J.P. Formosa), M. Borg, M. Bonnici, U. Anywanna (S. Sullivan), E. Borg, R. Spiteri.

Lija: E. Mercieca, J. Cauchi, J.P. Scerri, A. Ellul (B. Antignolo), G. Lanzon, D. Scerri, M. Gatt (D. Cremona), J. Camilleri, G. Barry, P. Camilleri, Z. Anicic.

Referee: Edward Spiteri.

St Patrick 0
San Gwann 1

Nigerian forward Peter Anizoba came back to haunt his former employers when scoring a late goal with which his new club San Gwann had the better of St Patrick.

Scoring chances were non-existent in the opening stages with the first genuine opportunity falling San Gwann's way midway through the first half. From a Chris Cuschieri cross, a header by Anizoba was tipped over the crossbar by St Patrick goalkeeper Franklin Azzopardi.

St Patrick responded in the 36th minute when a Gordon Failla free-kick nearly deceived San Gwann goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo who lost balance and spilled the ball which came off the post. From the rebound, Benoir Fenech's effort was cleared off the line by Antonio Saliba.

Two minutes later, an attempt by Anizoba just missed the target and Mark Tanti, the St Patrick striker, shot straight at goalkeeper Bartolo.

San Gwann were the better side at the start of the second half. They were unlucky not to take the lead in the 70th minute when another strong shot from Anizoba hit the crossbar and from the rebound, Karl Sciberras fired inches wide.

St Patrick protested vehemently in the 33rd minute when they had a goal by Thomas Caruana disallowed after the latter was judged by the referee to have pushed an opponent before striking the ball home.

Ten minutes from the end of normal time, San Gwann notched what was to prove the winning goal. Andrea Zammit Tabona's corner was misjudged by St Patrick keeper Azzopardi and Anizoba was on hand to head home.

Borislav Giorev's men tried in vain to gain an equaliser as San Gwann defended well to score a merited victory.

St Patrick: F. Azzopardi, R. Cassar, A. Buttigieg, M. Zerafa (A. Buhagiar), S. Costa Brazilino, M. Tanti, G. Scerri (K. Vassallo), G. Failla, T. Caruana, B. Fenech, S. Zerafa (C. Micallef).

San Gwann: M. Bartolo, L. Vella Critien, A. Zammit Tabona, W. Spiteri, A. Saliba, S. Zammit Fava, C. Cuschieri, A. Farrugia (V. Camilleri), P. Anizoba, K. Sciberras (M. Buttigieg), K. Loughborough (A. Borg).

Referee: Adrian Casha.