A tale of two penalties

Zejtun and Zebbug gained a point each after a rather tense and gritty match ended in a 1-1 draw.

The match was decided in the first half with both sides converting a penalty.

Zejtun wer still smarting from their drubbing against the surprising San Gwann side, while Zebbug were fresh from their dramatic victory against lowly Rabat.

The result is a fair one. Both tried their best but both defences were supreme as both penalties were casual ones, with handlings infingements that could have benn avoided.

Zebbug witstood some early pressure from Zejtun with Nanapere always on the run, and took the lead in one of their sporadic attacks on 26 minutes. A Larson Mallia cross from the right was apparently handled by Brooke Farrugia with referee Mangion awarding the penalty and from the spot Larson Mallia made no mistake with a low shot.

On 42 minutes Zejtun were back on level thanks to another penalty, a penalty awarded when carabott’s header hit Curmi’s outstretched hand, and from the penalty spot Saturday Nanapere made no mistake to level matters.

In the second half it was more of the same, with Zejtun enjoying a slight territorial superiority, but both goalkeepers had a rather quite afternoon.

Near the end Zejtun almost grabbed a winner with a Nanapere initiative and his effort travelling across the face of goal with the ball played back towards Brooke Farrugia whose shot slammed against the crossbar.

Żebbuġ R: J. Farrugia, R. Da Silva Gomes, M. Attard, A. Curmi, L. Mallia, F. Gusman, S. Schembri, M. Bonnici, M. Fagbeja (A. Micallef 73 min), C. Gauci, K. Zammit (J. Suda 82 min)

Żejtun C: D. Zarb, E. Vella, E. Camilleri, D. Albanese, B. Farrugia, N. Tabone, M. Scicluna (M. Ciantar 69 min), P. Lapira (M. Brincat 57 min), A. Carabott, S. Nanapere, A. Scozzese Referee: Etienne Mangion