Floriana 3 St Andrews 2
Floriana: M. Calleja Cremona, E. Briffa, S. Bonnici, A. Scozzese (J. Cabral), J. Pisani, Clyde Borg (Conor Borg), S. Ezeadi, S. Pisani, N. Chiesa (F. Aboulezz), M. Villa, M. Piciollo.
St Andrews: K. Calleja, C. Cumbo, W. Moodley (K. Nwoko), M. Johnson, N. Andreis, L. Cosmai (L. Grech), N. Vella Petroni (M. Guillaumier), J. Williams, D. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, C. De Nguiojol.
Referee: A. Azzopardi.
Asst refs: M. Scerri, C. Francalanza.
4th official: M. Apap.
Scorers: A. Scozzese, M. Piciollo, N. Chiesa, K. Nwoko, C. De Nguiojol
Yellow cards: C. Cumbo, M. Johnson,
Player of the match: M. Piciollo
TMI Top 3: 1. S. Ezeadi, 2. M. Piciollo, 3. M. Johnson.
Henry Brincat
St Andrew’s staged a late rally yesterday, but it was still not enough to halt Floriana from registering a third successive win.
The three points lifted the Greens onto the nine point mark, while St Andrew’s remained on zero points after five matches.
This match had little or no story till the 76th minute. Till then the Greens were in command right from the start and never relinquished their hold on the proceedings, giving the Saints no chance to show any sign of retaliation.
If anything, Floriana were confirming their current good form
The way they moved the ball and scored their goals was a real pleasure to watch in the first half.
But in the second half, they left much to be desired. They elected to slow down their rhythm and therefore gave the Saints more space where to maneouvre.
In fact, Wayne Attard’s side pulled one back on 76 minutes and then were gifted a second goal a few minutes from the end.
Had the Greens failed to win yesterday, it would have been completely their fault.
In fact, St Andrews were certainly no match to such a superior side which seemed to have already made sure of the three points in the first half, following which they led 3-0.
The Saints were poor in defence which was at sixes and sevens whenever Piciollo, Chiesa and Ezeadi had the ball at their feet. Moreover, most of their attempts to move forward failed because of passes going astray.
But those two goals in the final 15 minutes not only gave them a respectable result, but also gave them the opportunity to know they can react even under abnormal circumstances.
But it is a fact that the Saints have to improve beyond consideration.
Only two minutes had elapsed and Floriana had already threatened the Saints’ fort seriously. It was Emmanuel Briffa who hit a fine shot from the edge of the area which hit the far upright.
Six minutes later, it was Simeon Ezeadi who went through the St Andrews defence on the right, but his cross-shot was palmed out by goalie Kris Calleja.
The Greens finally took a deserved lead on the 17th minute. It was Andrea Scozzese who found the net direct from a freekick from more than 20 metres – a splendid goal.
Three minutes later, Calleja saved the Saints’ fort turning to corner an angled shot from Piciollo.
The score became 2-0 in the 31st minute, when Piciollo rounded two defenders in the area to beat Calleja with a low shot.
And Floriana added a third goal seven minutes later. This time it was Nicolas Chiesa who fired home a beautiful shot on the turn giving Calleja no chance.
Three minutes later from a Clyde Borg cross, Calleja did well to save a Villa dangerous header.
In the second half, the Saints moved forward in search of at least a consolation goal, but Floriana controlled proceedings rather easily in the opening minutes and the viola only had two attempt – headers from Michael Johnson – which went wide.
However, they managed to pull one back on 76 minutes when off a corner from the right, it was substitute Kyrian Nwoko who found the net with a neat header.
At the other end, soon afterwards, Calleja was called into action to smother a close range effort from Villa.
The Saints pulled another goal back on the 87th minute when three Floriana defenders played dangerously with the ball in their area and finally goalkeeper Calleja Cremona saw his pass hitting De Nguiojol and rebounding into the net!
The Saints tried hard to save a point, but the Greens remained cool and could therefore go home with all the three points.
Hibs-Valletta 1-0
Henry Brincat
Hibernians were back at the top of the standings last night after a narrow 1-0 win against Valletta at the national stadium.
It was the champions’ fourth win from five matches having dropped only two points so far from a 1-1 draw against Balzan.
The Paolites now have 13 points, two ahead of second placed Balzan, three over Mosta and four over Valletta.
Hibernians had Denni Rocha dos Santos missing through suspension, while between the posts, young Rudy Briffa was again preferred to Jurgen Borg.
On the other hand, Valletta had Jhonnattann missing while Roderick Briffa started the match on the substitutes’ bench.
In the first half, play was more or less balanced, but it was the champions who created the better chances, apart from scoringthe only goal.
