Mqabba 3
San Ġwann 0

This was a direct clash between two teams desperate to steer away from the danger zone.

In the end it was Mqabba who chalked up their second win of the season to leapfrog St George’s into 11th place in the standings.

Mqabba couldn’t have hoped for a better start as after just four minutes they opened the score with a great Arilson Mello Da Silva goal.

Mqabba almost made it 2-0 soon after but Isaac Galea hit badly from a good position.

On 26 minutes a Claudio Calleja free-kick created panic in the Saints’ box but Abemanga cleared.

San Ġwann went close but a Junki Seita header rolled just wide. At the other end, Kane Farrugia crossed into the path of Calleja whose effort came off the upright.

Mqabba made it-2-0 before half-time. Mello da Silva’s shot beat the keeper but Sylla Manaisse made sure putting the ball over the goal-line.

San Ġwann tried to lift their game after the break but Shaun Vella failed to make contact from in front of goal and Nikolai Muscat’s effort just missed the target.

However, Mqabba made sure of the points on 81 minutes thanks to Calleja from a free-kick.

Mqabba: J. Debono, C. Farrugia (M. Baldacchino), J. Borg, S. Sylla Manaisse (M. Spiteri), C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, K. Farrugia, G. Adamovic, B. Grech (R. Caruana), I. Galea, A. Mello da Silva.

San Ġwann: D. Sciberras, Z. Bowman (J. Tanti), J. Briffa, J. Azzop-pardi, A. Borg, A. Bati Abemanga, F. Udoh Okon, Shawn Vella (O. Olumide Samuel), N. Muscat, Stacy Vella, J. Seita (J. Cutajar).

Referee: Matthew Degabriele.

Man of the match: Claudio Calleja (Mqabba).

Rabat 0
Senglea Athletic 1

Senglea needed a first-half penalty to edge past Rabat and get back to winning ways after conceding two consecutive defeats.

The Cottonera side deserved the win as they held the edge for much of the match.

Senglea started strongly and on 16 minutes they took the lead when James Obaje Aud sped into the area but was brought down by goalkeeper Jamie Azzopardi.

From the resultant penalty, Obaje Aud drilled the ball into the net.

Senglea continued to dictate matters as a Ryan Dalli free-kick was saved by Azzopardi.

Nine minutes from the break, Azzopardi did well to keep out Miguel Ciantar’s shot.

Rabat’s best chance came two minutes from the break when Adam Smeir’s shot finished high and wide.

The Magpies improved on the restart and on 55 minutes William Borg served Chris Vella who was denied by Jeffrey Farrugia.

On the hour Ciantar moved past two defenders but his cross found no takers.

On 80 minutes Senglea were unlucky when a Machado drive hit the foot of a post.

In injury time, the woodwork again denied Machado as his cross-shot came off the upright with Azzopardi beaten.

Rabat finished the match with ten men when Neil Caruana was sent off for dissent.

Rabat: J. Azzopardi, N. Caruana, J. Caruana (A. Azzopardi), S. Abela, W. Borg, C. Vella, A. Smeir, D. Falzon (F. Azzopardi), L. Chiedozie, B. Micallef, D. Azzopardi.

Senglea: Jeffrey Farrugia, R. Vella, P. Doffo, K. Tanti, Jurgen Farrugia, R. Dalli, M. Del Negro, M. Ciantar, J. Obaje Aud (E.L. Machado), J.M. Artiago Roa (F. Gusman), T. Scerri (B. Zerafa).

Referee: Sandro Spiteri.

Man of the match: Miguel Ciantar (Senglea).

Standings