BOV Division 1: Santa Lucia, remain favourites in battle for play-off spot

Santa Lucia remain favourites to take the play-off spot as they defeated Swieqi United 3-1 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in one of the five matches from the BOV First Division on Sunday.

Jurgen Suda put Santa Lucia ahead on the 20th minute but Ibrahim Salis equalised on the 34th. Keith Vella made it 2-1 nine minutes in the second half and Luis Diego Mosquera Segura sealed the issue with a goal in added time.

Naxxar Lions registered a comfortable 5-1 win over Vittoriosa Stars in another match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Edson Farias Cerqueira scored twice on the 13th and 23rd and ten minutes later, Jurgen Debono made it 3-0. Dario Tabone pulled one back on the hour but Omar Borg converted a penalty on the 72nd and Saturday Nanapere sealed the issue with a goal one minute from time.

At the Centenary Stadium, Pembroke Athleta defeated San Gwann 2-1. A defeat which condemned San Gwann to playing in Division 2 next season along with Marsa. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza put Pembroke ahead on the 54th, Renan de Oliveira equalised on the 81st but Aaron Hili made it 2-1 two minutes later.

A Jose Lucas Caetano da Silva penalty four minutes from time handed Zebbug Rangers a narrow win over Mqabba while Zejtun Corinthians came from behind to beat Marsa 3-1 in the other two matches at the Centenary Stadium. Hideyuki Kawamura put Marsa ahead on the 8th minute but Jacques Mandjeck equalised seven minutes in the second half and a brace by Johan Castano on the 65th and 77th handed Zejtun the three points.

Sirens lead the way on 55 points, followed by Gudja on 49, Santa Lucia 42, Naxxar 39, Pembroke 38, Zebbug 36, Lija and Swieqi 34, Mqabba and Zejtun 31, Vittoriosa 27, Qrendi 26, San Gwann 19 and Marsa 5.