BOV Challenge League MD13 Review: St Andrews and Vittoriosa play out thriller, Zurrieq hold Mgarr

Photos by Malta FA, Luke Kirby Balzan - Malta FA

BOV CHALLENGE LEAGUE 2025/26
MATCHDAY 13

Balzan 3-0 Birzebbuga St Peter’s
In Sunday’s second match of the afternoon at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Balzan won the top-of-the-table clash against Birzebbuga St Peter’s by three clear goals to nil. A match decided by two penalties in favour of Balzan, two penalties that surely gave Balzan the edge over their opponents. Penalties apart, Balzan were surely the better team and fully deserved their victory. The win puts Balzan four points clear at the top of the standings and Andrew Cohen’s boys are now hot favourites for a quick return to the Premier League.

The Saints had a golden opportunity after 90 seconds with Brazilian striker Taylon hitting wide from an acute angle. On 15 minutes Awosonya Oluwale tested Julian Azzopardi with a fierce drive and three minutes later Balzan were awarded a penalty for a Daniel Zerafa handling infringement. From the penalty spot, Oluwale made no mistake. Birzebbuga’s only reply came from a Zerafa dipper that sailed over the bar.

Birzebbuga started the second half on the attack and a Leonardo Agius went slightly wide. On 56 minutes, Oluwale made his way past two defenders and was floored by Azzopardi in a rather 50-50 tackle. The referee opted for the penalty and centre-back Negueba made no mistake from the penalty spot to double Balzan’s lead. On 69 minutes, Negueba made a rare defensive lapse but Taylon failed to take advantage. On 71 minutes, Balzan sealed the issue with a third goal when Jake Engerer crossed towards Gabriel Chimezie who chested well before firing the ball low into the net.

Santa Lucia 2-2 Melita
At the Centenary Stadium on Sunday, Santa Lucia held promotion contenders Melita to an entertaining 2–2 draw, frustrating the Amateurs who will rue the numerous chances they failed to convert. A real missed change for Melita who, with a victory, would have gone level with Birzebbuga in the ranking. On the other hand, despite coming under sustained pressure, Santa Lucia once again showed they are a difficult side to break down. The Lucians are now coached by North Macedonian coach Emil Grnev after the departure of Joseph Galea.

Melita started the match on the offensive and went close to opening the scoring through a couple of off-target efforts by Jesus Andres Yepez. However, it was Sta Lucia who struck first with their maiden serious attack in the 35th minute, when veteran Adrian Borg was on hand to tap the ball home from close range. Five minutes later, Sta Lucia nearly doubled their advantage as Aidan Friggieri saw his powerful shot from outside the box crash against the crossbar.

The second half saw Melita turn the screw as they launched wave after wave of attacks in search of an equaliser. In the 59th minute, following a free-kick cross by Nick Cutajar, the ball fell kindly to Josuael Azzopardi, who somehow missed from close range. 10 minutes later, Karl Mohnani tried his luck from distance, forcing Lucian goalkeeper Christopher Farrugia into a fine save that diverted the ball for a corner. Melita finally got their deserved equaliser 15 minutes from time when Andreas Vella unleashed a splendid long-range strike that left Farrugia with no chance.

However, the joy was short-lived as the Saints immediately regained the lead. North Macedonian forward Filip Petkovski reacted quickest after the ball struck the post, heading it back into play before firing home from close range. Melita refused to give up and were rewarded on the stroke of regular time when substitute Quadri Allionida restored parity with a close-range finish. Late attempts by Melita to snatch a winner proved futile, with both sides ultimately settling for a point apiece.

Swieqi United 8-0 Mtarfa
As expected, in Saturday’s early Centenary Stadium kick-off, Swieqi United found no difficulty in disposing of Mtarfa, beating them 8-0. Salem Mawuena scored a hat-trick while Kian Leonardi and Emmanuel Asante scored a brace each in this one-sided encounter. The victory meant that Swieqi leapfrogged Fgura and Mgarr into fifth place, on equal points with Sirens, keeping their promotion ambitions alive.

