Marsaxlokk and Pieta' Hotspurs secure promotion to Premier Division

GROUP A

Marsaxlokk are the big winners of the last Match Day in Group A, beating the already doomed Vittoriosa Stars 6-0 and clinching promotion to the Premier Division after an absence of ten seasons. Pablo Doffo’s team were the most in-form team of the second round as the victory against the Birgu side was their ninth consecutive positive result in the league, winning their last six league games straight out. Marsaxlokk forged into the lead after just four minutes play thanks to Terence Vella after a pass by Xuan Capellino led to a simple tap in from the experienced number 8. Marsaxlokk doubled their lead on 12 minutes, this time thanks to a Capellino header, rounding off a cross by Peter Paul Sammut. Six minutes later, a shot by Juan Cruz Gill sailed just wide from the rebound after a freekick by Sammut. On the half-hour mark, Capellino was again on song, beating Vittoriosa goalie Ryan Sammut from a pass by Peter Xuereb, one of the main driving forces behind the team this season. Ten minutes from half-time, after the Stars threatened with a shot by Ali Oularbi, Xuan Capellino snatched his hat-trick with another fine header by the Argentinian, thanks to another pin-point pass by Sammut. The second half saw Marsaxlokk continuing to establish their dominance but not before Marsaxlokk goalkeeper Fredrick Tabone had to intervene with attempts by Tejumola Ayorinde and Freud Gnindpokponou for the Reds. On 68 minutes, Sammut added goal number five for the south seasiders and with the match played, Walter Serrano scored the last goal of the match on 74 minutes. With this win, Marsaxlokk overtook Zejtun in the runners-up spot in this group, who played their last league match last weekend already, with one point, sealing a memorable season.

Group A winners Pembroke Athleta finished their league commitments unbeaten with a 1-0 victory over Naxxar Lions. Thus, Naxxar’s slim promotion hopes faded away completely with this defeat as Marsaxlokk’s crushing victory over Vittoriosa gave the south seasiders a return to the top flight. It was a typical end of season match with Naxxar however giving their opponents a good run for their money. Goalmouth actions were scarce with Weverton Gomes scoring the goal that mattered on 58 minutes. Naxxar finished fourth in Group A, which is a disappointment after such a splendid start of the season with eight straight wins. But should coach George Vella keep his team in tact next season, the Lions will start once more as one of the favourites for promotion.

Melita finished the season on a positive note as they obtained a fine comeback win over the already relegated Rabat Ajax side by the odd goal in three. It was the last match for two Ajax stalwarts, Adam Smeir and Dylan Falzon, who both decided to call it quits. The Magpies had a dream start as Larens Vella opened the score in the very first action of the match with a close-range finish after an excellent through ball by Melvin Akingboye. In the space of a minute, between the 26th and the 27th minute, Melita had two successive chances thanks to Julian Abela and Chris Baker, who’s attempts missed the crossbar by a whisker. Smeir’s shot from in front of goal went just wide on the half hour and in the 43rd minute, Melita hit the woodwork following a corner. The Amateurs managed to turn the match in their favor on the resumption as they equalised on 48 minutes when Noel Omondi found the net with an accurate shot from outside the area. Then, in the 70th minute Melita completed the comeback when Matthew Debattista received a long ball and found the net with a low drive. Coach Saviour Debono Grech can be happy with a great season, in which Melita adapted without problems into their new surroundings, with a few players showing great promise.

With a clear 4-0 score line, San Gwann found no trouble to beat Mqabba last Saturday evening, in a match just for the record. The yellows were clearly the better side right from the start and took just eight minutes to forge ahead with Brazilian striker Amarildo concluding a solo effort by entering the area and pulling to the right before beating goalkeeper Gerson Mifsud with an angled shot. On 32 minutes, James Vella controlled a cross from the right, chesting the ball down and serving Amarildo who hit home from close range. Mqabba replied with a Luka Mijic effort which ended just over the bar on 41 minutes and eleven minutes in the second half, a good attempt by Sam Kind from the edge of the area was turned into a corner by substitute goalkeeper Miguel Spiteri. However, San Gwann increased the lead on 66 minutes courtesy of Dale Mifsud, whose diagonal shot from the left beat substitute goalkeeper Kurt Polidano. Two minutes from time, San Gwann added another thanks to substitute Ishmael Colombo who headed home from close range following a corner action.

