Valletta-Birkirkara 2-1
Stewart Said
Valletta climbed again in second place when they defeated their direct opponents Birkirkara 2-1 in a good match that please the present spectators. The Citizens are now two points over the Stripes and therefore moved closer to the runner-up spot.
On the other hand this was the first defeat for Birkirkara after 18 matches which might prove to be costly as they face Hibernians in their next game. Both team’s performances were acceptable also with both sets of supporters reviving their rivalry.
Birkirkara made three changes from their win against Zebbug as Justin Haber, Mauricio Mazzetti and Joseph Zerafa returned in their starting line-up while Valletta had Luke Dimech and Hamza Barry returned for the Citizens after serving their one match suspension.
The first action came from Birkirkara on the 7th minute when Rafael Ledesma’s shot from outside the box finished over the bar. Valletta took the lead on the 16th minute when from a corner by Nafti, Haber misjudged his outing and Steve Borg was ready to slot in the net with a header.
The Citizens went again close on the 27th minute when Roderick Briffa set-up Abdelkarim Nafti, the Tunisian tried to lob over Haber but his effort finished off target.
On the 36th minute a shot by Ledesma was saved in two attempts by Vella. Birkirkara protested for a penalty on the 45th minute when Dimech fouled Ryan Camenzuli in the penalty area. Since it was a dangerous play, the referee made the right call and ordered an indirect free-kick in the penalty. The free-kick by Ledesma finished wide.
On the 49th minute a low shot by Shaun Bajada, was saved by Justin Haber. But Birkirkara equalised on the 54th minute when from a corner Ledesma, Vella made an error in catching the ball and Ryan Scicluna was at the right place at the right time to score. Valletta’s reaction came six minutes later with a powerful shot by Hamza Barry that was saved in two attempts by Haber.
Valletta scored what had to be the winning goal on the 82nd minute when Briffa crossed in the penalty area, Zach Muscat in an attempt to clear the ball, gave the ball to Barry who advanced and lobbed over Haber. Four minutes later Haber had to save his team on two occasions when he blocked over Barry and then he tipped into a corner the lob over Nafti.
Birkirkara’s efforts came only on 90th minute with a shot by Edward Herrera that finished over the bar. Valletta had the chance to score the third goal on the 92nd minute when Haber advanced in the opponent’s penalty area for a corner, Valletta won the ball and Nafti tried to score from the 50 metres but his shot finished off target.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 0
QORMI- 4
SILVIO VELLA
This had the making of a momentous clash between two teams in urgent requirements for points, that ended in crushing disappointment for Tarxien Rainbows, who started the match two points above their opponents, but are now one adrift, down to tenth place, after conceding four goals.
It’s always easier to be gracious when your team has ended a run of five winless matches but Qormi coach Mark Miller was in no doubt just how important this result was. Three points from their prevous four matches, had increased the possibility of Qormi being sucked back into trouble, but this win hauled them off the bottom three and they now look to have enough of a cushion, even with matches against Pieta Hotspurs and Zebbug Rangers to come in their run-in.
Tarxien Rainbows tried to stretch their high-octane approach that had brought them two sucessive wins in their fight to escape from the drop zone. They had Alex Cini suspended but Mouhamed Soly returned in their attack after a long suspension, with Firas Aboulezz introduced as a first half substitute.
The Rainbows’ limitations had been thoroughly exposed by the pace, movement and sheer workrate of a Qormi side apparently superior under coach’s Miller tutelage.
Miller deemed it fit to make four changes from the side that was thumped by Balzan the previous week. Marcelo Lima De Mattos, Jonathan Bondin, Leighton Grech and Alex Nilsson were all given starts as Alejandro Mendoza and Ryan Micallef were relegated to the bench, while Emerson Vella and Christopher Edafe were not declared fit to play.
Qormi pressed like demons right from kick off and within the first minute, the Tarxien keeper Mintoff had to pick the ball from his net, after being beaten by Marcelo Lima Di Mattos from a Grech cross from the right.
Grech looked menacing again as Qormi assumed increasing control of an impressive tempo, pressing with an intensity unseen in recent weeks. He advanced inside the Tarxien area but his lob over the goalkeeper went over.
And on nine minutes, Qormi doubled their advantage. Villalobos played the ball wide to Effiong, whose cross cut the Tarxien defence for Alex Nilsson, completely unmarked, to steer the ball past the helpless Tarxien keeper.
Qormi were dictating the play, with Villalobos a lively presence in central midfield. The Tarxien coach Clive Mizzi was aware that something had to change and he introduced Firas Aboulezz for Tabone in midfield midway through the half.
They were finally stringing a few passes together, trying to get to grips with a game that had been already looking out of control.
But Qormi, with a tireless workrate, combined with defensive discipline and organisation held out efforts by Casado and Triston Caruana.
Qormi compunded further misery for their opponents in the half’s added time. Leighton Grech took possession inside the Tarxien area, avoided the statuesque defender Farrugia and buried the ball low past keeper Mintoff.
Although Tarxien went into the match in more lively fashion after the interval, they were never allowed to take a clear sniff at the Qormi goal, except for a Pereira long range free kick, after 54 minutes, which keeper Farrugia tipped over into a corner. Qormi put in defender Alejandro Mendoza for forward Nilsson on the hour as they defended their lead with few alarms.
On 68 minutes Villalobos picked Effiong inside the Tarxien area but the striker was in an offside position.
Tarxien increased their efforts but were denied at least a consolation goal when Casado hit the upright on Aboulezz’s cross on 75 minutes. Minutes later, a Soly effort was blocked by Levnaic, claiming a handling inside the area that the referee ignored.
