SLIEMA WANDERERS -  1

BIRKIRKARA –                 3

Sliema W: E. Elezaj, A. Muscat (R. Dalli), J. Mintoff (M. Mifsud), M. Scerri, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Potezica (P. Xuereb), A. Friggieri, R. Ledesma, G. Muir, S. Bianciardi, L. Dimech

Birkirkara: J. Haber, C. Attard, Z. Muscat, M. Mazzetti, R. Muscat (G. Sciberras), P. Fenech, J. Zerafa, F. Miccoli, J. Barroso (R. Camenzuli), V. Plut, E. Liliu

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst. refs: D. Sultana, L. Portelli

4th official:M. Apap

Scorers: A. Muscat 19, F. Miccoli 50 pen, E. Liliu 54, R. Camenzuli 74

Yellow cards: M. Potezica, F. Miccoli, J. Mintoff, M. Scerri

Player of the match: Z. Muscat (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1. Z. Muscat  2. G. Muir   3. J. Zerafa

 

This third league victory on the trot, lifts Birkirkara to within three points from BoV Premier League leaders Balzan.

This was by no means their slackest performance of term but, for all their use of the ball in midfield, Birkirkara lacked bite up front to make any real impact in a mundane first half, even trailing inferior opponents. They only looked good value for their win with three second half goals.

Birkirkara had central defender Maurizio Mazzetti back after suspension and also gave starts to Joseph Zerafa, Rowen Muscat and Juan Barroso ahead of Emerson Marcelina, Gareth Sciberras, Ryan Camenzuli and Ryan Scicluna in the rotation process.

Sliema Wnderers were hampered by injuries and suspension to key players like midfielders Johann Bezzina and Pedro Calcado as well as striker Michael Mifsud. Entonio Elezaj replaced Glen Zammit in goal in the starting line-up, that did not even feature Moura Souza Kerlon. Rafael Ledesma was their lone striker.

The Wanderers’ deficiencies in attack had been always a major concern this season. A combined total of four goals had been scored in what became a 637-minute improvised symphony of sterility for Stephen Azzopardi’s side.

That statistic slightly improved yesterday as Sliema went in front after 19 minutes. Ledesma sent a deep cross and Birkirkara defender allowed Muir too much space inside the are on the left. His low cross was well met by Alex Muscat who beat keeper Haber with a drilling shot at the top right hand corner.

Until then, Birkirkara had done enough to deserve the lead themselves as they dominated the early stages. After only four minutes, there was a slight Bianciardi contact with Plut, who fell like a crumbling biscuit inside the Sliema area. Plut beat the turf in frustartion when the referee waved play on.

A Miccoli effort went over and an inswinging Mazzetti cross was fisted out by keeper Elezaj before Attard headed wide.

With the Sliema rearguard not getting enough protection from their defensive midfielders, they always tended to wilt under the Stripes’ pressure after the opening goal.

Towards the half hour, Plut’s deep cross from the left found Fenech unmarked at the far end but his stooping header went wastefully over.

Sliema carved out another good chance minutes later. Friggieri turned well despite Zach Muscat’s challenge, after making his way inside the Birkirkara area but keeper Haber kept out his shot with a good reflex save.

Birkirkara’s best chance to draw level came into the half’s added time. On a Miccoli floating free kick, Zach Muscat’s close header was blocked providentially by the Sliema keeper. Liliu skied the rebound as the players left the pitch with loud booes from their disgruntled fans at halftime.

Birkirkara turned the tables soon after the restart though. Five minutes into the second period they won a penalty after Liliu was pushed inside the Sliema area as he tried to go past Potezica. Fabrizio Miccoli tucked it away to restore equilibrium.

And the Stripes even went in front only four minutes later as Sliema were culpable of a defensive mess. Gatta Baldacchino played an erratic square pass to put team mate Dimech under pressure. He was too startled to control the ball properly when challenged by Liliu and Plut stole possession to flicked the ball short for Liliu to steer the ball into an unattended goal.

