BALZAN FC- 2
PEMBROKE ATHLETA – 1
Balzan: C. Cassar, J. Grioli, P. Fenech, S. Bezzina, S. Arab, A. Effiong (B. Kaljevic), P. Calcado, L. Sciberras (A. Vujacic), L. Micallef, A. Souza (M. Focsa) , C. Brincat
Pembroke: M. Muscat, Z. Levnaic, A. Cini, R. Tanti (G. De Paulo), O. Bugeja, P. Barbetti, M. Micallef, S. Arab (O. Obiefule), A. Laudisi, G. Villalobos, T. Agius (L. Grech)
Referee: P. Farrugia
Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, D. Castillo
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: L. Micallef 17, A. Laudisi 28, R. Tanti 86 og
Yellow cards: L. Sciberras, P. Fenech, P. Barbetti, P. Calcado, S. Arab
Red card: P. Calcado
Player of the match: A. Souza (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Micallef 2. Z. Levnaic 3. A. Souza
SILVIO VELLA
A headed own goal by Pembroke defender Rennie Tanti four minutes from normal time, gave ten-man Balzan a hard fought victory against plucky Pembroke that was not as comfortable as the scoreline might suggest.
In fact, with the score tied at 1-1, Balzan had Pedro Calcado sent off on 82 minutes, just a few minutes after Kaljevic had missed a penalty, in what looked a harsh decision on Pembroke.
Pembroke may also claim that they themselves were denied a penalty three minutes before, after Balzan defender Clive Brincat looked to have handled inside the area.
Despite in eighth place in the standings, Pembroke showed character and resolve and the teams looked so evenly matched it was hard to credit there was a difference of 10 points between them at kick off.
Clive Brincat had to deputise for the suspended Elkin Serrano in the Balzan defence as Christian Cassar played in goal instead of Ivan Janjusevic. Luke Sciberras started in midfield and Lydon Micallef in attack with both Dylan Grima and Alexander Vujacic relegated to the bench.
Pembroke, who had Kyle O’Brien also missing through suspension, started like a hurling train, full of energy, and did all the early running.
After nine minutes Villalobos played the ball forward to Micallef, whose rising shot was turned into a corner by the alert keeper Cassar. From another corner on 11th minutes, some sluggish defending by Balzan allowed Laudisi to shoot from close range but keeper Cassar was again up to task to save with some difficulty.
Although Balzan had to endure some anxious moments, the pressure valve was released past the quarter hour when Souza did some good work on the byeline on the right before crossing low for Lydon Micallef to finish off from the edge of the eight-yard box.
To their credit, Pembroke were not demoralised though. Their response to falling behind was swift as Bugeja headed Barbetti’s floating free kick narrowly wide. And short of the half hour Pembroke levelled matters. Mano Micallef avoided two opponents inside the Balzan area and his cross shot was well met by Ariel Laudisi who steered the ball in from the far end.
The second half was less eventful and although Balzan had the better share of possession, they hardly worked the Pembroke keeper. Effiong missed a glaring opportunity for Balzan on 53 minutes. With only the keeper to beat, from a Souiza cross, he incredibly missed the target.
After that, Pembroke keeper Muscat repelled a close shot from Souza, before Vujacic was introduced for Sciberras. On 71 minutes Lydon Micallef’s header clipped the bar on a Fenech long cross.
On 75 minutes Brincat’s blatant handling on a Mano Micallef cross went unnonticed by both the referee and his assistant. Only three minutes later, Balzan were awarded a penalty, apparantly for some push inside the area following a corner. That brought harsh protests from Pembroke but justice was done when substitute Kaljevic sent his effort wide.
These were 12 hectic final minutes as the match intensified.Balzan’s Calcado was sent off for elbowing Villalobos. With four minutes remaining and the match looked drifting towards a draw, Souza’ s corner from the left was deflected in by Pembroke’s defender Rennie Tanti.
With a man down, Balzan had to go through some more anxious moments in stoppage time. Laudisi’s header was saved by keeper Cassar and Fenech blocked another Pembroke goal bound effort from the line. Laudisi put his effort wide with the last kick of the match as Pembroke were doomed to defeat. Football can be that cruel at times.
HIBERNIANS- 6
QORMI- 0
Hibernians: J. Haber, J. Pearson, J. Lima, R. Soares, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen (D. Vella), A. Agius, L. Edison (D. Xuereb), J. Mbong, G. Ribeiro (J. Degabriele), Jorginho
Qormi: A. Vella, E. Vella (A. Bonnici), O. Sidibe, T. Gusman, D. Leeflang, Y. Yankam, A. Cassar, I. Micallef (J. Barbara), N. Ojuola, T. Vella (P. Viggiani), K. Magro
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: L. Portelli, S. Attard
4th official: E. Azzopardi
Scorers: A. Agius 9, Jorginho 15, 70 pen, A. Cohen 24, L. Edison 40 pen, G. Ribeiro 62
Yellow cards: B. Kristensen, J. Lima
Red cards: O. Sidibe, P. Viggiani, J. Lima
Player of the match: Jorginho (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. L. Edison 2. Jorginho 3. A. Vella
Attendance: 776
SILVIO VELLA
Champions Hibernians swept sorry Qormi away in impressive fashion yesterday as they keep their title challenge on track at the start of the Premier League’s final phase.