The Paolites had Marcelo Dias in scintillating form creating a lot of problems with his frequent runs upfield to the left flank of the City defence. It was this player who provided the perfect pass for Santos Silva to give the Paolites their half-time lead. He certainly merited being voted Player of the Match.
In the first half, Valletta did not stare at their opponents, but their efforts always came to a halt against the Hibs’ wall where Soares, Agius and Gomes were totally in command.
The Citizens never really tested young goalie Rudy Briffa who had a somewhat easy opening 45 minutes.
In the second half, Valletta threw everything into attack and penned Hibs in their own half for long stretches. They created a good number of chances, but somehow or other, the Paolites’ defence always emerged on top.
But it was also a case of missed chances by the City strikers who,once again, failed to score.
Both sides sized each other up at the start, but it was Hibs who provided the first action on goal on the 13th minute with an Andrew Cohen fine 25 metre effort being turned to corner in style by Henry Bonello.
Two minutes later, the Paolites took the lead with a splendid goal. It was Dias who mesmerised two City defenders on
the right to cross low for J. Santos Silva to hit home a fine rising shot from the edge of the area.
Hibernians remained the better team and on 30 minutes, from another cross by the active Dias, it was Clayton Failla who missed a sitter, hitting wildly over the bar from five metres.
Valletta’s reaction was somewhat feeble with Llewelyn Cremona’s weak effort being saved without any difficulty by Briffa.
At the other end, Bonello denied Kristensen whose low drive was turned to corner. From the corner, the ball was crossed into the City area where the completely unmarked Rodolfo Soares saw his header hitting first the upright and then Bonello before the ball went out to an abortive corner.
Before the interval whistle, Bonello had to dive sideways to stop a Pereira grounder.
Soon after the change of ends, Hibs went close again when from a Cohen cornerkick, a melee ensued in front of the City goal with Pereira just missing the far left upright.
Valletta went close to an equaliser in the 51st minute. An Azzopardi cross went to Roderick Briffa who fired a rising shot from the edge of the area which goalie Rudy Briffa just turned to corner in style.
And two minutes later, Briffa again attempted another effort which went just wide. Valletta insisted and Ndjongo had a shot blocked by a Hibs defender.
At the other end, in a Hibs counterattack, Cohen set Pereira, but the latter hit wide from an ideal position.
Hibs had an excellent chance to double the lead on 71 minutes. It was Santos Silva who passed to the completely unmarked Pereira, but with only Bonello to beat shot wide.
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 0
QORMI- 0
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat (M. Potezica), M. Mifsud, P. Calcado, R. Ledesma, C. Gatt Baldacchino, J. Bezzina, S. Kerlon (A. Friggieri), G. Muir, S. Bianciardi (J. Mintoff), L. Dimech
Qormi: A. Vella, A. Cassar, O. Sidibe, N. Ojuola, B. Berntsson, S. Agius, K. Magro (T.Vella), C. Monti, C. Gauci, R. Micallef (J. Chetcuti), A. Nilsson (E. Vella)
Referee: S. Spiteri
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, T. Debono
4th official: F. Zammit
Yellow cards: A. Muscat, L. Dimech, J. Chetcuti, C. Gatt Baldacchino,P. Calcado
Player of the match: A. Vella (Qormi)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Vella 2. P. Calcado 3. B. Berntsson
Attendance: 436
SILVIO VELLA
Sliema Wanderers were favourites to win this match and move further up the standings, but Qormi, buoyed by their previous win against St Andrews, defied the odds to play a goalless draw.
For most part of the game, Sliema were the smarter, better and more dominant team but they could only fire blanks and fianlly had to settle for a draw after two consecutive wins.
That was all down to the superlative goalkeeping of Qormi’s young shot-stopper Andreas Vella who, with a solid defensive barrier in front of him, produced a classy perfromance that frustrated the Wanderers
Sliema were without the injured midfielder Mark Scerri and coach Stephen Azzopardi started with Pedro Calcado in that role. The Brazilian strolled around imperiously with his neat touches and intelligent distribution.
Qormi’s consolation was that they stayed solid at the back and matched their opponents for most of the opening half, although Sliema crafted the better chances but found Andreas Vella in inspired form in the Qormi goal.
The young goalkeeper turned Kerlon’s goalbound effort into a corner after nine minutes, following good work by Mifsud. The latter again tested the Qormi keeper on a Ledesma cross and short of the half hour, Vella stretched himself to hold out Kerlon’s shot from a distance.
Hard as the Wanderers tried to wear their opponents down with their slick passing and flowing game, Qormi resisted the onslaught and with halftime looming, keeepr Vella saved Calcado’s shot from outside the are after a long elaborate move from Sliema.
