Vittoriosa step up promotion challenge

Vittoriosa S Zebbug R 4 1

Vittoriosa Stars stepped up their promotion challenge when they easily disposed of relegation troubled Zebbug thanks to three first half goals. For Vittoriosa this third victory on the trot puts them temporarily in third place three points behind league leaders Naxxar.

Vittoriosa were the better team throughout the game with Leighton Grech playing a blinder and with new signing Joseph Jojo Ogunnupe immediately making his presence felt.

For Zebbug this was another blow under the belt following their defeat against Marsa as they hover just above the relegation zone.

Vittoriosa immediately took control of the game and forged ahead on ten minutes when

Duncan Pisani was floored in the box by Dayle Borg who was also shown the yellow card and from the penalty spot Lieghton Grech made no mistake to put his side 10 up.

On 20 minutes from a Borg cross in the area, Kurt Zammit turned for Dario Tabone whose flick finished just wide.

A minute later Joseph Jojo Ogunnupe turned past a defender with his effort being cleared by the Żebbuġ rearguard, the ball came into the path of Duncan Pisani who found Ogunnupe again in the area, who with his half-volley doubled the score.

Zebbug missed a sitter on 36 minutes when Dario Tabone failed to hit the ball home from close range when he miss-hit a Rodrigues Britto. Zebbug paid dearly for this as Vittoriosa made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time when a Gian Luca Sultana cross from the right-flank with Ryan Previ flicking the ball home in front of the Żebbuġ custodian.

The second half was less intense with Vittoriosa still in full command adding a fourth on the hour when a Pisani through pass found Leighton Grech on the run who lobbed the ball over the head of goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi. On 82 minutes, Redeemer Attard, who had just came in a s a substitute, pulled one back for Zebbug when he scored following a melee in front of goal.

J. Merceica, A. Galea, D. Fava (C. Mallia), R. Previ, L. Grech, C. Spiteri, J. Ogunnupe, D. Pisani, A. Farrugia, T. Abela Wilson, G. Sultana (D. Sammut)

J. Azzopardi, C. Gauci, D. Borg, A. Curmi, A. Micallef (R. Attard), D. Tabone, S. Borg, I. Meli, K. Zammit, M. Borda, M. Rodrigues Britto

Fiodor Zammit