Mgarr United and Luqa St. Andrew’s took the runner-up spots in Group A and Group B respectively in the Izibet Amateur League after both emerged as winners in their respective clashes on Sunday.

Mgarr and Luqa will therefore play the Promotion Decider with the winner being promoted to the Challenge League and the loser facing the winner of the play-offs between the teams placing third, fourth and fifth in the Promotion Play-Offs final.

At the Centenary Stadium, Mgarr United moved second as they defeated Zabbar St. Patrick 1-0 thanks to a goal by John Micallef on the 26th minute.

In other matches from Group A, Xghajra Tornados defeated Ta’ Xbiex 2-0 at the Sirens Stadium thanks to goals by Aidan Agius Gilford on the 14th and Juan Karl Degiorgio ten minutes later while at the Luxol Stadium, Birzebbuga St. Peter’s lost 1-2 to Pembroke Athleta as Kurt Drakard put the Saints ahead on the 8th but goals by Xylon Marmara on the 28th and Gareth Buttigieg on the 86th handed Pembroke the three points.

Zabbar enter the play-offs as the third-placed team, Kalkara United as fourth and Xghajra as fifth.

Meanwhile in Group B, Luqa St. Andrew’s moved second from fourth thanks to a fine 3-0 win over Rabat Ajax at the Luxol Stadium. An own goal on the 28th opened the score for Luqa who doubled the score thanks to a goal by Luke Dalli on the 73rd with Ryan Grech sealed the issue with a third goal on the 87th.

Rabat finished joint-third with Gharghur who were beaten 1-2 by St. George’s at the Sirens Stadium. Nicholas Formosa handed Gharghur the lead on the 5th but Morientes Muscat equalised on the 16th and four minutes in added time, Andrea Mizzi notched the winner for the Cospicua side.

A decider between Rabat and Gharghur is therefore necessary to determine which team places third.

Another decider is necessary to determine which team will enter the play-offs as fifth placed in Group B between St. Georges’ and Kirkop United as the latter defeated Dingli Swallows 2-1 at the Sirens Stadium. Mohamed Kara put Dingli ahead on the 15th but Isaac Abela equalised on the 17th and Simone Lo Presti notched the winner on the 64th.

Group winners Msida St. Joseph defeated Siggiewi 6-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium. Kevin Sammut put the Saints ahead on the 31st and Giovanni Galea douhled the score four minutes in the second half. Kevin Sammut made it 3-0 on the 54th and eleven minutes later, Jurgen Gauci increased the lead. Davide Mula scored a fifth goal for Msida ten minutes from time and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored another goal on the 89th.

In another match at the Centenary Stadium, Ghaxaq defeated Mdina Knights 6-2. Ghaxaq scored three within the first nine minutes thanks to Lian Sciberras on the 4th, Ian Calleja on the 5th and Dusan Petrovic on the 9th. Pavel Zerpa Marquez and Lydin Camilleri reduced the gap with a penalty on the 28th and a goal on the 32nd respectively but Ryden Gatt made it 4-2 on the 35th with Clive Fenech increasing the lead on the 50th and Neil Brownrigg adding another five minutes later.

The deciders between Rabat and Gharghur, St. George’s and Kirkop should be played in mid-week as the first two matches from the play-offs are scheduled for Saturday 8. The Promotion Decider between Mgarr United and Luqa St. Andrew’s is scheduled for Sunday 16.

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