Gudja United extended their positive run as they defeated neighbours Santa Lucia 3-1 at the National Stadium on Saturday thanks to goals by two players who were on the books of Santa Lucia last season.
A win which puts Andrea Agostinelli’s side in second place, one point ahead of Birkirkara but the Stripes have a game against Valletta in hand. Santa Lucia, on the other hand, suffer their fifth defeat in as many matches.
Agostinelli named an unchanged side following the win over Zebbug while Santa Lucia had two changes Dylan Ciappara and Lorenzo Soares Fonseca replaced Makoto Kikushima and Jamie Zerafa
Gudja took the lead on the half hour when goalkeeper Dylan Ciappara saved partially a long-distance effort by Andre Fausto Prates Rodrigues and Vito Plut tapped the ball home from close range.
Eleven minutes in the second half, Gudja doubled the score when off a cross by Johann Bezzina, Juan Andres Bolanos headed the ball down and Andre Fausto Prates Rodrigues placed the ball at the back of the net.
Gudja scored the third goal on the 66th when off a cross by Samuel Gomes da Mata from the left, Nicolas Navarrete squared low and Vito Plut flicked the ball past Ciappara.
Nine minutes from time, Santa Lucia had Miguel Angel Alba sent off but on the 88th minute, they pulled one back thanks to Francisco Eliomar Rodrigues Farias, served on the left by Emerson Camilleri after Reon Sato won possession, who beat Zammit with a shot in the bottom left corner.