The Owls made their intentions clear right from the start, going close with an Asante effort, served by Mawuena, which was blocked into a corner on 13 minutes and a Zak Barbara free-kick from the right which was parried by Mtarfa goalkeeper Jacob Mangion two minutes later. Swieqi took the lead on 24 minutes when a cross shot by Barbara hit the upright, Daniel Agius served Leonardi who hit low past Mangion. On the half hour, Asante doubled the score when he beat Mangion following a cross by Agius from the left, deflected by a defender. Three minutes later, Mangion tipped into a corner from a Barbara effort, while Mtarfa replied with a Jade Clarke effort from outside the area which was saved by Swieqi shot-stopper Kieran Ellul Ruggier.

Swieqi extended the lead two minutes in the second half when off an assist by Leonardi from the left, Mawuena slotted past Mangion. Mawuena made it 4-0 on 57 minutes with a rising shot from outside the area and two minutes later, Leonardi beat Mangion to put Swieqi five goals ahead. The match turned into a rout now, as on 75 minutes, Mawuena completed his hat-trick after slotting past the Mtarfa goalkeeper when served by Augusto Caseres from the right. Three minutes later, off a cross from the right, Caseres headed the ball in the direction of Asante who scored the seventh Swieqi goal from close range.

Young Lucas Okeke was unlucky to hit the upright on 84 minutes but substitute Nexille Grech scored the eighth goal at the very end of regular time following a corner from the left which created havoc inside the area.

Fgura United 1-5 Sirens
In the late Sunday night kick-off at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Sirens moved to fourth place in the standings after an unexpected crushing 5-1 victory over Fgura United in a direct clash between two teams aiming to challenge front runners Balzan and Birzebbuga. Brazilian striker Thiago Nonato was Sirens' hero, scoring four of his side's goals. The result is a little flattering as although Sirens fully deserved their victory, Fgura did not deserve such a battering.

After only five minutes Sirens were in front with a Thiago Nonato free header in front of goal. Three minutes later, Hafiz Akadom had a surging run but was denied by Yenz Cini who dived to save his shot. On 14 minutes, Fgura drew level when Timmy Akande headed home a cross from the right. Not much later, Fgura were again menacing with a Dylan Caruana effort going wide.

10 minutes into the second half Sirens were back in front when Thiago Nonato scored a stunner from an acute angle for his best goal of the day. Cini made two great saves to keep St Paul’s Bay based side at bay, first on a Jean Borg attempt and then tipping an Akadom drive into a corner. From the resultant corner, Adolphus Marshall floored Carlos Chaba and from the penalty spot, Thiago Nonato obtained his hat-trick. There was more to come as six minutes from time, Thiago Nonato beat Cini with a low drive to notch his poker. Two minutes from time, Sirens scored a fifth and final goal through Akadom, rounding off a fine display.

Zurrieq 1-1 Mgarr United
In Sunday’s early afternoon kick-off at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Zurrieq and Mgarr figured in a 1-1 draw, a fair result after a balanced affair. The match rarely reached high standards with play mainly in midfield especially in the opening part of the game. The draw suited the Northerners better then Zurrieq, who have now seen their adored Top 8 finish practically vanish.

Zurrieq FC 1-1 Mgarr United - 01.02.2026 - Photo by Luke Kirby Balzan - Malta FA

Zurrieq were unlucky to make two substitutions in the opening minutes with Glamour Eziefula and Xylon Portelli limping off. Mgarr created the first danger with a Ndoye Abdou header and Zurrieq hit back with a fast break from Jonathan Monney whose effort was blocked by Mgarr goalkeeper Miguel Chetcuti. Just before the break, Mgarr had a golden opportunity when veteran Terence Vella was floored by the Zurrieq custodian, but from the penalty spot the former Malta international shot incredibly wide.

Two minutes into the second half, Mgarr forged ahead when Abdou managed to take the ball away from the goalkeeper and passed towards Matthias Fenech who had just came in as a substitute, with the former San Gwann midfielder hitting home. Seven minutes from time Zurrieq drew level, when Monney pounced on an Mgarr defensive lapse to put the ball at the back of the net.

