HIBERNIANS-             4

NAXXAR LIONS –       1

Hibernians: R. Briffa, R. Gomes, D. Dos Santos, R. Soares (J. Pearson), M. Dias, A. Cohen (J. Degabriele), B. Kristensen, C. Failla, A. Agius, J. Silva, Jorginho

Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, B. Rajovic, A. Scicluna, R. Cardozo (I. Grech), M. Del Negro (D. Falzon), S. Ossou, R. Cassar, D. Fenech, A. Buhagiar, E. Lattes, A. Tarlazis (J. Debono)

Referee: M. Spiteri

Asst.refs: L. Portelli, P. Abela

4th official: F. Zammit

Scorers: J. Silva 13, S. Ossou 42, D. Dos Santos 53, Jorginho 88, C. Failla 90+

Yellow cards: A. Tarlazis, D. Falzon

Red card: D. Dos Santos

Player of the match: A. Cohen (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. Jorginho   2. Jorge Silva  3. A. Tarlazis  

Attendance: 548

SILVIO VELLA

Naxxar’s troublesome start in the Premier League season was extended as Hibernians inflicted a third defeat out of three.

In large spells the champions dominated possession, but for all their control of the ball they were blighted by some insipid attacking play. Goals at the start of each half and two more towards the end, when Hibernians were down to ten men, enabled them to overcome Naxxar’s ultra defensive setup in some emphatic manner, for their second win of the season.

Naxxar’s coach Stefano Grima was again left to rue his side’s lack of self belief, even when enjoying numerical superiority.

Naxxar displayed a grim lack of creativity, with hoofs in the general direction of the isolated Cardozo their default tactic. Hibernains’ defence, dealt with that approach easily for most of the match.

Only shortly before the break, when drawing level, did Naxxar present some thrfeat to their opponents.

Hibernians had gone into the international break on the back of their first league victory against  Floriana.  Coach Branco Nisevic could not field the suspended Jackson Lima as well as the injured regular keeper Jurgen Borg, as the 19-year-old Rudy Briffa deputised in goal.

Denni Dos Santos made his debut for the Paolites with mixed emotions though. The Brazilian was elated to rediscover his taste for goals upon his return to Maltese football with his side’s second goal in the second half. That was marred however as the Hibernians forward was sent off 20 minutes from time for his retaliation, when pulled down by Tarlazis.

It took the champions 13 minutes to turn their territorial superiority into goals as the Lions huffed and puffed, chasing their opponents for most of the time.

Jorge Silva sursprised keeper Azzopardi with a powerful drive from outside the area.

From then until three minutes before the break, Hibernians only just shaded the honours with their forward movement  and, with Naxxar defending in numbers, they failed to severely test the Naxxar keeper.

Then, a careless Dias back pass, without any pressure, presented Naxxar with their only corner. From Lattes’ flag kick, Sidoine Ossou headed the Lions’ unexpected equaliser. It was Naxxar’s first league goal of the season.

In Hibernians’ immediate response, Kristensen shot narrowly over and Failla was blocked by keeper Azzopardi. The stalemate prevailed at halftime.

Hibernians exerted more pressure at the start of the second half but the crowded Naxxar defence allowed them little space. After eight minutes Hibernians restored their lead though. The pacy Denni Dos Santos played one-two with Jorginho before breezing into the Naxxar area and bypassing keeper Azzopardi with a low drive.

Despite their continuous superiority, some apprehension crept in for Hibernians afterDenni’s dismissal on 70 minutes, and the momentum kept building with every tackle of steel in midfield, in the shape of Tarlazis and Fenech.

The gameplan, to harass and press their opponents and shoot whenever a sniff of an opportunity presented itself, gave the Lions encouragement.

It was all over two minutes from normal time however as Jorge Silva played a pass to Jorginho to increase the Paloites’ lead. And in added time, Jorginho turned provider, laying the ball towards Clayton Failla to fire in his side’s fourth from the edge of the area.

SLIEMA WANDERERS-    1

PEMBROKE ATHLETA –   0

Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, M. Scerri (J. Mintoff), M. Mifsud, P. Calcado, R. Ledesma (S. Kerlon), C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Bezzina, G. Muir, S. Bianciardi (M. Potezica), L. Dimech

Pembroke: M. Farrugia, Z. Levnaic, A. Cini, L. Cutajar, O. Bugeja (S. Arab), P. Barbetti, G. Villalobos (L. Micallef), K. O’Brien, A. Laudisi, A. Martz, G. Bardsley

Referee: M. Apap

Asst. refs: M. Scerri, C. Francalanza

Additional refs: A.M. Sant, S. Spiteri

4th official: M. Borg

Scorers: P. Calcado 32

Yellow cards: M. Scerri, G. Bardsley, M. Potezica

Player of the match: P. Calcado (Sliema W)

TMI top 3: 1. P. Calcado  2. S. Bianciardi  3. M. Farrugia

 

SILVIO VELLA

Having surprisingly lost their opening two league games, Sliema Wanderers were surely expected to offer a strong risposte against newcomers and leaders Pembroke Athleta yesterday.

