FLORIANA - 2
HIBERNIANS- 3
Floriana: M. Grech, A. Scicluna, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, I. Varela, S. Nayar, A. Cini (Z. Camilleri), N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli (C. Borg)
Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Soares, J. Lima (D. Vella), M. Dias, J. Bezzina (M. Jallow), C. Failla, B. Kristensen, Jorginho, J. Degabriele, G. Ribeiro, A. Agius
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, D. Sultana
Additional asst.refs: G. Tonna, E. Grech
4th official: E. Spiteri
Scorers: I. Varela 2, M. Fontanella 7, C. Failla 42, J. Lima 82, A. Agius 90+
Yellow cards: N. Chiesa, M. Dias, G. Ribeiro, E. Pepe, A. Hogg, J. Lima
Player of the match: N. Chiesa (Floriana)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima 2. M. Fontanella 3. J. Bezzina
Attendance: 1,422
Hibernians embarked on an emphatic comeback yesterday, fighting their way from two goals down to beat Floriana 3-2 with an added time winner, and extend their lead at the top to four points over Valletta with four matches remaining.
This was billed as a test of Hibernians’ nerve as much as of their quality.They passed them both in a way that will seriously make them title contenders.
Floriana were valiant and ensured Hibernians could not simply lounge about in a stroll but the league leaders ultimately subdued their opponents with the imperiousness of champions-elect.
Hibernians’ rearguard was torn horribly out of shape as Floriana took a two-goal lead within the first seven minutes through Varela and Fontanella.
The Greens looked heading towards a comfortable win but, taking a too laid-back approach too early, and thanks to Hibernians running, passing and imagination, they were outdone by goals from Clayton Failla in the first half, Jackson Lima and Andrei Agius in the second.
Hibernians had marched on to the pitch with the sound of Valletta’s heavy boot steps clanging in their ears, only one point behind them.
Any Hibernians player unnerved by Valletta’s pursuit might also have harboured concerns about Floriana’s present form. They had not beaten the Greens in the previous two rounds this season.
Floriana were still without regular keeper Justin Haber as Steve Pisani was also suspended. Vella and Samb were not included in the squad and coach Giovanni Tedesco handed starts to Nicholas Chiesa and Ryan Camenzuli. Enrico Pepe returned in the Greens’ defence.
Hibernians had Boljevic starting on the bench, with Johann Bezzina winning his place in midfield. That meant Failla played a more retreating role as left back.
Floriana could not have dreamt of a better start when they forged ahead after leass than two minutes on the clock. Fontanella played a deep free kick from outside the area. Ignacio Varela stretched his leg to connect and place the ball beyond keeper Hogg’s reach.
Floriana swaggered farther ahead five minutes later as the Hibernians’ defence was again caught in disarray when failing to clear the ball inside the area. Chiesa had his effort blocked but Mario Fontanella pounced on the loose ball to hit in.
Hibernians could not settle after an uncomfortable start and nearly fell further behind short of the quarter hour. Fontanella darted inside the Paolites’ area from the right, dissected the defence with a low cross for the advancing Chiesa whose goalbound effort was held out by Failla.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Hibernians though are too strong-minded to lapse into fatalism. As Floriana retreated deeper, they continued working to turn things in their favour and were rewarded on 42 minutes when Clayton Failla’s free kick, from some 25 metres out, beat keeper Grech at the near post.
Just before half-time, Hibernians were unlucky not to draw level. Jorginho rose to head Lima’s free kick but the ball rebounded off the foot of the post with the Floriana keeper totally surprised.
Floriana had food for thought to go with their half-time oranges. Glen Tonna took over refereeing duties for the second half as Clayton Pisani was unable to continue and took over the role of goal line assistant.
Floriana emerged for the second period in game-management mode, again intent on softening the Paolites’ bite by hogging the ball.
Hibernians looked more tenacious and when they finally regained possession in the 50th minute, a Failla free kick, from a shorter distance, was well saved by keeper Grech. Hibernians tried to sink their teeth into Floriana. A fast-flowing move had Bezina advancing through the middle, he played the ball wide to Degabriele who was blocked inside the area.
The industry of Lima, Kristensen and Bezzina ensured Hibernians had taken a stranglehold in midfield. On 65 minutes Jorginho ran through two opponents inside the Floriana area but his flick was turned into a corner by keeper Grech.
