BALZAN- 2
VALLETTA – 2
Balzan: I. Janjusevic, B. Kaljevic, B. De Oliveira, S. Bezzina, D. Grima (L. Micallef), P. Fenech, A. Effiong, J. Grioli, A. Nafti (C. Brincat), E. Serrano, M. Piciollo (T.Agius)
Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, S. Borg, J. Cruz, S. Malano, J. Borg, F. Falcone (M. Mifsud), U. Uchenna (J. Suda), L. Aguirre, Jhonnattann, R. Romao (I. Azzopardi)
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst.refs: L. Portelli, S. Attard
4th official: E. Azzopardi
Scorers: L. Aguirre 16, U. Uchenna 45+, B. Kaljevic 50, A. Nafti 54
Yellow cards: J. Grioli
Player of the match: B. Kaljevic (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. U. Uchenna 2. B. Kaljevic 3. J. Borg
Attendance: 1087
SILVIO VELLA
Valletta are too often the architects of their own downfall.
Their neat and intricate passing in the first half, during which they took a two-goal lead, was enough to make Balzan look clumsy.
At that juncture many would have thought Valletta would inflict the first defeat on Balzan with an eye-catching win and maintain their perfect start.
But the champions completely switched off in the second half. Inevitably, the balance of power shifted and an impressive effort by Balzan saw them level matters and earn a deserved point at the end.
When Valletta endeavoured to up the tempo, Balzan proved extremely inept at slowing it right back down. But a total slump in the second period allowed Balzan to catch up with their opponents and punish them for some excessive slackness.
Both sides now lose their 100 per cent record as they dropped the first points and Birkirkara may become sole leaders this weekend if they beat Sliema Wanderers this afternoon.
Valletta were hampered with absences of the suspended Claudio Pani and the serious injury to Roderick Briffa, as Umeh Uchenna deputised for him with a fearsomely committed display in midfield. John Bonello was back in goal after missing out the previous match against Pembroke.
Balzan played with four at the back, Paul Fenech and Dylan Grima in front of them while Effiong, Nafti and Piciollo supported their central striker Bojan Kaljevic in an offensive formation.
But Balzan missed strength in depth in midfield and Valletta’s superiority in that sector suggested they will cause their opponents several problems.
After a quiet quarter hour, both sides produced two half chances at oppositye ends. Nafti, playing against his former team, shot narrowly wide when well served by Kaljevic. On the other end Jhonnattann’s rasping grounder from the left missed the target by inches.
But Balzan were caught woefully open at the back on 16 minutes. From almost an identical position, defender Leandro Aguirre advanced on Malano’s pass to beat keeper Janjusevic with a low strike.
Balzan tried to regroup but were finding things extremely difficult when stifled by Valletta’s crowded midfield.
In fact Valletta’s threat was always through the middle. Uchenna continued to be the most threating player on the pitch and in the half’s added time he took the ball in his stride, swivelled past three opponents with a sublime piece of skill before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the keeper’s left.
The match turned on its head after the interval. Kaljevic, who had been relatively quiet in the first half proved the catalyst for a breathless start to the second which saw Balzan take advantage of Valletta’s looseness at the back and score twice in the space of four minutes to draw level.
On 50 minutes Piciollo played the ball forward to Effiong who put Bojan Kaljevic clear inside the Valletta area and beat keeper Bonello with a low drive.
Kaljevic provided the assist for Balzan’s equaliser four minutes later, heading the ball down for Abelkarim Nafti to shoot past the Valletta keeper. There were muted celebrations for the former Valletta player.
Balzan suddenly grew in confidence. Effiong had an effort going slightly wide and on 67 minutes Picciollo’s low shot was palmed into a corner by the outstretched Bonello.
Valletta were suddenly struggling for rhythm. Michael Mifsud went in for the inocuous Falcone. Balzan introduced Clive Brincat and Terence Agius to preserve their point and their unbeaten record.
PEMBROKE ATHLETA – 1
HIBERNIANS – 2
Pembroke A: M. Muscat, A. Scozzese, Z. Levnaic, M. Attard, A. Borg, S. Arab (A. Djeljilj), M. Da Silva (B. Manevski), M. Micallef, B. Muscat, P. Barbetti, L. Montebello (J. Mariano)
Hibernians: A. Hogg, Ro. Soares, M. Dias, J. Lima, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, R. Telles (D. Vella), J. Bezzina (A. Cohen), J. Mbong, J. Degabriele (J. Varea), A. Agius
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap
4th official: S. Pace
Scorers: A. Agius 5 og, J. Varea 63, B. Kristensen 90+
Yellow cards: Z. Levnaic, S. Arab, J. Lima, R. Telles, B. Muscat
Player of the match: S. Arab (Pembroke A)
TMI top 3: 1. S. Arab 2. J. Mbong 3. A. Scozzese
SILVIO VELLA
Football can be brutal as Pembroke will know well.
