TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 0
BALZAN FC - 3
Tarxien R: P. Schranz, E. Baker, M. Brincat (T. Caruana) M. Sladden (E. Marcelina), A. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, A. Agius, D. Zerafa (A. Alves), M. Tabone, K. Zammit, S. Borg
Balzan: C. Cassar, S. Arab, A. De Souza, B. Kaljevic, A. Effiong, S. Cipriott (G. Camilleri), L. Micallef (J. Zerafa), C. Brincat (A. Nafti), A. De Barros, E. Serrano, T. Agius
Referee: E. Grech
Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, C. Azzopardi
Additional asst.refs: S. Spiteri, I. Barbara
4th official: D. Sultana
Scorers: L. Micallef 27, A. Souza 30, A. Effiong 40
Yellow cards: A. Azzopardi, K. Zammit, A. Nafti, T. Agius, E. Baker, E. Marcelina
Player of the match: A. Souza (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Effiong 2. S. Cipriott 3. A. Souza
SILVIO VELLA
Balzan continue to do all they can to unsettle Hibernians’ title pursuit, even if time is running out. The sense persists that, if the leaders stumble, Balzan will pounce.
By beating Tarxien Rainbows yesterday, with back-to-back wins, Balzan closed the gap on Hibernians to two points as the Paolites play Birkirkara this afternoon.
Balzan’s remaining fixtures are now against Hamrun Spartans and Sliema Wanderers.
Coach Oliver Spiteri continued to make changes to his side. Two were forced ones as central defender Bruno de Oliveira and midfielder Ryan Fenech were both suspended. Milos Lepovic and Steve Bezzina were dropped and Sean Cipriott started as wide back on the right.
Clive Brincat was forced to be substituted before halftime and replaced by Nafti as Samir Arab dropped in central defence instead.
A comfortable win was secured early here with a three-goal cushion by halftime, with depleted Tarxien made to look timid, even lethargic at times, as Balzan swarmed all over them. They arguably showed some mercy in the second half by not pushing for a fourth or fifth goal.
Photos Jonathan Bugeja
It is just as well Tarxien have an FA Trophy semi-final on the horizon to enthuse them because, at present, they are starting to look a hopeless cause. They have not won in the league since January.
The Rainbows had only one foreigner in their starting line-up yetserday – defender Ebiabowei Baker – with Marcelina and Alex Alves starting on the bench. Alex Nilsson and Julian Galea were both suspended as the Rainbows fielded a young inexperienced outfit.
Tarxien disintegrated from the moment they were first pierced.
Balzan created early chances. After 10 minutes Micallef’s back-heeled pass inside the Tarxien area fell to Souza whose shot was tipped into a corner by keeper Schranz.
Past the quarter hour, Kaljevic again tested the Tarxien keeper with a fierce volley.
The Rainbows’ resistence lasted only 27 minutes though. Lydon Micallef picked a pass inside the Tarxien area, went in between Tabone and Baker to steer the ball low past keeper Schranz.
Three minutes later, Balzan doubled their lead. A De Barros pass found Alan Souza at the far right, to beat the Tarxien keeper at the near post.
Five minutes before the break, Tarxien were undone by another outbreak of sloppiness. Allfred Effiong galloped down the left flank with his pacey run that took him past his opponent and, as he powered himself inside the Tarxien area, he scored from a tight angle.
Tarxien tried to wrestle the momentum after the second-half introduction of substitutes Emerson Marcelina and Alex Alves. They managed to knit some passes together when Balzan elected to sit back and invite their opponents on to them. But Tarxien never really carried enough attacking threat and the Balzan keeper Christian Cassar was never severly tested.
Playing with training ground easiness, Balzan never exerted themselves. Still they threatened on 77 minutes when Effiong played the ball forward to Kaljevic, whose curling shot was held out by keeper Schranz to avoid further derision.