That attack was a sign Hibernians were in control and this time they did not look like relinquishing it. They should have equalised on 74 minutes when Pepe miskicked his clearance on an Agius long cross, Degabriele pounced on the loose ball but incredibly failed to put his shot on target.
Hibernians introduced Momodou Jallow for Bezzina as Floriana were hardly allowed to progress beyond the halfway line.
Hibernians started to make their dominance look effortless to the point of imperiousness when they deservingly levelled matters eight minutes from full time. Dias sent a deep cross from the right and Jackson Lima nipped in to score from close range.
Jorginho went close again with a firm header four minutes later but keeper Grech was up to task to turn into a corner. Anxiety spread in the late stages as Floriana continued to defend with more nervousness and Lima had to be withdrawn with an apparent head injury.
In theory there was still time for Hibernians to win the match. Deep into added time, defender Andrei Agius rose to meet Ribeiro’s free kick and head in one of the most important goals for his side this season.
HAMRUN SPARTANS- 0
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 2
Hamrun S: D. Cassar, L. Rodrigues, K. Micallef, M. Micallef, L. Grech, M. Manset (S. Nanapere), L. Motta (B. Paiber), S. Arab (M. Giusti), J. Grech, S. Raphael, L. Sciberras
Sliema W: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, J. Pearson, D. Dos Santos , M. Scerri (W. Salomon), M. Muchardi, S. Biancardi, R. Duarte, R. Spiteri, J. Mintoff (P. Xuereb), F. Temile (L. Brincat)
Referee: E. Mangion
Asst.refs: C. Francalanza, T. Zammit
4th official: P. Farrugia
Scorers: M. Muchardi 75, R. Duarte 90
Yellow cards: J. Mintoff, J. Grech, L. Sciberras
Player of the match: D. Dos Santos (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Scerri 2. D. Dos Santos 3. M. Micallef
Two late goals secured this deserved win for Sliema Wanderers over Hamrun Spartans and leaves them unbeaten in their last five outings.
It was a forgettable game, as bleak as the afternoon weather, where both the Wanderers and the Spartans lacked the necessary quality to entertain the few scores present at Ta’ Qali.
Hamrun again failed to lift the gloom that has settled in the side. They remain ten matches without a Premier League win since January.
A 10-point gap between them and the bottom two, means the threat of relegation has been dismissed, although safety not mathematically assured.
Each side had a player suspended. Midfielder Igor Misan was ineligible for Hamrun while Sliema were bereft of their striker Jean Paul Farrugia.
The Spartans also dropped Saturday Nanapere and Jorge Neto from the side that lost to Floriana in midweek and Siraj Araba as well as Manset were handed starts.
Sliema coach John Buttigieg introduced John Mintoff, Ryan Spiteri and Frank Temile, dropping Aquilina and Salomon to the bench. Denni Dos Santos played in an advanced attacking role, alongside Temile, with Spiteri behind them.
The opening stages were played as if both teams had been challenged not to make moves of anything over two or three passes at a time.
Mano Micallef was the first to test the Sliema keeper Sarao after 12 minutes with a grounder.
On 20 minutes Scerri made progress from midfield. His shot went over.
Hamrun went close to opening the scoring short of the half hour. Motta’s free kick from outside the area on the left, for a foul committed by Mintoff, rebounded off the post.
But Sliema had the better of the second part in this opening half. Spiteri connected to Temile’s high cross from the left but hit well over.
Before the break, the Hamrun keeper Cassar rushed out of his line but missed the ball. Spiteri tried to lob into an unattended goal but defender Rodrigues recovered in time to head the ball out.
Sliema remained the slightly better side even after the interval although they never overworked the Hamrun keeper. A Denni free kick went narrowly wide and short of the hour Pearson headed Denni’s cross from the left straight on keeper Cassar.
The woodwork again came to Hamrun’s rescue soon after, holding out Bianciardi’s header off a Denni corner.
Hamrun who withdrew Arab and Motta and introduced Massimiliano Giusti and Brendon Paiber remained disjointed. On 69 minutes they showed up with a Manset tame shot from outside the area.
