Nadur Youngsters claimed a crucial victory over leaders Qala Saints to reignite their title challenge.
Xagħra United moved up to third in the standings while Għajnsielem moved away from the relegation zone with a win over Xewkija Tigers.
Nadur earned a 2-0 win over Qala Saints to reduce the gap between the leaders to just two points and put themselves back in the reckoning to defend their league title.
Qala started the match with a bit of advantage as Nadur were without two key players in Pires Dall’Oca, who was serving suspension, and the departing Castro Martins.
The Saints gave a debut to new signing Dias Almeida.
Qala took the initiative early and came close through Nicholas Inguanez who hit the woodwork.
Nadur relied on counterattacks and broke the deadlock on 38 minutes when Ian Xuereb fired home from a corner.
Qala stepped up their efforts to find an equaliser, even after being reduced to ten men on 61 minutes when Joseph Buttigieg was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Despite creating a number of chances, Qala failed to convert.
Instead, it was Nadur who sealed victory in the fourth minute of stoppage time with a cross-shot from Gianluca Muscat that surprised the goalkeeper.
Xaghra United bounced back from two consecutive losses with a 5-1 triumph over SK Victoria Wanderers.
Xagħra made a fast start and raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of goals from Johan Castano and Julian Suzuki Bicudo.
Castano and Bicudo continued tormenting the Wanderers, adding a goal apiece to put their team 4-0 up.
Victoria pulled one back in the 58th minute through a header by Matthias Cordina.
But Xaghra restored their four-goal lead two minutes later with Bicudo completing his hat-trick.
Għajnsielem earned an important 2-1 victory over Xewkija Tigers to move away from the relegation zone.
Xewkija began aggressively, but Għajnsielem gradually gained control and opened the scoring on 23 minutes through Joseph Ezigbo.
Għajnsielem could have added more goals before the break but were denied with crucial saves by Xewkija goalkeeper Nikola Kosanin.
Xewkija equalised on 63 minutes with a penalty converted by Brian Parada.
The match remained closely contested until the 87th minute when Diver Duvan Torres Quinones secured the win for Ghajnsielem with a spectacular long-range free-kick.
Division Two
Kercem Ajax continued their impressive run in the second division with a commanding 6-0 victory over Munxar Falcons, making it seven wins from seven and without conceding a single goal.
Kercem’s dominance was evident, with three goals scored in each half.
Cesar Velez Da Silva opened the scoring on 14 minutes, followed by a brace from Andrew Mizzi (37, 44) before half-time.
In the second half, goals from Antonio Xuerreb (50) and an Andrea Debrincat (58, 64) brace sealed the emphatic win.
St Lawrence Spurs came from behind to beat Għarb Rangers 4-2.
Għarb looked the better side in the first half, taking the lead twice through Baldwin Osayi Igbinobaro (12) and Michael Xuereb (44).
However, St Lawrence responded each time with goals from Ebube Okpokwu (33) and Christian Azzopardi (45).
In the second half, St Lawrence dominated proceedings, wrapping up the win with goals from Daniel Atzori (48) and Jurgen Attard (74).
NEXT FIXTURES
Saturday – Kercem Stadium
BOV GFA Gozo Football League Second Division
12:45pm Sannat Lions vs Zebbug Rovers
3:00pm Kercem Ajax vs St Lawrence Spurs
