Chimezie heads Mqabba to the top
Naxxar L Mqabba 0 1
A Paul Chimezie header on the half hour was enough for Mqabba to claim victory over Naxxar and go on top of the standings.
Mqabba’s defence, still unbeaten so far this season, proved to be Clive Mizzi’s main asset, with Gesualdi and later Bonnici, together with Adamovic again unbeatable in defence, even in the last minutes when Mqabba were reduced to ten players.
Both sides had good efforts at goal in the opening three minutes of the match, but there were no further attempts till the half hour mark when Mqabba took the lead.
Arilson Mello da Silva crossed from the right towards Paul Chimezie whose header deceived goalkeeper Borg on the first post.
Naxxar had an immediate reaction and were unlucky when sixty seconds later a Jurgen Debono freekick smashed against the upright and moments later a Messias grounder slightly missed the base of the upright.
At the start of the second half Messias went close on two occassions with the ball missing the target by inches.
On 54 minutes Mqabba were unlucky not to double the score when a Karl Cutajar shot hit the upright with Omar Borg beaten.
Mqabba were now operating in fast breaks with Paul Chimezie missing two good opportunities. Nine minutes from time Mqabba were reduced to ten men when Karl Cutajar was sent off for dissent.
On 90 minutes substitute Guevara missed a glorious chance for Naxxar with only Omar Borg to beat.
O. Borg, A. Buhagiar, N. Spiteri, A. Darbo (S. Guevara Munoz), R. Cassar, M. Fenech (J. Debono), R. Grech (R. Mercieca), J. Ellul, J. Debono, A. Lubos, Y. Messias.
J. Debono, G. Gesualdi (J. Vella), A. Mello Da Silva, C. Calleja, K. Cutajar, L. Vella Critien, M. Borg, P. Chimezie (L. Konda), Q. Bregman, G. Adamovic, L. Micallef (M. Bonnici). Darko Stankovic