Sliema kept up the pressure. Muchardi dribbled his way inside the Hamrun area but his low cross from the byeline was intercepted by the goalkeeper. On 70 minutes Denni’s effort brought off a fine save from keeper Cassar, turning into a corner.
Sliema were in control for long spells but needed Mathias Muchardi to secure the points a quarter hour before the end. His shot from the edge of the area rebounded off the underside of the bar and fell behind keeper Cassar.
The Wanderers held on as the Spartans pressed in the latter stages but could not find a way through.
Sliema added some gloss to their win with a second goal on the stroke of full time. Denni played a low cross from the right that cut the entire Hamrun defence and the unmarked Ricardo Duarte knocked the ball over the line.
Hamrun could not complain. They had been anaemic throughout.
St Andrews deepen Pembroke’s crisis
St Andrew's-Pembroke 5-0
Pembroke Athleta are getting closer to play First Division next season as they were dominated and humiliated by St. Andrews.
The final score had also a twist to it, as Pembroke had to play 75 minutes with ten men. This was the eight consecutive defeat for a team that looks that he’s giving up to at least play the playoff to keep their Premier League status. On the other hand, this win secured mathematically that St. Andrews will play again in the highest division of Maltese football. St. Andrews coach Danilo Doncic welcomed back Bong Won Che while goalkeeper Dean Sciberras made his debut as he was preferred to Jake Galea. On the side, Pembroke Artim Shaqiri made three changes, as Adrian Borg, Daniane Jawad and Go Nagaoka replaced Filippo Scozzese, Tyron Fenech and Raphael Kooh Sohna respectively.
St. Andrews were given a penalty after sixteen minutes as referee Stefan Pace ordered a penalty after deciding that Radovnikovic fouled Kyrian Nwoko inside the penalty area after he came face to face with the goalkeeper. Apart from the penalty, the Croatian defender was given marching orders. After long protests by Pembroke, the shot by Ivan Paz hit the post, and entered in the net after it hit Roppas.
St. Andrews doubled their lead just before the end of the first half, as Friggieri passed to Dale Camilleri who managed to beat Roppas in his left corner with a precise shot. Luxol started the second half as they ended the first, and made it 30, as Friggieri served an assist, this time to captain Joseph Farrugia, and the midfielder scored the third goal with no pressure.
The score continued to change, and on the hour mark, Aidan Friggieri was rewarded for his efforts as he scored after receiving the ball from Nwoko. Pembroke looked depleted, and it was no surprise that St. Andrews scored the fifth goal when from a free-kick by Paz, Bong Won Che was the quickest to score with a good header. There was still time for a sixth goal, as from another pass by Aidan Friggieri, substitute Jacob Walker dribbled past Iraklis Roppas and Zoran Levnaic to score his second goal of the league also against Pembroke.
Mosta claim a precious victory
Tarxien-Mosta 1-3
After six consecutive defeats, Mosta returned to winning ways as they beat Tarxien Rainbows 3-1 to open a five-point lead over bottom team Pembroke Athleta, and now they are the favourites to avoid direct relegation.
Despite their turbulances in the season, Mosta can finish a difficult season by playing and winning the play-off, to keep playing in the Premier Division again.
Both teams are facing difficulties and also recently had changes in their technical team. Tarxien were led by their captain Triston Caruana for the second consecutive game, while Johann Scicluna was promoted to first-team coach after the sacking of Hornyak.
Mosta opened the score after just three minutes when Calcado passed on the right to Njongo Priso who scored from a difficult position.
Tarxien’s reaction came on the 15th minute when goalkeeper Cini and the Mosta defender managed to block consecutive efforts from Nilsson and Galea.
On the half hour mark, Mosta doubled their lead as it was again Calcado who provided the assist, this time passing on the left to David Fenech who managed to beat Cassar with a swerved shot.
Tarxien tried to enter back in the game and went close on the 66th minute when Nilsson dribbled passed the Mosta defence but found Cini ready to tip the effort to a corner.
Ten minutes from the end, Tarxien managed to reduce the deficit, but with a bit of luck, as Rodriguez Ekani headed past his own goalkeeper.
But Mosta reacted quickly, and closed the affair four minutes later.
Substitute Dexter Xuereb, passed to Njongo Priso who beat Andrea Cassar with a low shot.