BALZAN FC-                       1

BIRKIRKARA -                    1

Balzan: I. Janjusevic, B. De Oliveira, B. Kaljevic, S. Arab, R. Fenech, A. Souza , A. Nafti (L. Micallef), E. Serrano, C. Brincat (J. Grioli), (D. Grima), P. Fenech, M. Piciollo

Birkirkara: H. Bonello, G. Sciberras, M. Guillaumier (J. Brincat), M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov (M. Desira Buttigieg), G. Malan, V. Plut, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa (E. Herrera), C. Attard, P. Jovic

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap

4th official: M. Apap

Scorers: B. Kaljevic 65 pen, M. Andelkovic 75

Yellow cards: J. Zerafa, S. Arab

Player of the match: A. Souza (Balzan)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Nafti  2. S. Dimitrov  3. B. Kaljevic

Photos Domenic Aquilina

For all the sides’ willingness and effort to win this game, leaders Balzan had to settle for a draw against fifth place Birkirkara in an exciting match of several chances and eqaully missed opportunities.

Birkirkara had slightly the better of the first half and could have taken a lead by halftime.

Matthew Guillaumier was in the thick of everything, heading and shooting on sight. The supporting cast more than played their part too, with the enterprise of Mislav Andelkovic, the dash of Gonzalo Malan and the astute passing of Srnar Dimitrov all making a difference. Credit to the Stripes for their persistence in continuing to claw at the door until they equalised after conceding a penalty and a lot of Balzan pressure.

Balzan improved in the second half with the exceptional delivery of Bojan Kaljevic and the enterprise of Nafti in attack. After taking the lead early in the second half, Balzan created enough chances to have won the game by a canter. They fluffed some and were also denied by a superlative Henry Bonello in the Birkirkara goal. Yet, they looked vulnerable at the back and were caught out by Birkirkara’s equaliser 15 minutes from time.

The two teams went into this match in some vein of good form. Birkirkara started the New Year with two consecutive wins without conceding and yesterday they had Matthew Guillaimier starting instead of Edward Herrera.

Leaders Balzan were unbeaten in three matches and suffered only one defeat in nine.

Dylan Grima and Justin Grioli made way for the returning Elkin Serrano and Bojan Kaljevic. Ivan Janjusevic started in goal after missing the match against Gzira United.

Balzan tried to stamp their authority on the game in the opening spell. Ryan Fenech’s tame shot was blocked by keeper Bonello. Towards the quarter hour Souza beat the Birkirkara offside trap, advanced from the right and, with Kaljevic standing unmarked inside the area, the Brazilian played the ball low and wide.

But before the match was 20 minutes old, Birkirkara gradually crawled their way into the game, with Guillaumier and Andelkovic much involved in their build-ups. Malan reached for a Plut cross but his header was blocked into a corner.

Guillaumier found the ball at his feet on yet another Dimitrov inviting cross but keeper Janjusevic saved well.

On the half hour Balzan failed to clear their lines on a Dimitrov cross from the left but Guillamier lofted the ball and the chance went begging.

The litany of missed chances continued when Nafti got the better of Zerafa and Jovic in the air but the delivery of his cross was poor.

On 36 minutes a Guillaumier shot was parried by the Balzan keeper but when Malan shot in the rebound, the goal was disallowed for the Birkirkara player’s offside position.

Balzan roused themselves in the second half and before the hour they had already gone close on two occasions, only to be denied by keeper Bonello. On 53 minutes Nafti played a low free kick from the left towards the middle for Oliveira to unleash a powerful drive that was repelled by the Birkirkara shot stopper.

Bonello again was equal to task before the hour when tested with a low diagonal shot from Nafti.

There was some relief for Balzan when they finally broke the deadlock on 65 minutes. They were awarded a penalty when Piciollo fell under Zerafa’s late tackle inside the area and Bojan Kaljevic scored with his unerring execution.

The goal had been coming in a spell of sustained pressure and Balzan should have sent the match to bed after that lead. Within minutes they twice failed to take advantage as Birkirkara’s backline looked completely in disarray.

On 68 minutes Nafti was through and with Bonello out of his line, he lobbed the ball against the bar. Nafti failed to connect to Kaljevic’s teasing low cross, with the grounded Bonello down at his feet.

