BIRKIRKARA-      1

VALLETTA-          2

Birkirkara: J. Haber, E. Herrera, N. Vukanac (Z. Muscat), M. Mazzetti, J. Zerafa, R. Muscat, E. Agius (J. Barraso), P. Fenech, E. Liliu (V. Plut), F. Miccoli, R. Camenzuli

Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, I. Azzopardi, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, R. Briffa (L. Cremona), A. Bruce,  F. Falcone, C. Pani, Jhonnattan (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), R. Romao (N. Priso)

Referee: A. Arciola

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, T. Debono

4th official: A.M. Sant

Scorers: E. Liliu 39, F. Falcone 44

Yellow cards: J. Zerafa, C. Pani, P. Fenech, A. Bruce

Player of the match: R. Muscat (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Muscat  2. A. Bruce  3. I. Azzopardi

Attendance: 2883

 

SILVIO VELLA

This was not a match for any striker to cherish, play being condensed for long periods into the space between the two opposing boxes, but needed a touch of individual flair to produce three goals from three clinical finishes.

Valletta had the better of their opponents and after a 1-1 draw in the first half, substitute Ndjongo Priso struck late to give his side a third win on the trot that preserves Valletta’s perfect start and keeps them joint league leaders with Mosta.

Whether either or both these teams can lead a Premier League title challenge remains early to guess as the seaon is still young. But at least this fixture was needed for the teams to gauge their potential for upcoming matches.

Yet Birkirkara’s fast start and early lead created a false impression. They were narrow and one-paced in the second period and were finally undone by Priso’s strike four minutes from normal time, suffering the first defeat.

Valletta gave starts to Ryan Camilleri as central defende. As well as Albert Bruce and Federico Falcone for the first time this season. The former partnered Claudio Pani in front of the defence. The latter took the centre forward role instead of Priso, who was named among the substitutes.

They combined well to score Valletta’s equaliser just before the break.

Birkirkara also had Edward Herrera and the returning Ellinton Liliu making starts in their team, with no place for Zach Muscat, Frank Temile and Vito Plut.

Valletta’s damage in the opening minutes came mostly down the right flank with the powerful Romao’s overlaps that always had Zerafa in trouble.

But there was only one half chance at each end inside the first half hour, played high on energy from both sides. Liliu headed Miccoli’s cross narroly wide on the quarter hour and minutes later Pani chased Briffa’s through ball but was thwarted by keeper Haber as he accelerated inside the Birkirkara area.

Birkirkara’s moment arrived on 39 minutes when Pani fouled Miccoli outside the Valletta area on the right. Miccoli played the resultant free kick towards the advancing Liliu who beat keeper Bonello with a delicate strike, the ball even taking a slight deflection off Pani in the process.

Valletta showed character and resolve and their response to falling behind was swift. A Cruz shot was blocked inside the area and Jhonnattan’s push towards goal lacked enough power before they restored parity on the stroke of halftime.

Bruce played a high long ball forward, which was intelligently chased by Federico Falcone to volley superbly over the stranded keeper Haber.

The second half was in contrast to the eventful first.  With both sides trying to hold to possession as much as possible, attacks became more sporadic.

As Valletta withdrew Roderick Briffa and Birkirkara, likewise, Vukanac and Edmond Agius past the hour, the match lacked enough creativity.

The match looked heading towards a convenient draw but the introduction of Priso for the last 13 minutes gave the match a twist in Valletta’s favour.

Four minutes from time, Priso powered his run inside the Birkirkara area from the right, nutmegging Mazzetti and going past Zerafa before beating keeper Haber with a low drive to highten Valletta’s expectations.

 

 BALZAN FC-                            0

TARXIEN RAINBOWS-           0

Balzan FC: V. Senatore, S. Bezzina, C. Brincat (L. Micallef), E. Zarate, S. Arab, T. Agius (R. Darmanin), G. Mensha, A. Effiong, E. Serrano, L. Sciberras (M. Focsa), J. Grioli

Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, M. Caruana, B. De Oliveira, T. Tabone Desira, T. Caruana (A. Azzopardi), C. Menendez, D. Zerafa, A. Da Paixao Alves (L. Montebello), J. Oliveira, A. Da Silva (B. Muscat)

Referee: G. Tonna

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, J. Spiteri

Additional asst.refs: M. Borg, F. Zammit

4th official: S. Spiteri

Yellow cards: T. Agius, T. Caruana, S. Arab, E. Serrano, E. Zarate

Player of the match: B. De Oliveira (Tarxien R)

TMI top 3: 1.B. De Oliveira  2. A. Cassar  3. E. Zarate

 

SILVIO VELLA

Balzan and Tarxien Rainbows remained tied just above mid table in the BoV Premier League after taking a point apiece in  a fogettable goalless draw that only offered some goalmouth action in the late stages.

Starting the match as favourites, Balzan’s task became less straightforward as the match unfolded. Surely they may lament that they still lack key components like Ryan Fenech, Dylan Grima and Bojan Kaljevic, all injured. But more surprising was the sluggish play and creative deficit haunting the side against stubborn opponents yesterday.

Balzan remain on five points from three matches, with not much progress yet to show from their ambitious summer purchases.

Both teams had registered significant draws against title candidates – Balzan drew 1-1 against Hibernians, while Tarxien held Birkirkara to a 2-2 draw before the international break.

Balzan did not have it all their own way in the first half.

Mensha and Effiong were kept under good check by Tarxien’s two central defenders Bruno De Oliveira and Daniel Zerafa and Balzan could hardly find a way through the middle despite the generosity of Zarate, Agius and Sciberras in midfield. They failed to use the width of the pitch and never really troubled keeper Andrea Cassar in the Tarxien goal.

The only couple of times any of these two mediocre teams went close during the first 45 minutes, Tarxien were involved. As Arab tried to cut a high Oliveira cross from the left, the ball glanced dangerously off his head and ended into a corner, not far from his own goal.

And past the half hour the ball fell to Anderson Da Silva inside the Balzan area but the Tarxien forward hesitated too long and Bezzina could clear the danger.

Balzan only showed up before the interval with a tame Zarate free kick that missed the target.

These were the only noteworthy moments of a dour opening half.

Eight minutes into the second half, Balzan were forced to substitute the injured Brincat. They put in Lydon Micallef as Serrano retreated deeper in defence.

Territorial advantage belonged marginally to Balzan in the second period however, many of their moves orchestrated by a typically neat performance from Zarate, created precious little. In a rare forray, Effiong advanced down the left but his shot from the byeline was turned into a corner by keeper Cassar.

Tarxien, who had evidently been lacking in ideas up top, introduced Luke Montebello for the last 20 minutes. Some time later, Balzan also drafted in Ryan Darmanin to strengthen their attacking force. It almost worked out on 82 minutes. Darmanin rose to meet Micallef’s cross but his firm header was superbly turned into corner by the alert keeper Cassar.

In a late frantic finish, Balzan almost pilfered full points but Cassar again denied Mensha

At the opposite end, Balzan were caught one against two but Montebello fluffed the good chance, shooting hurriedly and over.

Both teams could have been there until midnight, fruitlessly chasing a goal, and it may still not have arrived.