With  Sliema completely out of sorts, Birkirkara kept probing for that assuring goal, which came on 74 minutes. Miccoli trotted unchallenged from midfield and played the ball wide on the left to substitute Ryan Camenzuli, who cut towrads the middle past Alex Muscat and beat keeper Elezaj with a curling shot at the far post.

Game almost over, but Birkirkara could have added further goals. Zach Muscat mishit the ball on Camenzuli’s through pass and on a Camenzuli cross, Liliu put his free header wide.

There was a sense of utter deflation for the Wanderers at the end.

VALLETTA-                  3  

FLORIANA –               1

 

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

Floriana: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, S. Pisani (J. Cabral), Clyde Borg (Conor Borg), J. Pisani, A. Scozzese, M. Piciollo, E. Briffa, N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella

Referee: P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, W. Debattista

Additional asst.refs: C. Pisani, F. Zammit

4th official: P. Apap

Scorers: F. Falcone 9, I. Azzopardi 26, M. Fontanella 28, Jhonnattan 44

Yellow cards: C. Pani, J. Pisani, I. Azzopardi, Jhonnattan

Player of the match: Jhonnattan (Valletta)

TMI top 3:  1. Jhonnattan  2. A. Nafti  3. M. Fontanella

Attendance: 3,194

 

Floriana’s long wait to beat neighbours and rivals Valletta was prolonged as the Citizens emerged winners again in this derby, thanks to a solid performance that takes them second in the standings.

Valletta welcomed back defender Romeu after suspension but the not fit Njongo Priso was missing. Still the inclusion of both Jhonnattan and Nafti brought freshness and drive that Valletta sometimes missed this season.

Floriana, buoyed by their convincing win against Sliema Wanderers before the international break, included Steve Pisani instead of Conor Borg to provide a useful outlet on the wing and keep Valletta stretched. They neatly spread the ball around in midfield but there was a desperate lack of thrust that produced very little apart from a sudden burst towards the half hour that broought them a goal and a penalty. That penalty miss by Piciollo had an adverse effect and once they conceded Valletta’s third before the break, there was no way they could come back and avoid defeat after five unbeaten matches.

This contest began rich with the promise of some intriguing football, considering the vein of present good form and the rivalry between the two sides. Only two points separated them before kick off.

Floriana dominated the early stages, but it was Valletta who drew first blood, after nine minutes, Nafti again at the heart of matters as he expertly found Federico Falcone on the edge of the penalty area, with his cross from the byeline on the left, to hit past the helpless Calleja Cremona in the Floriana goal.

Floriana’s immediate reaction  came from Piciollo’s grounder but Valletta keeper Bonello was behind the ball. On the quarter hour, Valletta threatened again. Nafti delivered the cross ferom the left but Jhonnattan headed wide.

On 26 minutes Valletta, who continued to pass and move with greater purpose, doubled their advantage from a set piece. Jhonnattan’s free kick from the right was headed in from close range by Ian Azzopardi.

Floriana showed spirit and hit back hardly two minutes later. Mario Fontanella reached for a high ball on Piciollo’s cross from the right before keeper Bonello to score with a header and reduce the arrears.

Floriana almost drew level past the half hour when Azzopardi felled Piciollo inside the Valletta area to concede a penalty. But Bonello turned Piciollo’s kick into a corner.

Soon Valletta settled again, taking possession for periods without creating chances, although the Floriana defence looked vulnerable whenever Valletta did press.

Falcone tested the Floriana keeper with a shot on the turn, tipped over into a corner.

The game’s fourth goal arrived one minute before the break and again on Valletta’s side. Jhonnattan was fouled by Scozzese outside the Floriana area and from the resultant free kick, Jhonnattan himself left keeper Calleja Cremona rooted to his line.

Valletta comfortably controlled a mundane second half, with Jhonnattan going close to scoring another but his shot from a tight angle hit the upright. With Pani and Ryan Camilleri being particularly effective in nullifying Floriana’s forwrd line, the Greens huffed and puffed without being the least effective.

And with the Floriana coach Oliveira failing to introduce more incissiveness to the side, the lively atmosphere at Ta’ Qali belonged only to the Valletta fans’ cheery support on the night.