ST ANDREWS- 3
VALLETTA - 1
St Andrews: J. Galea, B. Che, N. Belacevic, K. Kesinovic, E. Beltre’, D. Camilleri, J. Farrugia, I. Paz (K. Nwoko), Z. Kastrevec (L. Grech), F. Udoh, A. Friggieri (J. Walker)
Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, R. Camilleri (L. Cremona), S. Malano, L. Montebello (R. Briffa), J. Borg, C. Pani, L. Aguirre, M. Velasco, V. Alihno (M. Mifsud), R. Romao
Referee: S. Pace
Asst.refs: S. Attard, P. Apap
Additional asst.refs: F. Zammit, D. Stankovic
4th official: L. Portelli
Scorers: A. Friggieri 11, E. Beltre’ 30, J. Farrugia 68, M. Velasco 74
Yellow cards: J. Caruana, K. Kesinovic
Player of the match: E. Beltre’ (St Andrews)
TMI top 3: 1. E. Beltre’ 2. B. Che 3. R. Romao
Attendance: 490
SILVIO VELLA
Valletta were beaten by St Andrews in a match that produced only disappointment for them and keeps them farther away from the two teams above them.
St Andrews won with a dynamic display that was full of aggressive running and stout defending. Their wide player Enmy Beltre’ ran the show as he scored one of the goals and provided assists for the other two.
At a time when others are feeling the pressure, St Andrews continue to play with flair and freedom.
They have momentum, that most priceless of qualities.
The Saints had fought bravely before going down to Balzan deep in added time the previous week. They had bettered that yesterday and always looked good value to improve on the draws they earned against the champions in the previous two rounds this season.
Defender Michael Johnson was suspended and coach Danilo Doncic gave a start to Felix Udoh. Nenad Belacevic was given the nod ahead of Kyran Nwoko.
Valletta’s draw against Birkirkara the previous week had all but killed all their title hopes and yesterday they failed to show enough motivation to win and at least consolidate third place.
Valletta now remain four points behind second-placed Balzan and four above Birkirkara below them with two matches remaining.
Alihno and Pani returned in the Valletta midfield, with Juan Cruz and Cremona making way. Velasco was preferred to Michael Mifsud in attack.
St Andrews could not have dreamt of a better start, going ahead after only 11 minutes on the clock.
Beltre delivered a cross from the right, after going past Aguirre, and Aidan Friggieri connected to it to beat keeper Bartkus.
Valletta took almost 16 minutes to make their first reaction after falling behind. Udoh’s erratic back header presented Montebello with an inviting ball. The Valletta forward’s effort was blocked on the line by Che.
St Andrews’ second goal on the half hour owed much to Malano’s poor defending, allowing the pressing Enmy Beltre’ to rob him of the ball and run clear through the middle to steer the ball past the onrushing keeper Bartkus.
Valletta went close to reducing the deficit four minutes before the break with a Montebello header, that narrowly missed the target, off a Romao cross from the right.
Valletta looked a more determined side after the interval and explored a more direct route as the second half progressed.
On 51 minutes Aguirre sent a deep cross from thge left and Velasco clipped the bar with his left-foot shot.
Michael Mifsud replaced the negligible Alihno towards the hour and Valletta started to exert some sustained pressure. It was clear the Saints were having difficulty to deal with the crosses of Romao and Aguirre from either flank. Valletta needed someone to hit them in. Velasco missed the target with a free header before St Andrews put in Nwoko for Paz.
Valletta looked picking up the pace but if the champions thought they had gained control of the match, they were disabused of that notion on 68 minutes as St Andrews hit them with a sucker punch. Belacevic opened play with his wide pass to the advancing Beltre’, who crossed perfectly from the right for Joseph Farrugia to shoot past the hapless Bartkus.
St Andrews might have also had a penalty when Kastrevec was pushed by Aguirre inside the area as he was about to shoot at goal but the Saints’ forward fell like a crumbling biscuit and the referee was not impressed.
On 74 minutes Valletta hit one back. Pani produced the cross from the right and Maximiliano Velasco flicked his header at the far post.