To have no points after playing so stoutly must feel irritatting in the extreme. Pembroke were holding to a deserved point until normal time but deep into four minutes of added time, they conceded Hibernians winner.
It leaves Pembroke at the bottom of the table, having suffered four-straight league defeats. On this evidence though, they should not be discouraged.
Pembroke played a very good first half and scored early through Siraj Arab. But they defended deeply in the second half and handed the initiative to their opponents too early. Hibernians capitalised, clinching a draw through substitute Varea and even won it at the death with a Kristensen header. But their coach Mark Miller cannot ignore the fact that his team is failing to impress.
Hibernians spent the first hour in abject disarray.
The movement of Arab and Montebello left Hibernians vulnerable at the back at times, even if Pembroke lacked the bite to capitalise.
Pembroke dropped Asani Djeljij and Jhonatan Mariano from his starting line-up, following a heavy defeat against Valletta the previous week. Clifford Gauci was unfit to play while Luke Montebello and Siraj Arab returned from suspension. Andrea Scozzese was given a start in defence.
Pembroke started well, with good organisation and Siraj Arab prominent down the left flank. They had already spurned a gilt-edged chance in the first minute when Montebello ran clear but was thwarted by the onrushing keeper Hogg. Arab lobbed the loose ball into an open goal but Agius managed to clear off the line.
Siraj Arab atoned for that miss three minutes later when he set up Pembroke’s opening goal with his neat footwork from the byline on the right. His low cross was deflected by Hibernians’ defender Andrei Agius into his own goal.
Pembroke carved another chance on 19 minutes. Montebello failed to capitalise on Soares’ missed clearance and shot wide.
Hibernians were looking clumsy, one dimensional and over reliant on an ineffective barage of shot from a distance.
Their first goal attempt was delayed until almost the half hour when Mbong lobbed the ball towards Telles inside the Pembroke area but Scozzese headed into a corner to avert the danger.
Later Telles headed a Bezzina cross horribly over from a promising position.
On the stroke of halftime, Montebello had to leave the pitch, suffering from a previous knock, and was replaced by Jhonathan Mariano.
Pembroke took a more laid back approach after the restart and handed the initiative completely to Hibernians who effected a double substitution towards the hour. Andrew Cohen and Juan Manuel Varea replaced Bezzina and Degabriele.
On 63 minutes Hibernians levelled matters. Kristensen put Varea through and the substitute went past the onrushing keeper Muscat to finish off into an unattended goal.
As the half wore on Hibenians had taken command and always looked like the more likely to score as Pembroke were huffing and puffing. On 73 minutes Telles forced keeper Muscat into a sharp save.
As the match was heading towards a draw, deep into added time Hibernians scored again. A Failla free kick from the right, the unmarked Bjorn Kristensen rose high to head past keeper Muscat and give the Paolites an undeserved win.
Photos above Domenic Aquilina
MOSTA-GZIRA UNITED 2-1
Mosta
E. Bartolo, G. Bezak, E. Vella, D. Djoufack, F. Onwudinjo, K. Frendo, D. Xuereb, M. Vlcek, N. Priso, A. Caruana, L. Oseghale (Z. Brincat).
Gzira United
J. Borg, C. Gatt Baldacchino, G. Conti, R. Ledesma, J. Corbalan (J. Nwoba), J. Bondin (Joceano-), M. Avila Perez, J. Borg (K. Pulo), Liliu, A. Macedo Neto, R. de Pinho.
Referee: P. Farrugia
Yellow cards: Priso,Onwudinjo, Joceano
Red cards: Joceano (Gzira) 79, de Pinho (Gzira) 90, Priso (Mosta) 90
Player of the match: Martin Vlcek (Mosta)
Mosta picked up their first points of the season beating newly promoted Gzira United by the odd goal in three.
The Maroons fell down to their first defeat having started the season with a win and two draws.Moreover, the defeat also signalled the end of their 29-game unbeaten run, 26 of them last season in the first division.
Mosta deserved their win as they were the best team on the field of play, showing better mobility, teamwork and superior punch up front.
Their 4-3-1-2 formation with Doding Priso and Lucky Oseghale getting the support of the rapid insertion of Martin Vlcek. This player showed fine skills in midfield as he constantly distributed the ball to the front line as he darted sideways and forward in search for an opening for himself or his colleagues. No surprise he was voted player of the match.
Vlcek gave Mosta the start they wanted inside the first ten minutes as he took possession in the centre of the pitch, advanced and laid the ball to the steaming Priso, who grabbed the chance to plant the ball behind the diving Gzira goalkeeper.