Pedro Clacado’s first half winner decided the match but besides scoring the goal, the Brazilian strolled around the pitch imperiously, creating chances to his team mates, combining with Michael Mifsud to some telling effect.

Pembroke’ bright start to the season, with two successive wins, had surprised many, but yesterday they could rarely match their opponents’ enetrprise and experience, although given their marked improvement over the course of the second half, the league newcomers could have taken at least a draw.

Sliema had Glenn Zammit back in goal and Mark Scerri made his first apperance for the Wanderers this season, replacing Marko Potezica, after suspension.

Pembroke’s coach Winston Muscat had no selection problems and opted to give the former Qormi keeper his debut in goal ahead of Mario Muscat. Otherwise, Laudisi and Martz played wide on the flanks, trying to stretch Sliema’s defenders Gatt Baldacchino and Bianciardi with their width and speed,to create space for Bardsley through the middle.

Villalobos’ and O’Brien’s distribution from midfield was erratic though. Sliema looked technically slightly superior to their opponents, but sluggish in the final third, and the first half hour was bereft of any goalmouth action.

Two minutes later, in their first genuine attack, Sliema scored their first league goal of the season. Pedro Calcado played one-two with Mifsud, advanced through the middle to connect to the return pass and hit the ball past keeper Farrugia from close range.

Calcado again forced keeper Farrugia into a good save, on a Mifsud cross as Sliema continued to pass and move with more purpose and looked good value for their lead at halftime.

The second half promised to be more evenly balanced, also because Pembroke tried to be more adventurous. Sliema’s centrfal defender Dimech had to block Martz’s powerful shot into a corner and Laudisi failed to put his effort on target on a Barbetti pass.

Sliema settled again, taking possession without creating too many chances but  went close on increasing their lead on 50 minutes, but Mifsud skied the ball when laid in his path by Calcado.

Past the hour, Alex Muscat tested keeper Farrugia with a fierce diagonal shot, Calcado again being the provider, before Sliema put in new Brazilian striker Souza Kerlon.

Sliema kept desperately searching for a second assuring goal but remained carelessly wasteful in front of the Pembroke goal. In the dying minutes, they again went close, when keeper Farrugia rushed out to block Scerri, when standing alone inside the area, but risked grossly of being caught out by Pembroke’s equaliser.

Pembroke almost drew level two minutes from normal time but keeper Zammit denied Barbetti, holding out his well placed free kick.

 

In added time, Laudisi managed to lob the ball over the onrushing Sliema keeper from the left but his effort clipped the foot of the post and Sliema could scrape through their first league win.

Stewart Said

 

FLORIANA.........3

QORMI.............0

 

Floriana: M. Calleja Cremona, M. Briffa, S. Bonnici, A. Scozzese, J. Pisani, Cl. Borg, Co. Borg (S. Pisani 82’), A. Monticelli, N. Chiesa, M. Villa (J. Cabral 65’), M. Fontanella (M. Piciollo 75’)

Qormi: A. Vella, A. Cassar, O. Sidibe, N. Ojuola, E. Vella, J. Chetcuti, K. Magro (S. Zammit 82’), C. Monti (C. Barbara 75’), G. Azzopardi, R. Micallef (S. Agius 75’), A. Nilsson

Yellow Cards: O. Sidibe 30’, R. Micallef 40’ (Q) 

Skorjaw: M. Fontanella 30’, S. Bonnici 72’, A. Scozzese 77’ (F)

Referee: Esther Azzopardi

Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Sammy Attard

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Fontanella (F) 2. Cl. Borg (F) 3. N. Chiesa (F)

BOV Player of the match: Mario Fontanella (Floriana)

Attendance: 544

 

Floriana won their first points in this season’s campaign after two defeats, when they defeated helpless Qormi side 3-0. The Greens controlled the game from start to finish with Qormi who tried to defend as much as possible to keep their posts safe.

Jesmond Zerafa’s team were only dangerous on one occasion but were defending bravely until the penalty on the half hour mark that broke the deadlock and from then onwards it was a one sided game as Floriana could have even finished the game with a bigger margin.

Floriana coach Oliveira made one change from the last game against Hibernians as Andrea Scozzese played instead of Enrico Pepe. On the other hand Jesmond Zerafa made three changes from the defeat against Mosta when Ousmane Sidibe made his debut instead of Billy Berntsson in the heart of defence while Gilmore Azzopardi and Ryan Micallef took the place of Steve Agius and Clifford Gauci.

