FLORIANA - 2
PEMBROKE A - 3
Floriana: M. Calleja Cremona, S. Pisani, Clyde Borg (D. Agius), M. Villa, J. Cabral (F. Aboulez), A. Scozzese, M. Piciollo, S. Bonnici (N. Spiteri), N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella, E. Marcelina
Pembroke A: M. Muscat, K. O’Brien, M. Nicallef, S. Arab (S. Eboh), M. Attard, A. Laudisi, A. Cini, O. Bugeja, O. Obiefule (G. Nobrega), G. Villalobos, Z. Levnaic
Referee: S. Spiteri
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, T. Debono
4th official: P. Farrugia
Scorers: G. Villalobos 13, M. Micallef 54, M. Fontanella 82 (pen), 84 (pen), G. Nobrega 90+
Yellow cards: S. Pisani, N. Chiesa, M. Piciollo, C. Borg, S. Arab, G. Villalobos, M. Muscat
Red card: M. Piciollo
Player of the match: M. Micallef (Pembroke A)
TMI top 3: 1. G. Villalobos 2. M. Micallef 3. M. Villa
SILVIO VELLA
Pembroke Athleta beat Floriana in a fitting finale, to secure their place in the BoV Premier League next season.
Their last win before this was at the beginning of March and Winston Muscat’s side had since garnered only two points in five matches, prolonging their safety.
This victory was reward for some lively movement from Pembroke, who may lack quality in their side when it comes to playing superior opponents, but moved with energy and showed intelligence a cut above ragged Floriana yesterday.
Pembroke showed spirit and summoned enough effort to win the match, with a dramatic added-time goal by substitute Gustav o Nobrega, after almost seeing two points slipping through their fingers, when briefly surrendering a two-goal lead in the late stages.
Floriana, only a pale shadow of the side that beat Valletta the previous week, with Matteo Piciollo only a peripheral figure, lacked attacking initiative yesterday. They looked out of it, trailing by two goals with only eight minutes of normal time remaining. But Mauricio Villa won two penalties in quick succession for Mario Fontanell to convert and draw level. Only for a brief spell though.
After Matteo Piciollo was sent off for two bookings, they conceded Pembroke’ s third goal deep into added time.
It is just as well that Floriana have an FA Trophy quarter final on the horizon to enthuse them because they were disappointing yesterday.
The Greens had Matthew Calleja Cremona back in goal after suspension, but their defender Emmanuel Briffa was unavailable.
Pembroke also had key midfielder Paltemio Barbetti suspended but the coach gave a start to Obinna Obiefule in attack.
The first chance fell to Floriana in the opening minutes when Piciollo controlled Cabral’s corner inside the Pembroke area but blazed the ball over the bar.
But steadily Pembroke did begin to press at Floriana’s soft centre and took the lead after 13 minutes through an opportunist goal by Gustavo Villalobos, who took possession just inside the Floriana area on the right and drilled an unstoppable shot at the top corner past the goalkeeper.
Despite the early goal, the match remained a slow burner although Floriana almost hit back midway through the half when Fontanella found himself clear inside the Pembroke area on a Chiesa through ball but keeper Muscat was quick to block at his feet.
Short of the half hour Floriana went closest to drawing level, with Villa heading Cabral’s corner from the left against the bar.
Floriana tried to take more control after the interval. A Cabral shot was blocked by Pembroke’s defender Bugeja.
Pembroke doubled their advantage and looked like having the points safe, the goal arriving on 54 minutes, almost from nowhere as Villalobos played a high ball behind the static Floriana defence for Manolito Micallef to lob it over the onrushing keeper Calleja Cremona.
Floriana showed no signs of hitting back as Pembroke hogged the ball but did not have the ingenuity to do much more with it and were at times expensively sluggish.
They were almost punished when conceding two late penalties in as many minutes. On both occasions, Villa was felled inside the area, first by Villalobos and then by Bugeja. On both occasions, Mario Fontanella beat keeper Muscat from the spot to restore equilibrium.