Having missed those chances, Balzan also failed to win the game as Birkirkara drew level on 75 minutes. Dimitrov advanced down the left, sent a low cross for Malan to steer the ball in the path of Mislav Andelkovic who hit low beyond the reach of keeper Janjusevic.

 

HIBERNIANS-  2

FLORIANA -     2   

Hibernians: A. Hogg, D. Vella, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias, A. Cohen (M. Moore), C. Failla, J. Bezzina, A. Agius, Jorginho, J. Degabriele (M. Jallow)

Floriana: J. Haber, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani (R. Camenzuli), C. Borg, I. Varela, M. Vella, J. Pisani (A. Scicluna), A. Cini, A. Samb, N. Chiesa (M. Fontanella)

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, L. Portelli

4th official: M. Degabriele

Scorers: N. Chiesa 32, Jorginho 60, R. Soares 71, I. Varela 80

Yellow cards: A. Samb, S. Pisani, R. Soares

Red card: A. Samb

Player of the match: Jorginho (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. C. Failla  2. J. Lima  3. M. Vella

Attendance: 1,276

Following Balzan’s draw against Birkirkara in the previous match, Hibernians missed the opportunity to go top of the BoV Premier League after being held to a 2-2 draw by ten-man Floriana.

The Greens had striker Amadou Samb sent off in a controversial decision soon after they had forged ahead in bizarre fashion after the half hour. Floriana had to absorb a lot of pressure from Hibernians in the second half and despite playing it tight at the back, they fell behind after conceding twice in the sesond half.

The Greens came back to life in the late stages and channelled their frustration into something more constructive to draw level.

Hibernians thus remain one point behind Balzan with Floriana five points adrift of the leaders in joint third place with Valletta.

Hibernians were facing the most in-form team at the moment as Floriana stay unbeaten in 11 matches, including the latest thumping of Hamrun Spartans. The Greens had Enrico Pepe back in defence and Steve Pisani back from suspension, with Fontanella and Camenzuli making way.

Hibernians were without the suspended influential midfielder Bjorn Kristensen as Johann Bezzina returned.

There was boredom in the early exchanges on a rainy afternoon at Ta’ Qali, with two tame efforts from Hibernians missing the target. Lima shot over and Jorginho narrowly wide.

But the half came to life past the half hour as Floriana took the lead with a freak goal and tempers flared soon after.

Nicolas Chiesa sent a deep cross from half pitch from near the touchline on the left. Hibernians’ keeper Hogg fumbled the ball and allowed it to go through his legs to the dismay of all those present. There were harsh protests from the Hibernians bench though and after confronting the referee, official Stephen Abela was sent off. The referee  proceeded to consult the fourth official and show Amadou Samb the second yellow card and send him off for apparantly passing some remarks towards the Hibernians bench. It was Floriana’s turn to be infuriated and protested hotly. The two benches were involved, with the police intervening, and it took a good four minutes for play to restart, only after Floriana’s president Riccardo Gaucci was also dismissed.

The disruption produced a sterile first half. Hibernians crafted a late chance before halftime when a Lima cross found Bezzina unmarked inside the Floriana area but the Hibernians’ midfielder shot wide.

 A Hibernians wobble at the start of the second half almost allowed Floriana to double their lead. Vella robbed Soares of the ball and advanced on the left but his high cross was cleared by the Hibernians’ defenders.

Ten-man Floriana retreated deeper to defend their lead. The introduction of Ryan Camenzuli and Andre Scicluna showed Giovanni Tedesco’s intentions and that handed the initiative to Hibernians.

The Paolites soon turned the tide in their favour and were hitting their stride.

On a low Failla cross, Cohen’s back heel went narrowly off target.

Hibernians’ leveller came on the hour. Failla sent a deep cross from the left and Jorginho rose high to head in past keeper Haber.

The Paolites introduced their new signing from Gzira United Mamadou Jallow for Degabriele and after Lima had his shot going narrowly wide, Jallow tested keeper Haber with a low drive.

With Hibernians completely in command, there was no surprise about their second on 71 minutes. Bezzina played a corner from the left at the far post vfor Ridolfo Soares to knock the ball over the line from close range.

With Floriana lacking punch, coach Tedesco introduced Mario Fonatnella. With ten minutes remaining, the Floriana substitute provided the cross for Ignazio Varela to shoot low past keeper Hogg and punish the Paolites’ lax defence.

The sides’ energy level subsided after that as they both looked happy with a point.