Qormi could have even scored their fourth seven minutes from time as Effiong ran through into space but thumped his shot against the bar, before keeper Mintoff let slip a Jonathan Bondin shot from a distance in added time to add to his side’s misery.
Admittedly, Tarxien ended the afternoon well outclassed.
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 5
MOSTA- 1
SILVIO VELLA
Brazilian midfielder Pedro Calcado must take all the plaudits for this emphatic Sliema win over Mosta as he was without doubt his side’s catalyst, scoring two of the goals and putting a hand in another two yesterday, showing glimpses of his qualities.
Mosta had no pressure on them, depite still not mathematically safe, but with the teams below them dropping points, any doubts of relegation look remote.
Sliema, who sit comfortably in mid table, had little to play for either, apart from trying to improve on a poor record of just one win in seven league matches.
They had Andrea Scozzese missing from their squad, Djumo Bocar was suspended and Aidan Friggieri exiled to the bench, following their draw against Valletta the previous week.
The introduction of John Mintoff as right back, allowed Alex Muscat to advance wide on the flank.
They still made the brighter start, going ahead after 12 minutes play from a set piece. Four minutes earlier, Calcado had already forced the Mosta keeper into the first save, turning into a corner his insidious free kick from a distance.
But when Sliema were awrded another direct free kick from outside the Mosta area on the right, Pedro Calcado beat the goalkeeper at the near post to his left.
Missing several regulars, like Rodriguez Ekani, Ian Zammit and even Haruna Babangida, Udo Fortune and Ousman Koli looked the more likely to trouble the Sliema rearguard whenever Mosta had possession.
They responded quickly and carved out two scoring opportunities within five minutes that could have brought them an equaliser. Falzon’s free kikc from the left caught the Sliema backline square, allowing Grech to come face to face with Zammit but with a gaping goal at his mercy, the Mosta player shot insipidly and the keeper turned into a corner.
Then, from a Borg long throw-in, Tyrone Farrugia’s glancing header beat the Sliema keeper but ended narrowly off target.
Mosta were not awash with creativity but the occasional delivery of crosses from Falzon and Borg were causing their opponents discomfort.
But when Mosta were going through their best patch, they were caught out by Sliema’s second goal three minutes before the interval.
Obagbemiro started the blitz with his effort repelled by keeper Borg, the loose ball fell to Mateus Ribeiro who again forced the Mosta keeper into another save, only for captain Alex Muscat to drive the ball in, hitting the underside of the bar before it was judged to have crossed the line, despite the clearance of Farrugia.
Mosta coach Peter Smith made a tactical change after the interval. He put in Aaron Sammut for the ineffective Zak Brincat wide on the right, dropped Koli in central defence and moved Tyrone Farrugia up in attack instead.
But with Calcado dictating proceedings in midfield, Sliema looked the more likely to score. Obagbemiro and substitute Friggieri both fluffed chances when put through by Calcado.
On the hour, Mosta threatened when Fortune flicked Borg’s throw-in towards the middle and Farrugia reached before the keeper but headed wide.
Soon after, Sliema scored twice again within three minutes to make the points safe. Calcado provided the pass for his side’s third goal and Mateus Ribeiro made no mistake.
Calcado himself took the ball in his stride and advance to beat keeper Borg for the fourth time with a clinical finish and crown a five-star performance.
There was still time for Sliema to score another, on 77 minutes, with Calcado again involved, He was felled by Farrugia inside the area to win a penalty which Alex Muscat tucked away.
Six minutes from time, ragged Mosta scored a consolation goal when Adrian Borg connected to Sammut’s cross from the right to head past keeper Zammit.
PIETA H...............3
ZEBBUG R............1
Stewart Said
Pieta Hotspurs kept their hopes alive of playing Premier League football next year when they defeated Zebbug Rangers 3-1. It was a drab encounter as both teams were trying not to lose the game with forced actions towards goal.
It was only in the last fifteen minutes that the game took another direction as Pieta scored two late goals. This was the first win for Pieta after two draws and six defeats. On the other hand it was the eight consecutive defeat for Zebbug. This defeat was a huge step backwards for the Rangers in their quest to save their top flight football as they need two wins from last two games to keep fighting.
Pieta coach made two changes from their draw against Naxxar as the suspended Christian Grech while Ricardo Costa replaced Rafael Rodrigues. Alfonso Greco made also two changes from their defeat against Birkirkara as David Reano took the place of Lee Galea while Luke Montebello started instead of Carlo Monti.
The first action towards goal came on the 18th minute when a low shot by Charles Newuche was saved by Jeffrey Farrugia. Seven minutes later Pieta took as Kyle Cesare tried from a restrained angle, his shot hit the crossbar and finished beyond the goal line.
Zebbug equalised just one minute before the half time when Luke Montebello received a good pass from Barbetti, advanced, entered in the penalty area and made no mistake with a powerful shot. Pieta’s reaction came a minute later when Cain Attard crossed from the right to Ricardo Costa but his first time shot was saved well by Farrugia.
The second half kept the same rhythm and we had to wait till the 56th minute another powerful shot by Luke Montebello, this time from outside the box was well saved by Cassar. Pieta went again in front on the 76th minute when they won a free-kick just outside the penalty area from a central position and from the free-kick Claudio Frances beat Farrugia with a low shot. The Hotspurs sealed the three points on the 82nd minute when from a cross by Claudio Frances, Gabriel da Silva beat Farrugia from close range. Zebbug’s only reaction came on the 86th reaction with a free-kick from Britto that was punched into a corner by Cassar.