In a late onslaught, substitute Cremona was denied a goal by keeper Galea but that proved too little for Valletta.
Floriana 1
Gzira U. 1
Floriana: J. Haber, A. Scicluna, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, C. Borg, I. Varela (S. Pisani), S. Nayar, A. Cini, A. Samb, M. Fontanella.
Gzira U.: Jur. Borg, J. Bondin, A. White, S. Diamoutene, K. Pulo (Z. Scerri), I. Adeshina (E. Amaira), JC Corbalan, M. Avila Perez, CA Reyna, D. Falzon (I. Azzopardi), G. Conti.
Referee: E. Mangion.
Asst refs: A. Camilleri, R. Aquilina.
4th official: AM Sant.
Scorers: A. Monticelli, JC Corbalan.
Yellow cards: C. Borg, A. White, J. Borg, S. Nayar, M. Avila Perez,
Player of the match: A. Monticelli.
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Monticelli, 2. M. Fontanella, 3. S. Diamoutene
Floriana, Gzira share spoils in balanced match
Henry Brincat
In a match with practically no interest for either side, Floriana and Gzira shared the spoils in a one-all draw yesterday.
Both goals arrived in the second half in the space of a few minutes. Floriana took the lead through a Monticelli strike, but Gzira hit back soon after with a splendid shot from a freekick by Corbalan.
The draw meant nothing for either side. In fact, the Greens remained firmly entrenched in 5th place on 51 points, while Gzira moved up one place from 9th to 8th, as they overtook Tarxien. The Maroons now have 33 points to Tarxien’s 32.
The Greens had Ryan Camenzuli missing through suspension, while the Maroons had Zome ruled out through suspension.
In the first half, Floriana enjoyed the lion’s share of the exchanges as they were in control of midfield right from the very first whistle.
The Greens missed some good chances and were unlucky in some others before Gzira retaliated and went close to opening the score themselves in the final minutes of the first half.
In the second half, play was equally balanced, but Gzira seemed to have created the better scoring opportunities.
However, when Floriana took the lead which was deserved at that juncture, it seemed an uphill task for Gzira. But the Maroons quickly hit back to equalise and it was from then onwards that they appeared to be the most dangerous side.
Floriana started on attack and in the third minute they had already gone close. In fact, they were unlucky not to open the score when off a Fontanella freekick, Samb saw his header hitting the upright.
In the 15th minute, Varela set Samb in the Gzira area, but the onrushing goalie Jurgen Borg covered himself with glory as he managed to block the Floriana striker’s effort.
In the 28th minute, a Samb header was cleared off the line by Andre White.
In the 31st minute, Gzira threatened Haber’s fort for the first time when a Juan Carlos Corbalan close range shot following a melee was deviated by a Greens defender to corner.
In the 43rd minute, Fontanella set Samb with a good pass, but he was rightly ruled offside although he had found the net with a good lob over the advancing Borg.
Just before the interval, it was the Maroons who went very close to taking the lead when off a Jonathan Bondin cross, it was Ige Adeshina who breasted the ball down and hit a fine effort which went just over.
Six minutes into the second half, substitute Pisani’s cross was cleared out to Nayar, but goalie Borg saved confidently. A minute later, Monticelli had a good effort deviated to a corner.
Samb again found the net for Floriana in the 54th minute, but once again he was flagged offside.
Floriana broke the deadlock in the 56th minute. From a Pisani corner, the ball was not cleared by the Gzira defence and Monticelli was on hand to hit home past Borg.
Gzira did not take long to equalise when they were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area in the 60th minute. Juan Carlos Corbalan beat Justin Haber with a splendid shot.
In the 73rd minute, it was Adeshina who controlled the ball badly in front of Haber who could therefore save with ease.
In the 79th minute, it was Haber who saved the day for Floriana as he blocked a close range effort from Avila Perez who had been set by Corbalan in the Greens area.
In the 85th minute, Floriana’s Pisani had a strong shot turned to corner by the diving Borg.
Despite both teams’ efforts, the result remained unchanged till the end.
