Naxxar back to winning ways, Saints boost survival hopes

Naxxar Lions 3
Gżira United 0

Naxxar Lions bounced back from their upset to Mġarr as they easily saw off Gżira to join Mellieħa in second place in the standings.

The Maroons went close with a couple of efforts from Cedric Sciberras but on 20 minutes, the Lions opened the scoring when a cross by Gabriel Buys Duarte was headed in by Andre Rocha da Silva.

Adrian Fenech had a good opportunity to make it 2-0 five minutes later but fluffed his chance. Rocha da Silva did likewise soon after. At the other end, Richard Attard failed to conclude after a fine solo move inside the opponents’ half.

Naxxar dictated the run of play for most of the second half, also buoyed by Rocha da Silva’s second goal on 47 minutes after a perfect ball from Buys Duarte.

The Gżira keeper did well to keep out another Buys Duarte effort and 13 minutes from time, Lions goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi denied his opponents with a timely save on Attard.

Gżira pressed hard in the closing minutes and were unlucky when an Alessandro Pirrone shot hit the upright.

However, in added time, Naxxar sealed the issue with a third goal from a Buys Duarte penalty, given for a foul by Andre White on Rocha da Silva.

Naxxar: J. Azzopardi, K. Fenech, M. Spiteri Gonzi, G. Camilleri, K. Drago (J. Zammit), G. Buys Duarte, A. Rocha da Silva, V. Bellia, D. Cauchi, A. Fenech (D. Falzon), G. Magri (C. Pace).

Gżira: K. Gerada, H. Gatt Bonello, C. Giordmaina, A. White, C. Sciberras, N. Gatt Coleiro (L. Cilia), M. Cocks (A. Pirrone), K. Bonello, J. Felice (D. Vella), R. Brincat, R. Attard.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit.

San Ġwann 2
Mġarr United 1

This basement clash developed into a hard-fought affair but in the end the points deservedly went to San Ġwann who steered clear of troubled waters.

The Saints showed the better qualities during the initial phase of the match and could have taken an early lead had Chris Cacciattolo not wasted a clear chance after nine minutes.

Mauro Busuttil was also close for San Ġwann and on 23 minutes, Mario Caruana released Joseph Achokwo Chidi but the Saints’ striker sent his lob over the crossbar from close range.

Mġarr had a Justin Spiteri effort going just wide from a William Camilleri free-kick and Cacciattolo was a whisker away from putting the Saints in front. Three minutes before the break, the Saints broke the deadlock thanks to defender Keith Vella. He headed in from a Cacciattolo corner.

Neither side was able to impose any kind of supremacy after the break. However, on 56 minutes Mġarr drew level, Ibrahim Tarik’s powerful drive giving goalkeeper Spiteri little chance to save.

The Saints did not take long to regain the lead though and four minutes later a through-pass by Alan Borg was finished off by Miguel Francica.

It was end-to-end stuff now and Lee Galea almost wrapped it up for San Ġwann before a Chris Abela inswinger was cleared off the Saints’ goal-line.

Mġarr pushed forward in the closing stages. Tarik squandered a good chance to draw the teams level and on another occasion, an Abela shot was well saved by Spiteri.

San Ġwann: J. Spiteri, K. Vella, F. Cauchi, M. Mercieca, M. Francica, M. Caruana, L. Galea, M. Busuttil (G. Agius), J. Achokwo Chidi (P. Xuereb), A. Borg, C. Cacciattolo.

Mġarr: C. Carbonaro, W. Camilleri, W. Buttigieg, M. Bugeja, I. Bilocca (M. Muscat), J. Said, C. Sant (R. Marmara), K. Vella (J. Ebejer), I. Cutajar, I. Tarik, C. Abela.

Referee: Trustan Farrugia Cann.