VALLETTA........2

ZEBBUG R........0

Valletta claimed their fourth consecutive win when they defeated Zebbug Rangers 2-0 in a match that the Citizens held the initiative through out the match but failed to score an early as Zebbug defended bravely and close every space possible that made Valletta’s life more difficult.  

Although they came out empty handed from the match, Zebbug played a game to pack their defence and operate with the counter attack and performances like this will surely boost the team’s morale to look forward for the next three games to continue their quest to save their status in Premier.  

Valletta coach Ivan Zammit kept the same starting formation that defeated Pieta last week. Jonathan Caruana was again employed in midfield with Roderick Briffa while Hamza Barry, Ryan Fenech and Abdelkarim Nafti played behind Lateef Elford Alliyu.

On the other hand Italian coach Alfonso Greco made three changes from the win against Sliema as Yessous Camilleri, Jacob Borg and Kurt Zammit all returned after they served a one game suspension.

Valletta created their first action after three minutes when Elford Alliyu passed to Nafti who tried with a place shot that was saved by Bartolo. Although the Citizens had control of the game, Zebbug were restraining Valletta to play a different game and we had to wait till the 25th minute to see an action when Muchardi passed to Rodrigues Britto but his shot finished over the bar.

Valletta went close on the 38th minute from a direct corner from the right, the ball hit the second post and the Zebbug defence cleared the danger. Two minutes later Briffa passed to Abdelkarim Nafti who tried with a turning shot that found Bartolo ready to save to a corner.   

The champions took the lead on the 42nd minute when Fenech passed to Hamza Barry who continued to Elford Alliyu. The English striker passed back to Nafti who managed to beat Bartolo with a low shot in his the Tunisian right corner. A minute later Valletta could have doubled the lead but Bartolo saved from close range the shot by Hamza Barry. 

Zebbug went close to equalise in a rare action on the 56th minute when a low shot by Thomas Paris finished off target. The Champions went close to double to minutes later when Abdelkarim Nafti dribbled past several defenders including Bartolo in the penalty area, and tried from an angled position but the shot found the crossbar. 

 

Valletta doubled on the 76th minute when Hamza Barry dribbled on the left side and crossed to Lateef Elford Alliyu who had little difficulty to deposit in an empty net. Substitute Llywelyn Cremona went close to add another goal on the 89th minute when he tried with a shot from outside the box but it again hit the woodwork.

TARXIEN R........1

MOSTA.............1

A goal late in the game by debutant Eduardo Casado gave Tarxien a point after they finished in a 1-1 draw against Mosta. Peter Smith's team had the initiative in the first hour and could have scored more goals as they were in command of the game, but Tarxien increased their pressure in the last 25 minutes and after some changes by coach Clive Mizzi managed to equalise to save a point.   

Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi made three changes from their defeat against Birkirkara and gave the debut to their three new Spanish players Jose Angel Pereira, Manuel Acevedo and Eduardo Casado but in their first game they left little impression. They took the place of Owen Bugeja, Manuel Xerri and Luke Zahra. 

On the other hand coach Peter Smith made two changes from their win against Qormi. Kyle Gerada took the place instead of the suspended Omar Borg and Tyrone Farrugia returned in defence instead of Mark Brincat.

Mosta created the first dangerous action after 7 minutes when Diogo Pinheiro de Sousa recevied from Ribeiro dos Santos but after he advanced his low shot was saved by Mintoff. Tarxien responded on the 15th minute when a shot from Carlos Hevia Menendez rattled the crossbar..  

Mosta went close on the 26th minute when Kurt Magro crossed to Ribeiro dos Santos but his header was first saved by Mintoff and then by the crossbar. But five minutes later, Peter Smith's team broke the deadlock when Matteus Ribeiro dos Santos entered the penalty area shifted the ball to his left foot and with a shot in the bottom corner beat Mintoff. 

Mosta went close to double on the 50th minute when Ian Zammit passed to Ribeiro dos Santos but his final shot was saved by Gerada. Tarxien replied on the 68th minute when a turning shot by Jose Angel Pereira was tipped into a corner by Gerada.

Tarxien went close to score on the 79th minute when Aboulezz crossed to Casado but his first-time shot was saved by Tyrone Farrugia. But in their last effort Tarxien equalised on the 92nd minute. Carlos Hevia Menendez crossed a ball to the second post and Eduardo Casado with a good header from close range managed to beat Mintoff.

 

SLIEMA WANDERERS-   0

NAXXAR LIONS -              0

SILVIO VELLA

Sliema Wanderes’ troublesome sequence in Premier League matches was extended as they failed to make the better of Naxxar Lions, one place beneath them in the standings, down to ten men for a whole hour after having their captain Pablo Doffo sent off for two cautions.

Of more serious concern was the overall disconnect inherent in the Sliema performance. They struggled to show cohesion or personality and suffered from a lack of concentrated cutting edge.Bottom of Form

Sluggish play and creative deficit haunting these two sides, made this match as bleak as the afternoon weather at Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday.

Nothing in this abysmal encounter suggested these teams are going to improve any time soon, although Naxxar showed more character and carved out the better of the few chances on offer.