Lija Athletic and St George’s ended their commitments this season with a 2-2 stalemate, a draw that caused some controversy on the way Lija obtained their late equaliser. Lija, as expected, saw more of the ball and had some good scoring opportunities but striker Lydon Micallef was not at his best, initially missing a couple of sitters. The Pioneers were always menacing in their counter breaks and took the lead just after the half hour when Matthew Xuereb beat the offside trap and passed towards Nick Borg who had an easy task putting the ball at the back of the net. On the resumption, the Blues went close to double their lead when a Gabriel Bonavia drive finished against the crossbar. However, on 65 minutes, Joe Galea’s side drew level when Bradley Sciberras anticipated the opposing goalkeeper to fire in the roof of the net. Minutes later, Micallef hit the crossbar and on 71 minutes the Saints were back in front when substitute Ryan Cutajar scored with his first touch of the ball. Six minutes from time Lija obtained the equaliser when the Saints players stopped because they had a player on the ground injured, but somehow the Lija players were not aware and Micallef fired home. There were some scuffles between players on and off the field but eventually everything calmed down. With this goal, Micallef ended as Challenge League Top Scorer with 18 goals to his tally, three more then Mqabba’s Mijic and five more then two Brazilians: Jean Carlos (Zejtun) and Fgura’s Rafael Prudente.

GROUP B

Leaders Zebbug Rangers obtained their eleventh consecutive positive league result, sealing their dominance in Group B with a solid 3-1 win over Marsa. It was the seventh straight win for Brian Spiteri’ side, who were mentioned as one of the promotion contenders before the start of the season, but were certainly not expected to win this group ahead of Tarxien Rainbows and Marsa, who both incredibly missed out on promotion despite having a team full of ex-Premier Division players. In the match against Zebbug last Sunday, Marsa did not make the impression with the aim to get something from this game, with Zebbug dominated procedures, especially before the break. Miguel Perez Jimenez and Shalon Diacono were both close to break the deadlock on 19 and 21 minutes, with Marsa having their first real goalscoring opportunity on the half hour thanks to Luca Brincat. On 40 minutes, a Jordan Sciberras scorcher for Zebbug was turned into a corner by Andy Gilson but from that corner, the lanky Shaun Bugeja headed home. Two minutes later, Stanimir Miloskovic added a second for Zebbug, from an Igor Misan pass, to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead at half-time. Four minutes after the break, Miloskovic’s scorcher was punched away by Gilson with Perez Jimenez hitting the rebound in the site-netting. On the other side on 56 minutes, a Brincat header ended up against the upright. Finally, on 84 minutes, Sciberras put the outcome of the match beyond doubt with Zebbug’s third goal. Marsa had the last say when Amadou Samb was on the alert to notch the ball past Jamie Azzopardi after he partially saved a Siraj Arab shot. Zebbug are now playing against Pembroke Athleta for the 2021/22 NCL Championship on Saturday 23 April.