It was still goalles at halftime.
Qormi went into the second half in pretty lively fashion. Nilsson found the ball at his feet as he advanced inside the Sliema area but shot straight on the keeper’s stretched body.
Keeper Vella came to the fore again as he continued to frustrate Sliema. Towards the hour, he turned Bezzina’s drilling shot from a distance into another corner.
Sliema maintained the pressure but too many attacks were breaking down on the edge of the Qormi area. Past the hour, coach Azzopardi substituted Kerlon with Aidan Friggieri.
Ledesma hit Ojuola’s clearance off target and as the minutes ticked away, Qormi grew in confidence. One final fling from Sliema saw Calcado drag the ball feebly towards goal but Vella was not to be troubled and Qormi’s resistance remained unbroken.
NAXXAR LIONS- 0
TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 5
Naxxar L: J. Azzopardi, B. Rajovic, A. Scicluna, M. Gnenegbre (J. Debono), S. Oussou, S. Hadzibulic (R. Cardozo), I. Grech, D. Fenech, A. Buhagiar (R. Cassar), E. Lattes, A. Tarlazis
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E.Baker, B. De Oliveira, T. C aruana, B. Muscat, D. Meira Santos, A. Azzopardi, L. Omeruo, C. Hevia Menendez (R. Bajada), A. Alves (G. Gesualdi), J. Oliveira (L. Montebello)
Referee: A. Arciola
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, D. Castillo
Additional asst.refs: C. Pisani, J. Utulu
4th official: J. Spiteri
Scorers: J. Oliveira 10, L. Omeruo 25, T. Caruana 45, D. Meira Santos 67, L. Montebello 90
Yellow cards: D. Fenech, B. Rajovic, B. Muscat, R. Bajada
Red card: D. Fenech
Player of the match: J. Oliveira (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Oliveira 2. A. Alves 3. E. Lattes
SILVIO VELLA
Tarxien Rainbows were back in the groove against ten-man Naxxar Lions, after their reverse aginst Hibernians.
The Rainbows knocked the ball around more confidently and it must have been disappointing for Naxxar coach Stefano Grima, however he attempted to dress it up, to see the inability of his players to gain any early momentum, despite playing with Oussou and Hadzibulic in attack.
Naxxar, still pointless after five matches, will look back on their ignored claim for a handsball inside the Tarxien area in the early minutes, but on the balance of play there could be no debate that with Joao Oliveira on the pitch the more classy play came from the Rainbows.
Already a man and two goals down inside the first half hour, many might indeed have believed the outcome of this match had effectively been decided when Naxxar conceded a third just before halftime.
The Lions were bereft of midfielder Matteo Del Negro, who did not recover from injury sustained in his side’s previous match, and was replaced by the inocuous Moise Gnenegbe. Julian Azzopardi returned in goal, despite the good showing of Luke Pecorella against Floriana on Sunday.
Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri meanwhile deemed it fit to make three changes from the team that went down narrowly to champions Hibernians on Sunday. He dropped Manuel Caruana, Timothy Tabone Desira and Luke Montebello to the bench and gave starts to Brandon Muscat, Danilo Meira Santos and Ayrton Azzopardi instead.
Tarxien’s keeper Cassar was the first to be tested, turning Oussou’s shot into a corner after six minutes.
But Tarxien made the breakthrough four minutes later when Joao Pedro Oliveira drove his direct free kick from outside the area on the left low past keeper Azzopardi.
The goal instilled more confidence in the Tarxien side and not surprisingly they doubled their lead on 25 minutes after Lucky Omeruo picked his spot just inside the Naxxar area to beat keeper Azzopardi with a low drive and celebrated the goal with a triple smersalt.
Hardly a minute later, Naxxar suffered further derision when their midfielder Fenech was sent off for loud protests, claiming an alleged foul for his side.
On the stroke of halftime, just when their opponents might have been vulnerable, Tarxien scored their third and assuring goal. Oliveira sent a low cross for Triston Caruana to control and shoot low past keeper Azzopardi at the near post.
Naxxar withdrew Hadzibulic and introduced Cardozo for the second half, moving Lattes slightly more forward. But they could see little of the ball with Tarxien, who also introduced Roderick Bajada, enjoying more of the possession, making good of their extra man.
Danilo Meira Santos added another goal on 67 minutes, as he advanced through the middle, on a Bajada pass, and beat the helpless Azzopardi for the fourth time in the match.
With the woodwork coming to the Lions’ rescue soon after, holding out Omeruo’s headed effort, substitute Luke Montebello completed the rout in the dying minutes, sliding the ball between the goalkeeper and the post.