Floriana started putting pressure on their opponents from the start but despite the pressure, they were finding it difficult to infiltrate through the Qormi defence. The first action to note came on the 20th minute when Monticelli passed to Villa but his shot finished off target.

The Greens were given a penalty exact on the 30th minute when a powerful shot by Villa was stopped with Sidibe’s hands in the penalty area and referee Esther Azzopardi ordered a penalty. From the penalty spot Mario Fontanella beat Andreas Vella with a powerful central shot. Qormi didn’t make a reaction and their opponents went close on the 37th minute when an effort by Fontanella hit the upright.

The second half continued on the same rhythm as Floriana continued to attack in search of the second goal. They could have doubled on the 51st minute when Jurgen Pisani crossed to Fontanella who passed to Conor Borg but he fired over the bar from a central position.Qormi could have equalised three minutes later but the final diagonal shot by Ryan Micallef finished a bit wide.

Substitute Juninho Cabral went close to list his name amongst the scorers on the 70th minute when he entered the penalty but his shot was saved bravely by Andreas Vella. But two minutes later Floriana doubled when Vella misjudged his outing, the ball finished at Juninho Cabral who crossed inside the small box where Steve Bonnici was there to head in an empty net.

 

Floriana scored the third goal five minutes later when from a corner by Chiesa, Andrea Scozzese rose above his opponents and beat Vella with a header in the corner. Substitute Matteo Piciollo went close to score with two occassions when on the 82nd minute received a good ball but his shot finished over the net and four minutes later the Italian striker tried with a low diagonal shot that finished wide.

Stewart Said

 

ST.ANDREWS.........0

MOSTA..................3

 

St. Andrews: D. Rossetto, C. Cumbo, N. Andreis, M. Johnson, J. Williams, L. Cosai, M. Guillaumier, J. Farrugia (M. Desira Buttigieg 70’), D. Camilleri, K. Nwoko, C. de Nguidjol (J. Walker 60’)

Mosta:O. Borg, T. Farrugia, M. Micallef, O. Guobadia, D. Falzon, H. Yau, S. Chukwide, I. Zammit (J. Brincat 71’), E. Micheletti (R. Grech 64’), E. Murga, B. Abel Fredrick (S. Fidelis 83’)

Yellow Cards: E.  Micheletti 18’ (M), C. de Nguidjol 22’ (S)

Scorers:I. Zammit 27’, E. Murga 66’, S. Fidelis 84’ (M)

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, David Castillo

TMI Top 3: 1. E. Murga (M) 2. M. Micallef (M) 3. S. Chukwide (M)

BOV Player of the game: Edin Murga (Mosta)

 

Mosta continued their fine start start to this year’s league campaign when they brused aside St. Andrews scoring three goals with no reply to climb momentarily alone on top of the table. Although the rhythm of the game was not high, Mosta dictated play comfortably while their opponents had only snippets of the game and Wayne Attard surely needs to work with his players after the first three games. 

Manolito Micallef and their last acquisition Edin Murga had a good game and the striker involved himself in nearly all the actions. Coach Ivan Zammit made two changes after their win against Qormi as Edile Micheletti and Edin Murga started instead of Ryan Grech and Saviour Fidelis respectively.

On the other hand, Wayne Attard made three changes from their loss against Pembroke. Clyde Cumbo replaced Nick Ghio on the right flank while Kyrian Nwoko made his sebut in attack instead of Michael Grima. Dale Camilleri and Michael Johnson were preferred to Marigen Sehitaj and Nicky Vella Petroni.

Mosta held the initiative in the first minutes, but it was St.Andrews who created the first danger after eight minutes when from a bad decision by Omar Borg, Joseph Farrugia lobbed over the Mosta goalkeeper but defender Tyrone Farrugia was at the right place to clear from the line. The ball hit the crossbar and finished in the radar of Kyrian Nwoko but his acrobatic shot was saved by Borg. A minute later Mosta went close when Ian Zammit passed to Edin Murga but his shot finished over the bar.

Mosta took the lead on the 27th minute when from a corner by Ian Zammit, Rossetto misjudged his attempt and the ball finished in the net.

Mosta went close the second goal on the 50th minute when from a free-kick by Ian Zammit, Chukwide tried with a header that was saved partially by Rossetto, the ball finished in the direction of Edin Murga but his low shot was denied by the upright and the ginal shot finished over the bar.Mosta doubled the score on the 66th minute when Dyson Falzon gave a good through ball to Edin Murga who unmarked himself with a good run, dribbled also Rossetto and scored in an empty net.

The reaction of St. Andrews didn’t come except of a central shot by Matthew Guillaumier on the 78th minute by Omar Borg and Mosta sealed the three points on the 84th minute when James Brincat passed to Edin Murga who crossed from the right to substitute Saviour Fidelis who concluded in the net with his first touch of the game.