Pieta’ Hotspurs bagged the win they needed to return to the Premier Division after an absence of three years. It was their sixth win in the last eight matches, a strong finish of the team coached by Paul Gatt, who could not have wished his first season in charge could have gone any better. Pieta were already 2-0 up at half-time and consolidated their advantage on the resumption with relative ease, despite a Castano goal brough Swieqi back in the game. Before Pieta’s opener on 36 minutes, both teams came close thanks to attempts by Teppei Iida after nine minutes and Alan Schembri-Wismayer in the 18th minute. The referee in charge awarded a penalty to Pieta on 36 minutes when Swieqi goalkeeper Gosef Mizzi brought down Abdul Abdeen in the box, with Daniel Zerafa converting from the spot. Mizzi performed a great save on a James Scicluna attempt four minutes later but Abdeen added a second just before half-time, taking advantage of a scrimmage in the Swieqi box. Things became insensitive on the resumption, with the Pieta’ supporters at the edge of their seats to see whether their side would gain the precious three points. In the 58th minute, an interception by Abdeen led to him to dribble to the edge of the box and taking a shot on goal, which sailed just wide. Seven minutes later, Swieqi got back into the game after a foul by Reeves Cini led to a penalty, from which Johan Castano converted. But deep into stoppage time, the Hotspurs put the result beyond doubt with a third goal thanks to substitute Paul Lapira, who beat Mizzi with a low shot. The win means Pieta’ ended as runners-up in Group B, keeping Tarxien Rainbows and Marsa behind them, a wonderful result.

Tarxien ended their commitments with a convincing victory over Fgura in their last game, thanks to three goals scored inside the first 13 minutes of the game. However, Tarxien missed the bus as Pieta managed to beat Swieqi to obtain promotion behind section winners Zebbug Rangers. Tarxien’s fatal sixty seconds against Pieta in the direct clash the previous week-end proved to be decisive in the end as Steve D’Amato’s side will now have to focus on next season in the hope of making it back amongst the elite. Tarxien took the lead with a stunning goal from Brazilian winger Wellington on six minutes and four minutes later, the same player scored from close range after a splendid through pass from Daren Falzon. The Blues continued to dictate matters and on 13 minutes, Staurday Nanapere scored a third goal with a low shot from the edge of the area. After such a blistering start, as one would expect, Tarxien calmed down their tempo and Fgura started to get more in the game, even managing to pull one back on 37 minutes thanks to Jeremy Micallef. The game was practically over by the end of the first half. In the second part Tarxien continued to have the upper hand but the news from the Victor Tedesco Stadium that Pieta were on the winner’s side made the game irrelevant and Tarxien’s victory useless.
Last Thursday night, Qrendi beat St Andrews by the odd goal in five, in a match just or the record as both teams reached their aim, which is spending another season in the Challenge League. St Andrews were the better team on the night, but Qrendi took their chances well. Dasser Sammut opened the score for Qrendi with a grounder on twelve minutes after an assist by Ian Zammit. Sebastian Perdomo was close to double on 39 minutes but his shot after a fine run got a deflection and hit the side-netting. On the stroke of half-time, St Andrews equalised thanks to a close-range header by centre-back Miguel D’Alessandro from a precise Santiago Martinez cross. However, Qrendi regained the lead two minutes after the break thanks to a low drive by Michael Gatt. Just after the hour, Luis Andre equalised for St Andrews with a goal from close-range, a shot deflected by Camilo Escobar into his own net. On 71 minutes, Luke-Anthony Borg hit the crossbar from close-range with Emann-Joseph Grech beaten. Despite St Andrews dictating play, it was Qrendi who scored the winner thanks to a wonderful goal by Sammut on 80 minutes.

The Mgarr United versus Luqa St Andrew’s match was an uneventful match between two already relegated sides. It was Mgarr came out on top with a minimal 1-0 victory. Luqa started well but gradually Mgarr took over proceedings and created the best chances throughout the game. In the 15th minute, Chibuzor Lucky Nwaogu had a great opportunity to put Luqa in the lead but his finish was saved by Mgarr goalkeeper Jacob Chircop St John. The remaining of the first half was dominated by Mgarr who had the better chances, many of these created by the tireless Michael Camilleri. However, Mgarr lacked the cutting edge in their chances. In the second half, Camilleri scored the winner just after the hour when he won the ball with a perfectly timed sliding tackle in Luqa’s box and finished low into the bottom corner. In the 74th minute, Luqa’s substituted goalkeeper Jake Taliana produced a good save from an Mgarr freekick, preventing them from doubling their lead. 

Images copyright Stephen Gatt