Hamrun S. 1
Pembroke A. 2
Hamrun S.: D. Cassar, G. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, K. Micallef, A. S. Eddin (M. Manset), L. Grech, N. Saturday, L. Sciberras, J. Grech, B. Paiber (B. Schembri), M. Giusti.
Pembroke Ath.: M. Calleja Cremona, D. Falzon, M. Attard, C. Pouga (U. Akuto), S. Racic, A. Borg, Z. Levniac, D. Jawad, T. Radovinkovic, E. Naaty, N. Grech.
Referee: L. do Nascimento (Andorra).
Asst refs: A. Terrazo, R. Gonzalez.
4th official: B. Parente.
Scorers: D. Jawad, S. Racic, M. Giusti,
Yellow cards: K. Micallef, D. Falzon, S. Racic, T. Radovnikovic.
Red card: K. Micallef.
Player of the match: D. Jawad
TMI Top 3: 1. E. Naaty, 2. D. Jawad, 3. N. Saturday
Attendance: 375.
Rare, but deserved victory for Pembroke
Henry Brincat
Pembroke left the bottom place yesterday and overtook Mosta after beating Hamrun Spartans 2-0.
Strikes by Daniane Jawad and Stevan Racic from a penalty in the opening eight minutes gave them a healthy cushion but a late strike from Giusti provided them with some anxious moments near the end though they remained calm to get away with all the three points.
It was a rare, but deserved win for the Athleta – fourth 4th win from 31 matches.
In the first half, Pembroke appeared to be the better side.
After taking an early 2-0 lead, they controlled the situation with a certain amount of ease and could have scored one or two more goals had they taken the chances which came their way.
On their part, the Spartans disappointed their followers. I cannot say that they really rallied back to get back in contention, but Pembroke defended well and never gave away an inch.
In fact, goalie Calleja Cremona was only once called to make a difficult save throughout the opening 45 minutes.
In the second half, Hamrun attacked for long stretches but were still unimpressive in front of goal, never really testing the Pembroke goalie until they finally scored that goal eight minutes from the end.
But that proved to be too late for the Spartans to avoid defeat.
Pembroke had an excellent start as they took the lead on the 3rd minute. From a Darren Falzon freekick, Jawad was unmarked to head home.
Soon after, at the other end, Hamrun threatened through a Paiber shot which was turned to corner by goalie Calleja Cremona.
In the 7th minute, after an indecision in the Hamrun defence, it was Darren Falzon who advanced unhindered only for goalie Cassar to extend his hand to turn to corner.
A minute later, following a cornerkick action, and to the surprise of everyone present, Andorran referee do Nascimento awarded Pembroke a penalty after a melee in front of the Hamrun goal. From the spotkick, Racic made no mistake.
In the 24th minute, a Darren Falzon cornerkick hit the crossbar and at the other end, Saturday had an effort from the edge of the area going over the bar.
On 31 minutes, Jawad attempted a shot from 20 metres, but the ball went wide.
Hamrun replied with a weak Paiber shot that was easily saved by Calleja Cremona.
On the stroke of half time, Hamrun were awarded a freekick from the edge of the area, but Jake Grech’s effort went over the bar.
Soon, from a Jake Grech cross, Paiber headed wide from a good position.
Hamrun almost pulled one back on 62 minutes. They were awarded a freekick from about 20 metres, but Saturday’s fine shot was excellently turned to corner by goalie Calleja Cremona.
On the 70th minute, a Jawad cross went to Racic who set Pouga only for the latter’s shot to be blocked. The ball returned to Jawad whose fine effort just missed the target. Moments later, it was goalie Cassar who thwarted Racic as he saved a hard shot from the Pembroke striker.
In the 78th minute, Hamrun ended up in 10 men as Karl Micallef was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
But they managed to get back in contention in the 82nd minute when Massimiliano Giusti found the Pembroke net.
Hamrun attacked ferociously in search of an equaliser and a shot from Manset just missed the target, but that was the closest they came to saving the match.