Floriana were down to ten men on the stroke of full time, after Piciollo was dismissed for a second booking.
Pembroke immediatley capitalised and substitute Gustavo Nobrega clinched a dramatic winner, beating Calleja Cremona with a low diagonal drive in the game’s added time.
HIBERNIANS- 3
BALZAN FC - 1
Hibernians: J. Haber, R. Soares, J. Pearson, M. Dias, J. Lima, B. Kristensen, J. Silva (J. Degabriele), A. Agius, C. Failla (D. Mbele), Jorginho, G. Ribeiro
Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, J. Grioli, P. Fenech, S. Bezzina|(R. Fenech), P. Calcado, S. Arab (M. Focsa), A. Effiong, A. Souza, L. Micallef (A. Vujacic), E. Serrano, D. Grima
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, D. Castillo
Additional asst.refs: M. Apap, E. Grech
4th official: L. Portelli
Scorers: Jorginho 18, J. Silva 27, 60, J. Grioli 86
Yellow cards: P. Fenech, P. Calcado, M. Dias, E. Serrano, J. Silva, R. Fenech
Player of the match: Jorge Silva (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Silva 2. G. Ribeiro 3. A. Effiong
Attendance: 1,586
SILVIO VELLA
Hibernains produced a controlled, clinical performance at Ta’ Qali, easing their way to a victory that left Balzan and their fans looking ominously deflated and the two-way struggle at the top of the Premier League all set to stretch out into the season’s endgame.
Hibernians showed enough motivation yesterday to suggest they will do all they can to unsettle Valletta’s title pursuit. The leaders play Birkirkara this afternoon and, if they stumble, Hibernians will be in a more advantageous position, with only two more matches to play.
Hibernians did the hard work in the first period. Jorginho and Jorge Silva, who started instead of Degabriele, demonstrated their class with exquisite interplay and scored three superbly crafted goals between them in a win that was just reward for their side’s complete dominance.
Balzan were simply not good enough, not decisive enough, not strong enough and lacking any real attacking rhythm against a team that tends to have a great habit of holding their nerve when the battle heats up. This was Balzan’s first defeat this year but a very damaging one that leaves them five points adrift.
Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri reshuffled the pack following the win against Qormi. Depleted of centre back Clive Brincat through suspension, Samir Arab was given a start, with Alexander Vujacic making way for the returning Alfred Effiong. Alan Souza was also given the nod ahead of Luke Sciberras, who started on the bench.
They set out in a rigid-looking 4-1-4-1, their early attacking intent limited to wide passes towards Alan Souza to provide the delivery for Effiong.
Balzan were frisky in the early moments. Effiong’s powerful drive was repelled by keeper Haber.
Hibernians were gradually finding their pace and rhythm. Short of the quarter hour Agius played a square pass to Jorginho, but his shot was blocked into a throw-in.
It took Hibernians 18 minutes to make the breakthrough. Jorginho took possession inside the area, beat Grima’s challenge and unleashed a curling shot beyond keeper Janjusevic’s reach.
Galvanised by their lead, the champions continued to press forward. The effective Ribeiro shot from a distance but Janjusevic saved well.
Short of the half hour, Ribeiro again started the move that led to the Paolites’ second goal as he foraged down the left flank. His shot was parried by the Balzan keeper but Jorge Silva was quick to steer the loose ball over the line.
Arab was injured in the same action and forced to be replaced by Focsa for Balzan, who threatened shortly before halftime when Effiong advanced from the byeline on the right. His efforft beat the onrushing keeper Haber but Dias cleared the ball off the line.
In the second half, Balzan needed a quick surge of incision. Hibernians needed to see out the game as early as possible.
It was Hibernians’ greater attacking quality that told. After a Jorge Silva effort from inside the eight-yard box, on a Kristenssen cross, was blcoked by the Balzan keeper, the champions scopred their third on the hour.
Keeper Janjusevic fumbled the ball on a Failla high cross and Jorge Silva, with his back towards goal, scored with his back-heeled effort.
