Premier League Highlights

Two stoppage-time goals increased interest in this season's title race. Saturday afternoon at the National Stadium served up a thrilling climax to the two Championship Pool matches as leaders Sliema Wanderers converted a late penalty to salvage a draw from their clash with Birkirkara, and Valletta struck at the death to topple Floriana.

After Gilbert Agius's sparkling performance in the 3-0 defeat of Hibernians the previous weekend, on Saturday it was the turn of Massimo Grima to take centre stage for Valletta. The former Pietà and Sliema defender-cum-midfielder was the team's most creative player in an otherwise subdued performance by the Citizens, crowning his man-of-the-match display by heading home the winner seconds before the final whistle.

His late, decisive contribution brought heartache for Floriana who had worked their socks off in keeping their rivals at bay after their midfielder Kurt Formosa was shown the red card six minutes into the second half.

Valletta's victory in the derby guided them temporarily to the top of the standings alongside Sliema on 27 points before the champions' much-awaited clash with Birkirkara.

It looked as though the situation at the top of the Premier League would stay intact as, with the game moving into injury time, Sliema trailed to Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza's 60th-minute breakthrough for the Stripes. That changed when Etienne Barbara was judged to have extended his left arm to stop Alex Muscat's free-kick sailing into the goalmouth and the subsequent penalty was coolly dispatched by Ivan Woods.

This dramatic equaliser for Sliema put them back into pole position, one point above Valletta who they face in their next game on Saturday.

Birkirkara's failure to preserve their one-goal lead has put a further dent on their title hopes. Hibernians leapfrogged them into third place after a 3-1 victory over Marsaxlokk on Sunday, their first three-pointer in the Championship Pool.

Clayton Failla put Hibs on their way after six minutes and two goals from Terence Scerri secured their victory after their former midfielder Andrè Schembri had revived Marsaxlokk's hopes when narrowing the deficit on 41 minutes.

It's a shame that this game will be mostly remembered for the antics of Marsaxlokk striker Michael Ochei who, after being sent off for lunging at Hibs defender Ryan Mintoff, made obscene gestures towards the Hibs fans. Ochei yesterday made an unconditional apology for his behaviour after he was red-carded.

Meanwhile, the plot in the Relegation Pool has also become more complex after St Patrick pulled off a 2-0 victory over Pietà Hotspurs to maintain their salvation hopes alive.

Goals from Chima Dozie and Thomas Caruana kept St Patrick's season alive and piled the pressure on Pietà who remain on top of the four-team bottom pool but their lead has been significantly reduced.

Premier League scorers...

Birkirkara: M. Galea 14; Mifsud Triganza 10; Doda 7; Camenzuli 4 (1 pen), Nwoko 4; Zahra 2, Ciantar 2, Dronca 2 (2 pens); Mallia, Tabone, Monye, Barbara.

Floriana: Baldacchino 6; Wellman 5; Cilia 3, Da Silva 3 (3 pens); Micallef 2; I. Ciantar, Bajada, Azzopardi.

Hibs: Cohen 15 (8 pens); Scerri 9; Schembri 5 - now with Marsaxlokk; Mbong 2, Chukunyere 2; Baldacchino, Pulis, Pullicino, Failla. Own goal - Abdilla (vs Pietà).

Lija: M. Gatt 3, Barry 3; Lanzon 2 (2 pens), Azzopardi 2; Kristo.

Marsaxlokk: Barbara 4 (1 pen) - now with Birkirkara; Licari 4; Templeman 3, Paiber 3 (2 pens); Bogdanovic 2, Carabott 2, C. Mamo 2, Trendafilov 2, Pace 2, Frendo 2, Schembri 2; Zammit, Asechemie, Draganov, Magro, Buhagiar, Tellus, Ochei.

Msida: Porceddu 8 (4 pens); Nwoke 7; Zammit 5; Sammut 3; Theuma 2; J. Farrugia, Bajada, Micallef.

Pietà: Woods 12 (2 pens) - now with Sliema; Frendo 7 - now with Marsa-xlokk (1 pen.); Ortas 4; Nisevic 2 - now with Valletta, Calleja 2, G. Sciberras 2; Zahra, Okoh, Ciscaldi, Sammut, Isse Adan. Own goal - Gauci (vs St Patrick).

Sliema: Doncic 11 (3 pens); Giglio 5; Anonam 4, Woods 4 (1 pen.); Mattocks 3; Said 2; Turner (1 pen), Debono, Mangion, Farrugia, Pernis. Own goals - Giua (vs Msida); Theuma (vs Msida); S. Pace (vs Valletta); Baldacchino (vs Hibs).

St Patrick: Tanti 6 (2 pens); Anizoba 4, Caruana 4; Dozie 2; C. Failla - now with Hibs, Fenech, Pullicino.

Valletta: Agius 10, Grima 10 (5 pens); Galea 7; Zammit 6; Camilleri 5; Oretan 4; Vucasinovic 3; Forace, Fenech, Penchev, Debono, Marx.

Fixtures...

Saturday - (National Stadium)
2 p.m. Birkirkara vs Marsaxlokk
4 p.m. Valletta vs Sliema Wanderers.

Sunday - (Hibs Ground)
1.45 p.m. Msida SJ vs Lija Athletic
3.45 p.m. Hibernians vs Floriana.

Standings

Note: Msida have been deducted two points