Qormi, who yesterday were without Clifford Gauci and had Andreas Vella playing in goal, were poor. Looking scruffy and scrappy, their coach Johann Scicluna is fighting a forlorn battle to bring some cohesion to his side.
Already three goals down before the half hour, they had their central defender Sidibe sent off shortly before the interval, after fouling Jorginho to deny him a clear scoring opportunity. They conceded twice more in the second half and it was a sorry sight for Qormi ending in eight men after substitute Pietro Viggiani was also sent off and Gusman was stretchered off after they had effected all three substitutions.
They posed minimal threat to a Hibernians side without the injured Rui Gomes, Clayton Failla, Jorge Silva and the suspended Marcelo Dias. Jorginho made his return after a long absence and immediately made his contribution with a brace, including a penalty won and another scored.
The champions started like a team on a mission, capitalising on Qormi’s sluggish beginning and , deservedly taking the lead after only nine minutes on the clock. On a Lima corner from the right Andrei Aguis headed his side in front with his fifth goal in this campaign.
From that juncture, Hibernians’ pressure was relentless, with Jorginho highly involved. On a Luis Edison cross, Sidibe cleared the ball before Jorginho could connect. Qormi keeper Andreas Vella tipped Jorginho’s meaty free kick into a corner.
On the quarter hour Hibernians doubled their advantage. Jorginho himslef beat the Qormi keeper with a low diagonal drive after a Ribeiro miskick had fallen into his path. Keeper Vella twice denied Hibernians after that as he first turned Ribeiro’s powerful free kick into a corner and then blocked Luis Edison’s close range effort.
Qormi again failed to clear their lines from a Ribeiro corner midway through the half and Andrew Cohen scored the Paolites’ third with a rising shot from the edge of the Qormi area.
There were blocked shots from Luis Edisona nd Lima before a penalty award led to Hibernians’ fourth goal five minutes before the break. Sidibe felled Jorginho with a late tackle just inside the area and the Qormi defender was also sent off for his troubles before Luis Edison converted from the spot.
The second half remained on the same pattern, although Hibernians stepped down a gear. And with Qormi unable to string a couple of passes together, without ever escaping their own half, it was down to keeper Vella to limit the damage. He pulled smart saves off efforts by Luis Edison and Ribeiro but was rendered helpless past the hour on Gilmar Ribeiro’s strike as he added his name to the scorers’ list.
Hibernians’ sixth goal came on 70 minutes, from another penalty which Jorginho tucked away, after Emerson Vella felled Luis Edison inside the area.
There was more misery for Qormi, who had susbtitute Viggiani sent off for a reckless tackle on Soares six minutes from time.
Hibernians had Lima sent off for a second bookable offence in the dying minutes.
Floriana 4
Naxxar L. 0
Floriana: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Scicluna, A. Monticelli (F. Aboulezz), E. Pepe, S. Pisani (D. Agius), M. Piciollo, S. Bonnici, E. Briffa, N. Chiesa (C. Borg), M. Fontanella, E. Marcelina.
Naxxar L.: A. Gallinetta, A. Hungria, A. Scicluna, E. Vallecillo (D. Falzon), D. Toure, D. Bonnici, J. Debono (JA Godar Pereira), D. Fenech, A. Buhagiar, EM Hamutenya (M. Fenech), N. Tasic.
Referee: S. Spiteri.
Asst refs: D. Sultana, T. Debono.
4th official: M. Degabriele.
Scorers: N. Chiesa, S. Pisani, M. Fontanella, M. Piciollo
Yellow cards: A. Hungria, N. Chiesa,
Player of the match: N. Chiesa.
TMI Top 3: 1. N. Chiesa, 2. S. Pisani, 3. E. Marcelina
Henry Brincat
Two first half strikes and another two in the second half were more than enough for Floriana to ease past Naxxar yesterday.
Chiesa and Pisani were the scorers in the first half, while Fontanella and Piciollo added the others in the second half.
Following this win, Floriana have overtaken Birkirkara in the standings and are now occupying 4th place on 23 points, two above the Stripes ahead of the latter’s match against Mosta today.
The Lions remain third from bottom with seven points.