Sensing all hopes fading away, Balzan had a Calcado rising shot tipped over the bar by keeper Haber.
Tension between both sets of players produced a brief scuffle between Souza and Ribeiro as tempers flared after Dias committed a foul and was booked. Serrano was also cautioned for a cride tackle only minutes later.
Down to football, Balzan introduced Vujacic and Ryan Fenech but to little effect.
They had to absorb some concerted late pressure and were lucky that Ribeiro skied his effort, when well served by Jorginho who had nutmegged Focsa from the right.
It was scant consolation when Justin Grioli surprised keeper Haber with a long range drive from some 25 metres out to reduce the deficit.
But that mattered little as Balzan ended the game lacking any clear attacking plan, simply undone by moments of class from far more thoroughbred opposition.
Sliema W. 3
St Andrews 1
Sliema W.: E. Elezaj, A. Muscat, AJ Friggieri, N. Priso, S. Perdomo, M. Potezika, P. Xuereb (M. Scerri), J. Bezzina (S. Shodiya), JP Farrugia, S. Bianciardi, L. Dimech (C. Gatt Baldacchino).
St Andrews: J. Galea, E. Pena Beltre, M. Johnson, BW Che, J. Perez Cuestra, D. Camilleri (E. Nkene), F. Odwudinjo, J. Farrugia, K. Nwoko, M. Desira Buttigieg (VL Oseghale), M. Salomon Wisdom.
Referee: S. Pace.
Asst refs: M. Scerri, P. Apap.
4th official: AM Sant.
Scorers: JP Farrugia, S. Perdomo, VL Oseghale, N. Priso
Yellow cards: J.Bezzina, S. Perdomo, S. Bianciardi, E. Nkene, M. Potezica
Red cards: M. Johnson
Player of the match: JP Farrugia.
TMI Top 3: 1. JP Farrugia, 2. M. Potezica, 3. S. Perdomo.
Henry Brincat
St Andrews were pushed closer to relegation yesterday after suffering a 3-1 defeat against Sliema Wanderers.
Following this defeat, the Saints now hope that Qormi beat Naxxar in today’s direct clash so as to be able to keep hoping of eventually avoiding the Drop, although their chances are quite remote now.
The Saints had to play in 10 men for about 50 minutes after Michael Johnson saw red after a second booking.
In the first half, Sliema deserved their 2-0 lead as they were obviously the better team on the field of play, creating a good number of chances.
On the other hand the Saints, badly in need of the points, failed miserably, even if it had to be a great defensive lapse by St Andrews defender Che that provided the Blues with their opener, following which, they did not look back.
Otherwise, they rarely, if ever, troubled goalie Elezaj as Sliema covered well at the back with veteran Luke Dimech and Alex Muscat in command.
In the second half, despite playing in numerical inferiority, the Saints moved upfield in search of goal.
But the Blues played confidently at the back and when the Saints finally found the net, Greco’s boys also found more energy to score a third goal and seal the issue in their favour.
Sliema threatened first on the 7th minute when Priso set Jean Paul Farrugia in the Saints’ area, but the latter’s shot from the angle hit the side rigging.
Soon after from a Friggieri cornerkick, goalie Galea turned to corner with some difficulty. From Friggieri’s cornerkick, a Jean Paul Farrugia header was saved by Galea.
Sliema insisted and in the 14th minute, it was Priso who advanced into the area only to hit wide from an ideal position.
St Andrews replied on the 17th minute through a Dale Camilleri effort which was saved on deck by Elezaj.
In the 25th minute, goalie Galea was again a protagonist for the Saints as he blocked with his feet a Potezika shot after the latter was put through by Bezzina. Soon after, a Priso shot hit Che and the post before going dead.
Che then presented Jean Paul Farrugia with a great chance for a score. Completely alone at the back, he controlled the ball badly and hesitated to clear allowing the Sliema striker to beat the helpless Galea with great ease.