On the other side, space was very restricted around the Mosta penalty box despite the promptings of newcomer Liliu, Gianmarco Conti’s non-stop running and the intelligent distribution of Rafael Ledesma. Five minutes from half-time, the foreign trio were involved in the Maroon’s best opportunity as Liliu ran beautifully through to meet a pinpoint pass by Ledesma who in turn served Conti but the latter saw his effort saved by Mosta goalie Emanuel Bartolo.
Soon after the change of ends, Bartolo had to stretch himself to tip a sizzling shot by Conti over the bar. But in the 50th minute, Vlcek showed tremendous close control and trickery to beat the Gzira defence and then exchanged a neat one-two with Garbiel Bezak who drifted into the box before dragging his shot just wide off the far post.
Gzira kept the initiative as the action was now concentrated mainly in the Mosta’s half. Eventually, it was from Ledesma’s flag-kick that the Maroons got an equaliser after 67 minutes. It was Clifford Gatt Baldacchino who timed the flight to perfection to hit ball home.
That equaliser was however shortlived. In fact, Mosta were back up front within two minutes with a lightning move between Priso and Oseghale who hit a ferocious drive that beat Jurgen Borg all ends up.
Then, two bookable offences in quick succession by substitute Joceano saw Gzira finishing with a man less.
In a nervous finale, everyone was walking a tightrope and sure enough Robert de Pinho and Priso were given their marching orders for what it seemed an off-the-ball argument.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1
FLORIANA 0
Tarxien
P. Schranz, T. Caruana, D. Ponce de Leon (R. Van Horn Filho), A. Nilsson, E. Marcelina, S. Prendes, D. Zerafa, A. Alves, M. Tabone, K. Zammit, C. Frances (J. Galea-5).
Floriana
J. Haber, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, C. Borg, I. Varela (G. Amadio-5), J. Pisani (M. Fontanella), A. Cini, A. Samb, N. Chiesa, R. Camenzuli.
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow card: Borg, Marcelina, Ponce de Leon, Prendes, Pisani, Galea, Pepe,
Red card: Prendes (Tarxien), Borg (Floriana) 53, Van Horn Avila Filho (Tarxien) 88
Player of the match: T. Caruana.
TMI Top 3: 1. T. Caruana, 2. E. Marcelina, 3. A. Cini.
Tarxien Rainbows secured a first win this season as they beat the more fancied Floriana by a solitary goal.
It was a lapse by goalie Justin Haber which gifted the Rainbows the three points. This was one of the most surprising results so far this season even if the Rainbows played with great determination.
They worked hard for their win and one appreciated the way they took the game to Floriana playing direct football whenever they had the ball at their feet.
It was a very keenly contested match in which the official, Malcolm Spiteri, three red cards and no fewer than seven yellow cards.
Ignacio Varela almost gave Floriana an early lead when Alex Cini played a looping ball over Tarxien’s wall to set up the striker who looked to have taken the ball behind Philip Schranz. But the goalkeeper got a vital touch to send the ball around the post.
On 22 minutes, the same player came even closer when the lively Nicolas Chiesa sent him clear but the Argentine striker saw his effort blocked by Schranz’s foot.
Tarxien were rather poor up front where Claudio Frances and Alex Nilsson found it hard to penetrate a strong defence.
And before the interval, they certainly thanked Floriana goalkeeper Haber who mistimed a sortie from a corner giving the easiest of opportunities to Sergio Prendes to tap the ball home from close in.
Tedesco made a substitution at half-time, bringing on Mario Fontanella, and adjusting his side to 4-3-3. The second half produced more palpitating moments with Floriana going close through Steve Pisani who unleashed a low drive that Schranz pushed his effort against the base of the post.
After 53 minutes, Prendes with an elevated foot, clattered into Chiesa as the Floriana skipper went down, the Spanish winger was involved in an altercation with Clyde Borg with referee Malcolm Spiteri brandishing the red card dismissing both players.
Schranz then could not hold Pisani’s long-range effort but he recovered quickly to block Fontanella as the Italian striker fell under the challenge, the referee played advantage, allowing Amadou Samb to try his shot at goal. Since the Senegalese striker was unsuccessful, the referee ordered the penalty but Fontanella’s shot from the spot went high over the bar, confirming that it was not Floriana’s day.
Tedesco looked to Gustavo Amadio for inspiration, the Brazilian winger replacing Varela with 25 minutes to go. Floriana insisted and anoither effort by Pisani went searing towards goal only for a Tarxien defender to block. Schranz then produced a stunning diving save to keep out Amadio’s drive two minutes from time.
Tarxien finished with men when substitute Rogelio Van Horn Avila Filho earned two bookable offences in quick succession.
Despite the ten minutes of added time signalled by the fourth official, Floriana had no more energy reserves to trouble their opponents as Tarxien held on for a crucial win.