Handsome Marsa victory to keep the pressure on Valletta

BOV NATIONAL CHALLENGE LEAGUE
MD 12 REVIEW

Pieta’ Hotspurs 0-1 Valletta
League leaders Valletta had to dig deep last Saturday to shake off the resistance of a young and vibrant Pieta’ Hotspurs side, with Ayrton Attard scoring the winner a minute from the break, his first goal for his new club. Although the game was balanced over-all, the Hotspurs created the best chances and were visibly undone not to get anything from this match. With five wins and two draws, the Citizens are now unbeaten in their last seven league outings, continuing their quest for a quick return to the Premiership.

It was Pieta who had the first real opportunity of the game as in the third minute, latest Brazilian recruit Arthur Felippe forced out a good save from Timothy Aquilina following a shot across goal from right to left. In the 14^th minute, Brandon Paiber saw his freekick being saved by Reeves Cini. In the 22^nd minute, Manuel Caruana’s side once again tested Aquilina as Arthur Felippe chipped the ball to Japanese livewire Hidesato Ueda, also on his debut, who produced a powerful strike towards the keeper, claiming the ball on two attempts. A minute before stoppage time of the first half, Valletta went into the lead as Ayrton Attard capitalized on a collision of two Pieta defenders inside the box to finish with a half volley, much to the liking of the Valletta supporters.

It was more of the same after the break although the game was less intense with just a few highlights as Valletta had the goal they wanted. Substitute Kian Leonardi should have done better on 54 minutes as, from a wonderful attack, the youngsters’ attempt straight at Aquilina deserved better. With seven minutes regular time left, Thomas Melillo released a fantastic long-range attempt which sailed inches over the crossbar. Eventually however, Valletta held on to their minimal lead to secure another priceless three points.


Marsa 4-2 Zebbug Rangers
On Sunday, Marsa kept the pace with leaders Valletta as they defeated Zebbug Rangers in an entertaining match. It was a deserved victory for the team of coach Saviour Debono-Grech, who are now alone on the runners-up spot as Swieqi unexpectedly were held to a draw by Gudja United.

Marsa made their intentions clear right from the start, going close after just two minutes with a Lydon Micallef effort from outside the area which was turned into a corner by Jamie Azzopardi. A minute later, Robinho had a shot deflected into a corner and from the resulting corner, Daniel Zerafa hit the crossbar with a header. A Robinho effort was cleared off the goal line by Lesley Cassar Jackson on 11 minutes. Four minutes later, Marsa managed to take the lead when Micallef drilled the ball past goalkeeper Azzopardi.

Zebbug managed to equalise on 23 minutes when Duvan Mosquera lobbed the ball over goalkeeper Ryan Caruana from the right. However, Marsa regained the lead on 33 minutes when off a Micallef freekick from the right, Kyle Gatt served Shaun Bugeja who slotted the ball past Azzopardi from close range in his 100^th second-tier league appearance. Two minutes from the end of the first half, Marsa made it 3-1 when off a freekick Micallef, Zerafa headed the ball home past the Zebbug custodian.

Marsa continued to hold the initiative during the second half and they made it 4-1 on 74 minutes when Micallef was floored by Azzopardi inside the area and Micallef converted from the penalty spot. Eight minutes from time, Duvan Mosquera reduced the gap for the Rangers with a direct freekick from the left which gave Caruana no chance. However in the dying minutes, Micallef almost completed his hat trick but concluded a solo effort with a shot which hit the upright.


Gudja United 0-0 Swieqi United
Pablo Doffo’s Swieqi United failed to win a third consecutive league match, bumping into the stubborn Gudja side of Orosco Anonam on Saturday afternoon. With this result, with 3 matches left in the 1^st phase, both teams are still in full-swing for a Top 8 berth, although Swieqi are just five points ahead of the teams on rank 9 and 10, Sirens and Zurrieq. The Blues, with 18 points, also still have a bit of work to do but could reach their campaign goals already within a few weeks.

The first half was a balanced one with Swieqi newcomer Terence Vella, who started his impressive career with Gudja, coming close to break the deadlock on 39 minutes. Swieqi came out the second half with attacking intentions, stepping up a gear which actually produced quite an entertaining second 45 minutes.

On 48 and 55 minutes, Swieqi came close through Kyle Muscat and Daniel Agius while just before the hour, Gudja responded through Llywelyn Cremona, who forced Jean-Claude Debattista into a fine save. Vella’s free-kick on 66 minutes went just over the cross-bar while Paul Fenech had a good shot for Swieqi six minutes later which missed target by an inch. The Blues had an excellent opportunity on 77 minutes with Dale Mifsud forcing Debattista into another fine save. Deep in stoppage time, Swieqi went close twice through Jamie Scerri and Fenech but eventually both clans needed to settle for a point each.


Tarxien Rainbows 2-1 Santa Lucia
This derby pitted both teams with Premier League experience in a well-attended encounter. Santa Lucia were hoping to continue their fine run to secure a Top 8 position whilst Tarxien were also hoping for a good result to maintain their momentum.

The first half was a forgettable affair with no concrete goalmouth action as both sides were very reticent in their approach. It was Tarxien who took the lead after 51 minutes when a fine move saw a cross from the left find Dacosta Boadu who slammed home from close range. It was 2-0 just two minutes later when the same Boadu managed to create space and easily beat Saints goalkeeper Christopher Farrugia with a strong shot.