To their credit, the Lions were not afraid to attack themselves as they held out to earn a morale-boosting draw in what has been a difficult season for them so far.

With Gnabouyou released during the week and defender Andrea Scozzese suspended, Sliema welcomed back again from the start Alex Muscat, after a long lay-off. The Sliema capatin was deployed in an advanced role wide on the right flank, instead of Trevor Cilia. The Wanderers’ defence also had Stefano Bianciardi returning from suspension while new signing Pedro Calcado was included in the starting eleven. Other new recruits, Wisdom Ifeany and Joseph Borg went in as second half substitutes.

Naxxar had regular keeper Julian Azzopardi, defending midfielder Albert Bruce and forward Daren Falzon all back after suspension with their new signing from Pembroke, Demba Toure’ sitting on the bench for most of the time and only went in as a substitute for the final ten minutes.

Naxxar’s chances of breaking their three-mathc winless streak had already looked remote before the match was even half an hour old.

On seven minutes, their captain Pablo Doffo was cautioned for kicking a free kick before the referee had blown the whistle. From his second attempt, Falzon put the ball into the net, but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

That first booking had serious consequences on the Naxxar playmaker when he fouled Calcado in half pitch and was dismissed for a second bookable offence after only 28 minutes.

Despite playing with a man down, and retreating Terence Vella for defender David Fenech, Naxxar remained more inventive and dynamic of two teams low on precision though. On the half hour, Ribeiro arrived fractionally late on a Del Negro cross from the right and six minutes later, Ribeiro again went close with a low free kick that narrowly missed the target.

Sliema, who replaced Beppe Muscat with Trevor Cilia soon after Doffo’s dismissal, never really threatened to exploit their numerical superiority as they stayed with four men at the back and their only genuine scoring opportunity came towards the end of the half with a Calcado inswinging free kick which keeper Azzopardi stretched himself full length to turn away into a corner.

The second half was even more mediocre, littered with several stoppages, that demanded eight minutes of added time, and bookings galore as the rhythm remained mostly pedestrian.

Ribeiro had another headed effort going wide as Sliema lacked any hint of penetration.

The Wanderers’ best chance fell to Alex Muscat who, standing inside the Naxxar area, blazed the ball over the bar on a Pisanu cross with five minutes of normal time remaining.

Deep into the game’s added time, Naxxar almost won the match. Edet’s firm header on a Jorge Silva corner, failed to find the target though. And then Sliema keeper Zammit was forced to make the most difficult save to hold out Buhagiar’s goalbound effort.

QORMI -                          0

PIETA HOTSPURS-        1

SILVIO VELLA

A solitaryt goal by their loaned striker Luke Micallef gave Pieta Hotspurs a well-earned victory that sees them join the same Qormi and Tarxien Rainbows in nintgh place in the standings.

Both teams continue to find momtentum elusive and it is not hard to see why Qormi’s last league win dates back to October with Pieta returning to winning ways after six outings.

What Qormi really lacked, was penetration inside attacking areas as they were undone by Luke Micallef’s goal on the half hour and, with all their shattered confidence, they  were unable to recove,r despite enjoying more of the possession.

Qormi dropped Bjorn Bondin and Roderick Micallef to the bench yesterday and gave starts to new signing Chris Edafe Uzeh as well as Duncn Pisani, back after suspension.

Pieta were well organised, industrious and whole-hearted.

With the coach’s options limited by injuries, the Hotspurs made only one change from the side that lost to Valletta the previous week. Jurgen Pisani was given the nod ahead of Kyle Cesare.

Past the quarter hour they were forced to substitute their injured keeper David Cassar with Miguel Montfort deputising in goal.

Staying composed, the Hotspurs handed the early initiative to their opponents until they struck themselves past the half hour. The effective Frances played  the ball wide on the right to the advancing Luke Micallef, who got clear of a static Qormi defence and  slid the ball past keeper Farrugia at the far post with his accurate  diagonal drive, despite Mazzetti’s attempt to clear the ball.

This prompted a period of Qormi dominance, although they were reduced to snatched half-chances until the break, as both Temile and Effiong contributed little in the final third.

Qormi put in Ryan Micallef for Mazzetti for the second half. They grew into the game, though their finishing frequently lacked accuracy. Chetcuti’s long drive from a distance went slightly over. On the hour, Chetcuti bwent close again with his header off a Temile cross from the right.

On 70 minutes, Chetcuti’s direct free kick landed on the roof of the net.

Pieta always relied on Luke Micallef for that assuring second goal that would relieve them from Qormi’s sustained pressure. He squandered two late chances within eight minutes. When Rodrigues played him a long ball down the left, Micallef shot against the side netting when faced with the onrushing keeper Farrugia. Frances also presented him with an inviting ball on the edge of the area but the Pieta forward did not hit first time and keeper Farrugia blocked him on the ground.

Pieta were fluffing a chance too many. Eight minutes from time, Pisani was put through by Frances but, harassed by Bondin, the ball was deflected into a corner.

But Qormi’s late reaction never materialised and Pieta held on to Micallef’s first half winner.