Zurrieq maintained the challenge for a place in the promotion pool at the end of the first phase after defeating third-placed Zejtun Corinthians 2-1 in one of the matches from the BOV Challenge League at the Centenary Stadium on Sunday.

Joao Vitor de Oliveira Florencio put Zurrieq ahead six minutes in the second half. Three minutes later, Kurt Darmanin doubled the score with Henrique Marcelino Motta reducing the gap on the 66th.

Four goals in the first half handed Tarxien Rainbows a 4-0 win over bottom-placed Qrendi. Ricardo Silva Faria put the Rainbows ahead on the 4th minute and Angel Antonio Correa Rojas doubled the score on the 32nd. Emmanuel Mbong scored twice on the 34th and 43rd to extend the lead further.

In another match, Marsaskala and Marsa shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Adrian Carabott scored twice for Marsaskala on the 16th and 35th but a brace by Lucas Ribeiro de Oliveira on the 42nd and 75th handed Marsa a point.

Sliema lead the way with 35 points, followed by Naxxar on 32, Zejtun 30, Tarxien 25, Zurrieq 23, Fgura and Melita 21, St. Andrews 19, Lija 18, Marsa 16, San Gwann 15, Swieqi and Attard 14, Marsaskala 11, Vittoriosa 10, Mqabba and Mtarfa 8 and Qrendi 7

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