Pietà Hotspurs 1-1 Gudja United
In the Saturday night kick-off at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Pietà Hotspurs and Gudja United played out a one-all draw, a balanced and tactical encounter with an outcome that favoured Gudja more than the Hotspurs. It was a game without much goal-mouth action as both goalkeepers were rarely tested. It was a match in terrible weather conditions with heavy rain showers and cross winds throughout the 90 minutes.

The Hotspurs played a decent first half scored early on 11 minutes when Emmanuel Bio scored from close-range from a goalmouth melee’. Gudja had two half-opportunities to equalise but failed to beat Reeves Cini in the opening 45 minutes, which lacked highlights however, with Pietà going into the dressing rooms with a minimal advantage.

On 70 minutes, Gudja equalised when Eman Micallef crossed into the area, with Joseph Agbakwuru producing a back-header which beat Cini. The score didn’t change throughout the end of the match, with the two teams earning a point each. With two match days to go, Gudja are positioned on eight place, three points ahead of Pietà who can be found back on rank 10, which means both teams are still in the running to end the First Round in the Top Eight. The match was Pietà's 1000th league game across the competitions since their first 1974/75 season in the Fourth Division.

St Andrews 3-3 Vittoriosa Stars
In blustery conditions that heavily influenced proceedings, St Andrews and Vittoriosa were forced to settle for a dramatic 3–3 draw, with both sides creating enough chances to claim all three points in an entertaining contest. A real setback as two points were lost, keeping the Saints for the time being outside a Top Eight position. All three of Birgu's goals were scored by substitutes.

St Andrews FC 3-3 Vittoriosa Stars D'Orsini FC - 01.02.2026 - Photo by Malta FA

The Saints struck first with their opening effort on target. Brazilian forward Caua opened the scoring with a fine curled shot into the left corner, leaving goalkeeper Jake Farrugia with no chance. Luxol continued to dominate possession and doubled their advantage in the 27th minute after being awarded a penalty when Mattia Galliano was brought down in the area. Galliano stepped up himself and confidently converted with a cheeky Panenka. Five minutes later, Caua squandered a golden opportunity to make it three, firing over the bar from close range after being set up perfectly.

Vittoriosa emerged with renewed intent after the interval, aided by a triple substitution from coach Jason Camenzuli that changed the complexion of the game. Their first real threat arrived in the 49th minute when Luca Mallia tested Jake Pisani with a powerful free-kick, with the goalkeeper saving in two attempts. Substitute Shaun Carabott pulled one back in remarkable fashion, scoring directly from a corner kick as the strong wind carried the ball into the left corner. Momentum swung further in Vittoriosa’s favour in the 69th minute when another substitute, Samuel Boakye, restored parity with a close-range header. St Andrews responded positively and regained the lead when Caua was brought down in the box by Pisani following a solo run. The Brazilian dusted himself off and calmly converted from the spot.

But the Stars refused to surrender as Brafo Blessing missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise five minutes from time, blasting over from point-blank range, while Luxol also failed to kill off the match when they squandered a one-on-one opportunity against Pisani in the dying moments. The visitors’ resilience was finally rewarded when Isaiah Micallef rose highest to meet a well-timed cross and head home the dramatic equaliser, sealing a deserved point for Vittoriosa.

Marsa 0-1 Zebbug Rangers
In a true relegation battle, Zebbug Rangers registered their first win of the season when they beat Marsa with a 1-0 scoreline on Saturday afternoon at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. The team of coach Ryan Fenech missed various goalscoring opportunities and made to pay for that in the latter stages when the Rangers scored the winner.

Match qualify left much to be desired in the first 45 minutes as the first goal scoring opportunity only arrived three minutes before the end of the half when Godfred Sakyi tried his luck with a shot from outside the box which sailed inches wide. In stoppage time, Rangers’ goalkeeper Jean-Claude Debattista was called into action for the first time, blocking a Davi Versiani scorcher.

Three minutes after the change of ends, Marsa threatened again when substitute Sheldon Briffa had his diagonal low shot from distance ending wide. But against the run of play, in practically their first goal-scoring opportunity, Zebbug notched the winner through a fierce shot by Olalekan Opajobi on 82 minutes which gave Amara Sylla no chance. The team of Billy Mock continued administering their minimal advantage throughout the end of the match.