It was 2-0 in the 40th minute as Perdomo fired home a great angled shot that beat Galea all ends up.
St Andrews ended up in 10 men on the 43rd minute when Johnson was shown a second yellow card for a bad tackle on Farrugia.
The latter again went close to adding a third goal as a fine shot just missed the target.
St Andrews almost pulled one back in the 52nd minute when a Farrugia freekick forced Elezaj to turn the ball to corner in style and with difficulty.
In the 64th minute, Kyrian Nwoko tested goalie Elezaj from the angle, but the Sliema goalie saved well.
St Andrews managed to pull one back in the 77th minute when substitute Oseghale anticipated goalie Elezaj to shoot into the net.
Despite their efforts in search of an equaliser, it was Sliema who added another goal when Priso rounded two defenders before beating Jake Galea with a low shot.
Pena Beltre missed a good chance for the Saints on 81 minutes as he fired wide from three metres.
Tarxien R. 0
Mosta 1
Tarxien R.: A. Cassar, B. Muscat, A. Nilsson (L. Montebello), A. Azzopardi, S. Fernandez Prendes, D. Zerafa, M. Tabone, R. Spiteri, NR Ezequiel (B. Giglio de Oliveira), J. Mintoff (A. Da Paixao Alves), C. Frances.
Mosta FC: O. Borg, JR Ekani, E. Michelotti, T. Farrugia, F. Alabi, D. Okonkwo, G. Mensah (A. Borg), J. Brincat (D. Xuereb), Z. Brincat (D. Falzon), K. Frendo, IC Guobadia.
Referee: M. Borg.
Asst refs: R. Vella, M. Borg.
4th official: G. Tonna.
Scorers: G. Mensah.
Yellow cards: J. Mintoff, K. Frendo, A. Cassar, O. Borg, IC Guobadia, Z. Brincat, D. Okonkwo)
Player of the match: J. Brincat
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Brincat; 2. C. Frances, 3. F. Alabi.
Attendance: 392
Henry Brincat
A lone second half strike from Godwin Mensah was enough for Mosta to beat Tarxien Rainbows in this mostly tedious match.
The result means that Mosta move onto the 19-point mark, while Tarxien remain on 29 points.
With no particular interest from both sides, this match was meaningless.
The first half lacked any sparkle and actions in front of goal were very few and far between.
It was a contest between two strong defences and two front lines which failed to penetrate.
A lot of useless midfield play ensued as the two teams, safe and sound in mid-table, failed to create any clearcut chances.
In the second half, play did not improve much, but it was Mosta who showed the better ideas and had two good chances, from one of which, they scored their goal.
Tarxien tried to get an equaliser in the later stages, but Mosta defended calmly and managed to hold on till the end.
Mosta started on the offensive and in the 6th minute, Mensah tried his luck from 30 metres, but with Cassar out of position, his shot went wide.
Play degenerated and neither goal was seriously tested.
The next action worthy of note arrived on the 29th minute when Tarxien went close with a low shot from the edge of the area by Nilsson which, however, went just wide.
Just before the interval, it was Mosta who threatened through James Brincat who, after exchanging the ball with Okonkwo, saw his shot going just over the bar.
In the second half, after seven minutes, from a good Ekani cross, James Brincat could have done better than hitting the ball badly and well over the bar from a few metres out.
There was a controversial incident in the 57th minute when Tarxien goalie Andrea Cassar handled the ball just outside the area and was only shown a yellow card. Mosta protested hotly for a red card and even their goalie Omar Borg rushed to the other side of the pitch to protest with the official. It was no surprise that he was also shown a yellow card. From the freekick, Mensah lifted the ball well over the bar.
In the 75th minute, Mosta took the lead. They won a corner from which it was Godwin Mensah who planted the ball at the back of the net.
Tarxien replied through a Luke Montebello low shot which was blocked to a corner. Moments later, from a Frances cross, Montebello headed well over the bar from close in.
In added time, Da Paixao Alves hit a low shot which was confidently dealt with by Omar Borg