With Nicolas Chiesa and Marcelina dominating the midfield sector, it was evident that the Lions’ resistance would eventually succumb. When it did, after 20 minutes, Naxxar failed to provide an adequate reaction (especially in the second half) and the Greens could therefore coast home to a comfortable victory.
Naxxar were made to defend for most of the time during the first half which saw the Greens ending with a deserved 2-0 lead.
The Lions, in fact, operated in counter-attacks from which they missed two good chances to equalise, but the Greens also had their own chances to increase their tally.
However, they had to wait till added time in the first half to score a second goal which gave them a healthier cushion.
In the second half, Floriana’s dominance was even more pronounced as they went on to add two more goals to their tally as they overwhelmed their opponents.
After a very quiet start, it was Floriana who broke the deadlock on the 20th minute. It was Briffa who crossed into the Naxxar area. The ball was cleared out and it went to Nicolas Chiesa who controlled it before hitting a low shot past Gallinetta.
In the 24th minute, Naxxar replied with a Tasic cross which went to the unmarked Vallecillo, but the latter hit the ball badly and it went wide.
Immediately afterwards, at the other end, Fontanella was involved in a fine solo move, but his deviated effort just missed the target.
Soon after from a corner, a Monticelli shot first hit Scicluna and then Gallinetta before ending up in a corner for the Greens.
Naxxar missed a good chance to equalise when in a fast move upfield, Vallecillo and Bonnici exchanged the ball, but luckily for the Greens, the former’s effort from an ideal position went well wide of the Floriana goal.
On 34 minutes, on a Duane Bonnici pass, it was Floriana goalie Calleja Cremona who rushed out of his charge to anticipate Demba Toure just outside the area, clearing the ball neatly away with a header.
In the 42nd minute, Pisani set Chiesa outside the Naxxar area, but the Argentine’s effort missed the target by inches.
In first half added time, Floriana added a second goal to their tally. A Piciollo cross was partially blocked, the ball went to Steve Pisani who beat Gallinetta with an angled shot.
On the 55th minute, from a Debono cornerkick, it was Scicluna who hit just wide for Naxxar, while at the other end, a few minutes later, it was Piciollo who indulged in a solo move which ended with the ball going wide.
The Greens almost scored a third goal in the 67th minute when Naxxar goalie Gallinetta was a protagonist, saving a close range effort by Fontanella.
It was 3-0 in the 75th minute when Monticelli advanced on the left to cross low for Fontanella to hit home from close in.
Piciollo rounded the scoring two minutes from the end when he received a good pass from substitute Firas Aboulezz to beat Gallinetta with a low shot.
Tarxien R. 0
Sliema W. 1
Tarxien R.: A. Cassar, E. Baker, M. Caruana, B. Giglio de Oliveira, A. Azzopardi, C. Hevia Menendez (M. Tabone), L. Montebello, S. Fernandez, D. Zerafa, A. da Paixao Alves, C. Frances (A. Nilsson).
Sliema W.: G. Zammit, A. Muscat (A. Friggieri), M. Scerri, D. Njongo Priso (S. Shodiya) , C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Potezica, J. Bezzina, D Rocha dos Santos, G. Muir, JP Farrugia (K. Hendry), S. Bianciardi.
Referee: M. Borg.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, M. Scerri.
4th official: M. Apap.
Scorer: J. Bezzina
Yellow cards: N. Priso, C. Frances, J. Bezzina, A. Nilsson
Player of the match: J. Bezzina
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Bezzina, 2. G. Muir, 3. L. Montebello
Attendance: 618
Sliema Wanderers returned to winning form yesterday as they beat Tarxien Rainbows 1-0 in the second match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
A goal by Johann Bezzina on the hour was enough for the Blues to clinch the three points.
The victory arrived after five consecutive defeats and only on the second day after former coach Stephen Azzopardi came to an agreement with the club to take over responsibility for the technical structure of the club. The team was under the charge of his assistant coach Ivan Woods yesterday.
The first half was evenly balanced but neither side appeared to be stretching each other so much so that chances were at a premium.
The best – and only – chance came Tarxien’s way four minutes from the interval, when Montebello had a shot going just over the post.
The second half was slightly better, starting with another Tarxien incursion which produced a cornerkick. From Ayrton Azzopardi’s cross, Bruno connected well but his header just missed the post.
Sliema took the lead on 59 minutes when Bezzina picked up a short clearance by the Tarxien defence and his grounder beat Andrea Cassar, between the Tarxien posts.
Tarxien could have equalized just a minute later but Sliema goalie Zammit denied them by pushing away a dangerous Azzopardi cross-shot destined for the back of the net.
The Rainbows persisted in attack in search of an equaliser, but Sliema defended well.
It was only in the 89th minute that the Rainbows threatened seriously to get an equaliser when Montebello pounced on a rare Sliema defensive lapse, but with only goalie Zammit to beat, he hit incredibly wide.