The Malta Independent on Sunday
Mqabba win with first half polished display
Football - BOV First Division
Fgura U Mqabba
Mqabba made it four in a row beating bottom of the table side Fgura United 4-2, after a first half brilliant display in which they ripped the Fgura defence apart scoring all their goals in the process.
Without their chief striker Paul Chimezie who was serving a one match ban, Mqabba had in Arilson Mello Da Silva their best player who scored two of the goals.
Mqabba relaxed their grip in the second half and Fgura had more of the ball and even managed to score two goals one from the penalty spot, to make the score more respectful.
Mqabba forged ahead after barely five minutes play when a Michael Borg freekick from the left was met by Arilson Mello da Silva who headed home from close range. The same Mello Da Silva was denied by Bartolo some minutes later and on 14 minutes Fgura were back on level terms when Cleaven Frendo scored a gem of a goal direct from a freekick. Two minutes
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later Mqabba were back in front when Mello da Silva headed against the upright a Lyden Micallef cross, with the ball going towards Joey Vella who crossed towards Lyden Micallef who tapped the ball home.
On 21 minutes Arilson Mello Da Silva rounded a couple of defenders before placing the ball in the top corner for a great goal. Mqabba continued to attack and on 24 minutes Brandon Muscat missed a good chance all alone in front of goal.
Mqabba made it four on 33 minutes when Karl Cutajar’s low cross from the left was met by Luca Casha who first timed home.
The second half was played at a slower pace with Mqabba in full control. On 57 minutes Mqabba were unlucky when a Michael Borg freekick smashed against the crossbar. At the other on the hour Fgura were awarded a penalty when De Fex Marriaga was floored by Goran Adamovic and from the penalty spot Okpokwu made no mistake.
Fgura grew in confidence and almost added a third on 80 minutes but Mqabba custodian Debono blocked a point blank effort from Matthew Gauci. In stoppage time Fgura were reduced to ten men when Keith Vella was sent off for dissent and on 95 minutes Okpokwu scored his second goal of the match for a final 4-3 scoreline.
Fgura U: B. Bartolo (J. Cilia), M. Barbosa Da Silveira, C. Fenech, K. Vella, J. Barbara (M. Vella), M. Caruana, W. Chircop, R. De Fex Marriaga, E. Okpokwu, C. Frendo (C. Ciantar), M. Gauci.
Mqabba: J. Debono, G. Gesualdi, J. Vella, K. Cutajar, L. Vella Critien, B. Muscat, M. Borg, A. Mello Da Silva (K. Azzopardi), L. Micallef, G. Adamovic, L. Casha (C. Cutajar).
Referee: Darryl Agius Naxxar L Senglea A Mqabba Lija A Qormi Vittoriosa S Sirens Pieta H Marsa Zebbug R Melita Rabat A Fgura U Għargħur PW D L F A Pts 22 13 3 6 50 31 42 21 12 5 4 46 17 41 22 12 5 5 35 25 41 21 11 6 4 47 30 39 21 11 5 5 27 20 38 21 11 3 7 42 27 36 22 9 3 10 34 37 30 21 9 2 10 36 31 29 22 7 4 11 31 36 25 21 6 6 9 29 33 24 21 6 6 9 22 30 24 22 6 3 13 26 38 21 22 3 6 13 17 45 15 21 4 3 14 21 53 15