Zurrieq start with 2-0 win
Zurrieq 2Birzebbuga SP 0\nTwo Godfrey Chetcuti goals saw Zurrieq beating Birzebbuga 2-0 to make a step in the right direction and avoid playing in Division Three next season. Zurrieq had to play for long stretches with ten men after having a player...
Zurrieq 2
Birzebbuga SP 0
\nTwo Godfrey Chetcuti goals saw Zurrieq beating Birzebbuga 2-0 to make a step in the right direction and avoid playing in Division Three next season. Zurrieq had to play for long stretches with ten men after having a player sent off in the 50th minute.
Birzebbuga were close to opening the score early on but Jason Cachia's try was blocked by a Zurrieq defender and soon after a Jean Pierre Abdilla header was saved by goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.
On 17 minutes, Zurrieq took the lead. Chetcuti was on the right spot to head home a calibrated Stuart Abdilla free-kick.
Abdilla tested the Reds' goalkeeper with a firm drive and soon after the restart Zurrieq's Philip Farrugia was red-carded for dissent.
Birzebbuga pressed hard for an equaliser but in the 71st minute they conceded a second goal, Chetcuti again finding enough space in the opponents' box to head in a Robert Bajada cross. That killed all Birzebbuga's hopes of saving the match.
Referee: Saviour Tanti.
Qormi 1
Kirkop United 1
This was a balanced match which saw both teams returning home with a point. Qormi had their best moments during the match but Kirkop could have profited from any of the various scoring chances that came their way.
Qormi dictated the run of play during the opening half and early on an effort by Aaron Buhagiar was saved by Mizzi. The Kirkop 'keeper was again the protagonist a few minutes later when he blocked a shot by Steve Baldacchino. In the 21st minute, Michael Borg Olivier hit just over the Kirkop bar.
Five minutes before the interval, Qormi almost took the lead but Aaron Buhagiar's cross from the right saw Carmel Formosa heading against the upright.
During the second period Kirkop showed better cohesion. In the 58th minute, Marco Xuereb's headed effort was cleared from over the Qormi goal line.
On 64 minutes, Borg Olivier put Qormi ahead from a Clyde Grech corner-kick but in the 73rd minute Kirkop deservedly drew level through Alistair Camilleri. He took advantage from an indecision by the Qormi goalkeeper.
Kirkop had the stronger finish only for Camilleri to waste an ideal scoring chance six minutes from time. A minute later he was very unlucky when his shot bounced off the bar.
Referee: Ian Miller.