Tarxien continued dominating proceedings and could have had a third on 66 minutes when Gabriel Mensah could not connect from an excellent cross. The Lucians were handed a lifeline five minutes from time when Jean Carlos was felled in the box with the referee pointing to the spot. The Brazilian stepped up himself and made no mistake, sending Andreas Vella the wrong way. Tarxien had some anxious moments in the final minutes with Santa Lucia almost finding the net but the Rainbows held on for the three points and a rare derby victory, their first one since 2002.


Sirens 4-4 Mgarr United
In the first match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday, Mgarr and Sirens produced an eight-goal thriller, without a doubt the most entertaining match so far in the Challenge League this season. Much to their credit, both sides played all the match full on attack with Mgarr’s Luka Mijic and Thiago Nonato of Sirens in excellent shape. With Mgarr being 3-1 up at half-time, the final result must have felt two points lost for the team of Brian Spiteri, although the Northerners were at one point 4-3 down and scored their equaliser five minutes before the end from the penalty spot.

The Greens went ahead after just five minutes when Mijic slotted home from close-range to beat Andrea Cassar for the first time. Sirens replied on 25 minutes when Mark Fenech headed past Jonathan Debono from a corner action. Kyle Frendo tapped home Mgarr’s second goal on 40 minutes and deep into stoppage time of the first half, Mijic gave his side a 3-1 half-time advantage by beating the off-side trap and cooly placing the ball behind Cassar.

On the resumption, Brazilian Thiago Nonato pulled one back in the 68^th minute, tapping home Sirens’ second, signalling the start of a stunning come-back. On 77 minutes, the same Brazilian notched home the equaliser and two minutes later, Mark Fenech gave Steve D’Amato’s side the lead from another powerful header. But there was room for more drama as substitute Christian Saint Ebisindor was floored in the box on 85 minutes, with the lanky Nigerian making no mistake from the penalty spot to seal this remarkable match.


Zurrieq 0-3 Fgura United
In the early Sunday afternoon Victor Tedesco Stadium kick-off, Fgura recorded their third league victory of the season, beating strugglers Zurrieq 3-0 who only recorded two points from their last five outings. While Zurrieq slowly drop out of the Top 8, Fgura welcomed the three points to put themselves in a good position for the Play out.

It was Zurrieq who started the game strongly and had a good chance after 11 minutes when a superb effort by Sulahmana Bah was equally well saved by Yenz Cini. But it was Fgura who went ahead just before the half hour when Colombian livewire Donys Quintero managed to connect from close range after a goalmouth melee’ with the ball coming off Steve Bezzina for an own goal. Five minutes later it was 2-0 to Fgura when they were awarded a penalty after a clear foul on Caleb Akande. Quintero stepped up and cooly shot past Jurgen Borg to increase Fgura’s lead. Fgura could have made it 3-0 just before half time but Michael Gatt inexplicably headed over from a couple of metres.

Fgura scored the third goal on 62 minutes with a superb Quintero free kick, who notched up his brace and practically secured the points. Another chance went begging for Fgura on 70 minutes when Gatt came desperately close with a low shot that just trickled past the post.


Senglea Athletic 2-3 Lija Athletic
The battle between the Athletic was won, in style, by Lija, who came from two goals down to bag another priceless three points. It was Lija’s second consecutive league victory of 2025, who therefore started the year on a positive note. With just six points, Senglea are now rock bottom and need to adjust all sails to avoid relegation this season.

The afternoon started well for the Cottonera side with Rudy Cassar-Jeffries scoring the opener in the rebound after barely a minute play, with Cassar-Jeffries providing Nakov an opportunity to double on eight minutes, an opportunity the North Macedonian striker took with both hands. Three minutes later, Lija pulled one back through Jake Jovanoski and on 26 minutes it was all-square when Rundell Winchester knocked in a low shot passed Sean Mintoff.

After the change of ends, both sides struggled to create goalscoring opportunities up till the 87^th minute when a foul committed inside the area by Irvin Abela on Erjon Beu resulted into a penalty. Beu, who obtained Maltese citizenship earlier on last week, converted with a powerful attempt to complete the comeback in dramatic fashion. 


St Andrews 0-1 Mtarfa
On Sunday night, Mtarfa registered their second win of the season, beating St Andrews in a direct clash from the bottom part of the season. Mtarfa, who played for over thirty minutes with ten men, moved above Senglea in the standings, leaving the bottom of the table for the first time.

St. Andrews, who introduced veteran Marcelo Dias (ex-Gzira) in this match, did the early running but Mtarfa had the best chance with Joseph Agbakwuru's shot going wide. On 33 minutes a Daren Falzon shot hit Marcelo Dias' outstretched hand, and from the penalty spot, the same Falzon made no mistake. Three minutes later, an Eric Mensah first timer was brilliantly saved by Jake Pisani and on the other end a Correa Duarte corner kick hit the upright.

For the second half, the Saints increased the pressure as Mtarfa elected to defend their slender but precious lead. On 63 minutes, Mensah received a second booking and Mtarfa had to face the remaining minutes with a man less. St Andrews staged wave after wave of attacks with goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone under constant pressure, but Mtarfa held on to their lead to grab three valuable points.

Images copyright Joe Borg