Dingli Swallows returned to winning ways as they defeated Msida St. Joseph 5-2 in a clash between the two teams who were relegated to Division 1.

The Swallows therefore brought to an end a negative run consisting of seventeen consecutive defeats. On the other hand, for Msida, this was the third successive defeat.

Msida had the first attempt at goal with a low shot by Miguel Ciantar from close range ending just wide on 14 minutes. Joseph Damato was then unlucky to hit the upright with a shot from the right when served by Charlie Black on 27 minutes.

The Swallows took the lead on 31 minutes thanks to a shot by Dylan Zarb from the edge of the area which beat goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo.

Dingli doubled the score on 35 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Andre Rocha Da Silva was brought down inside the area by Lydon Micallef and from the penalty spot, the Brazilian midfielder converted.

Msida replied with a shot by Tyrone Farrugia from outside the area which was parried by Jeffrey Farrugia on 43 minutes.

Six minutes in the second half, Dingli were awarded another penalty after Kurt Grech floored Andre Da Silva inside the area. Msida ended in ten men as Grech was sent off and Joseph Okonkwo made no mistake from the penalty spot to make it 3-0.

A minute later, the Swallows scored the fourth goal with Joseph Okonkwo tapping the ball home from close range following a cross by Etienne Farrugia from the right.

Dingli went close once again on 59 minutes with a cross shot by Etienne Farrugia which hit the crossbar.

Msida reduced the gap on seven minutes later with a powerful drive by Tyrone Farrugia which beat goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia.

Lydon Micallef floored Roderick Spiteri on the 70th but this time, Joseph Okonkwo’s effort from the penalty spot was turned into a corner by Manuel Bartolo.

Andrew Formosa scored a second goal for Msida on 83 minutes as he beat Farrugia with a low shot when served inside the area.

One minute from time, Dylan Zarb increased the lead for Dingli as he hit home from close range following a Kevin Borg freekick from the right.

Joseph Okonkwo was voted BOV Player of the Match.

DINGLI Jeffrey Farrugia, Roderick Briffa (82’ Clint Caruana), Renato Conceicao, Shawn Tellus, Roderick Spiteri, Kurt Formosa, Etienne Farrugia (72’ Charlon Sammut), Kevin Borg, Andre Rocha Da Silva (87’ David Camilleri), Joseph Okonkwo, Dylan Zarb.
Subs not used: Ivan Cassar, Haruna Doda, Victor Fiteni, Matthew Borg.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit

MSIDA Manuel Bartolo, Lydon Micallef, Matthew Bora, Adrian Farrugia, Baldassare Borg, Joseph Damato (77’ Damien Debono), Zoran Levnaic, Tyrone Farrugia, Charlie Black, Miguel Ciantar (46’ Kurt Grech), Andrew Formosa.
Subs not used: Gallen Mifsud, Larson Agius, Luke Saliba, Vincenzo Brincat, Phiram Sakchai.
Coach: Keith Gouder
Team Manager: Charles Debono

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Philip Agius, Mario Apap
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: R. Conceicao, A. Da Silva, A. Formosa
Red Cards: 51’ Kurt Grech
Scorers: 31’ Dylan Zarb (D), 35’ Andre Rocha Da Silva (pen) (D), 52’ Joseph Okonkwo (pen) (D), 53’ Joseph Okonkwo (D), 66’ Tyrone Farrugia (M), 83’ Andrew Formosa (M), 89’ Dylan Zarb (D)

In the second game, Qormi moved three points clear of Sliema Wanderers as they defeated Hibernians 3-0.

Qormi held the initiative for most of the first half, going close with a low shot by Alfred Effiong from the left which was parried by Mario Muscat on 16 minutes. On the 31st, Effiong concluded a good run on the left flank with a shot ending just wide.

One minute from the end of the first half, Qormi took the lead when Alfred Effiong stole the ball from Jonathan Pearson, advanced into the area and hit low past goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

Seven minutes in the second half, Massimo Grima tried his luck with a powerful drive but his shot ended wide.

But Qormi doubled the score on 54 minutes with another goal by Alfred Effiong who beat Muscat with a shot from close range after a cross from the left by Camilo.

Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo made it 3-0 on 63 minutes. The Brazilian striker advanced all alone and had a first attempt blocked by Mario Muscat, he took the rebound, rounded a defender and hit hard past the Hibs custodian.

Alfred Effiong was voted BOV Player of the Match.

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Ramon Dos Santos, Duncan Pisani, Massimo Grima, Matthew Bartolo (85’ Ryan Deguara), Keith Fenech, Alfred Effiong (70’ Stephen Meilak), Joseph Farrugia (84’ Stefan Giglio), Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo, Jonathan Bondin, Stephen Wellman
Subs not used: Matthew Camilleri, Kenneth Spiteri, Gabriel Buttigieg, Roderick Sammut.
Coach: Vince Carbonaro
Team Manager: Jesmond Zerafa

HIBS Mario Muscat, Aaron Xuereb, Jonathan Pearson (78’ Matthew Tabone), Edward Herrera, Christian Callejas (68’ Triston Caruana), Yan Cauchi, Chris Camilleri, Andrew Cohen, Elton Morelato, Ben Camilleri (68’ Jean Paul Farrugia), Jonathan Caruana.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Ndubisi Chukunyere, Rene Duca.
Coach: Mark Miller
Asst. Coach: Edmond Lufi

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, William Debattista
Fourth Official: Esther Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: A. Xuereb, Camilo, Fenech
Scorers: 44’ Alfred Effiong, 54’ Alfred Effiong, 63’ Camilo Da Silva Sanvezzo

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