VALLETTA- 0
TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 2
Valletta: D. Bartkus, R. Camilleri, S. Malano, L. Montebello, R. Briffa (L. C remona), J. Borg, C. Pani, U. Uchenna, L. Aguirre (R. Fenech), M. Velasco, R. Romao
Tarxien R: , A. Cassar, E. Baker, E. Marcelina (D. Micallef), J. Galea (A. Azzopardi), T. Caruana (S. Prendes), A. Nilsson, A. Agius, D. Zerafa, A. Alves, K. Zammit, S. Borg
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: P. Abela, T. Zammit
Additional asst.refs: T. Farrugia Cann, D. Agius
4th official: P. Apap
Scorers: A. Nilsson 17, E. Baker 61
Yellow cards: C. Pani, S. Borg, L. Montebello
Player of the match: A. Alves (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. E. Marcelina 2. A. Alves 3. A. Cassar
SILVIO VELLA
Tarxien Rainbows ended their dismal run of 12 winless league matches with this surprising victory over a ruderless Valletta side, bereft of ideas and direction yesterday.
Tarxien fielded a stronger side than the one that went down to Balzan the previous week, with the inclusion of Emerson Marcelina, Alex Nilsson, Alex Alves, Julian Galea and Triston Caruana from the start.
Marcelina’s distribution was prticularly eye-catching for the Rainbows, Alves and Nilsson were willing runners on the flanks. They took an early lead through Alex Nilsson and then made sure with their second, through Baker, in the second half. They even missed a couple of other chances to make it a more emphatic win.
After falling behind, Valletta failed to seize the advantage when awarded a penalty towards the end of the first half, as Velasco saw his effort saved by the Tarxien keeper. After conceding Tarxien’s second, the Citizens tried to up the tempo, but fell short, even denied by the woodwork, as apathy set in among their clan.
Valletta, with only one win in their last five matches, remain one point above Birkirkara and now risk being overtaken in third place by the Stripes who play today.
With Jonathan Caruana, Alihno and Michael Mifsud all omitted from their squad, Valletta moved Ryan Camilleri in central defence alongside Jean Borg. Roderick Briffa and Umeh Uchenna were given starts in midfield.
Tarxien, who were disjointed at first but slowly warmed to their task as the first half developed, had an early goal to celebrate. Past the quarter hour, forward Alex Nilsson took possession inside the Valletta area on the left, avoided Camilleri and beat the stretched keeper Bartkus with an exquisite placed shot at the far post.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Valletta, holding the early initiative, had threatened after ten minutes as Malano’s firm goal bound header, off a Velasco cross, was held out by keeper Cassar’s elastic save.
Tarxien remained well in contention in a somewhat uneventful first half and towards the half hour, Zammit’s cross from the left fell to Agius, whose effort was blocked into a corner.
Valletta then started to exert some sustained pressure and on 36 minutes a Malano free kick was held out by the Tarxien keeper.
Hardly a minute later Velasco fell softly inside the area under the challenge of Baker to earn the champions a penalty, which keeper Cassar did well to stop, single handidly into a corner, on Velasco’s effort.
Valletta went into the second half probing for an equaliser but, lacking composure and discipline, with and without the ball, they hardly looked convincing in their finishing. The delivery of crosses by Aguirre and Montebello, playing wide on the right, were of the poorest quality.
Tarxien capitalised on Valletta’s vulnerability at the back past the hour. When the Citizens failed to clear their lines on a Tarxien corner, Alves’ shot was fisted out by keeper Bartkus and the loose ball fell to Ebiabowei Baker who hit in from a tight angle.
On 68 minutes, the Rainbows should have put the issue beyond doubt. Alves ran clear on Marcelina’s through pass but was blocked by the onrushing Valletta keeper.
Valletta summoned some late efforts that could have earned them a consolation goal at least. Malano’s effort on 74 minutes thumped against the underside of the bar and seven minutes from time, substitute Cremona picked Romao’s cross but his low shot hit Montebello and the ball ended narrowly wide.
BALZAN FC- 1
HAMRUN SPARTANS- 1
Balzan: C. Cassar, B. De Oliveira, M. Piciollo (A. Nafti), B. Kaljevic, A. Effiong, S. Cipriott, L. Micallef, C. Brincat, A. De Barros (M. Lepovic), E. Serrano, T. Agius (P. Fenech)
Hamrun S: D. Cassar, G. Azzopardi, M. Micallef, S. Raphael, I. Misan, L. Grech, J. Neto, L. Sciberras, J. Grech (S. Arab), M. Manset (L. Motta), M. Giusti (S. Nanapere)
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst.refs: M. Borg, C. Azzopardi
Additional asst.refs: C. Pisani, S. Spiteri
4th official: S. Attard
Scorers: B. Kaljevic 13, M. Manset 17
Yellow cards: M. Micallef, J. Neto, L. Grech, M. Manset, C. Brincat
Player of the match: L. Micallef (Balzan )
TMI top 3: 1. I. Misan 2. L. Micallef 3. M. Giusti
Attendance: 490
SILVIO VELLA
Balzan’s slim title hopes faded after yesterday’s draw against Hamrun Spartans failed to thrust back the pressure on leaders Hibernians.
As they remain one point behind the Paolites, Balzan now need a St Andrews’ favour. Hibernians can win the championship if they beat the Saints today.
A spirited performance by Hamrun kept second placed Balzan subdued for long stretches as they frittered away an early lead and missed a penalty before halftime.
They got confused and rarely offered even a hint of composure thereafter.
The Spartans, with no win from their previous 12 games, could have been forgiven for melting. Instead, they dug in with a resilience that could only have pleased Hibernians.
They demonstrated some breathless energy and aggression as well as resilience in defence. Massimiliano Giusti always provided a glimmer of hope with his ability to run at opponents.
Suspensions deprived Balzan of Ryan Fenech and Alan Souza. Matteo Piciollo started the match with the returning Bruno Oliveira replacing Samir Arab in defence.
Hamrun also had defender Karl Micallef missing through suspension and started with Mathieu Manset in attack.
Balzan had to survive an early scare before they broke the deadlock. After six minutes, their keeper Christian Cassar had to block on Guisti, put through inside the Balzan area.
On 13 minutes they took the lead through a delightful Bojan Kaljevic direct free kick, that left Hamrun keeper David Cassar rooted to his line, after Effiong had been fouled just outside the area on the left.
But it took Hamrun only four minutes to level matters. Jake Grech played the ball forward for the advancing Mathieu Manset who powered his run and shot past the Balzan keeper Cassar.
Balzan were rattled and struggled to regain their early momentum. On 21 minutes, Micallef passed the ball to Kaljevic whose shot was saved by the grounded keeper David Cassar. Then Micallef again served Effiong whose effort was turned into a corner by the Hamrun keeper.
The match’s defining moment came two minutes before the break. Cipriott was through inside the Hamrun area on a Piciollo pass. Keeper David Cassar rushed out and seemed like reaching on the ball first but TV replays showed that he was late and felled the Balzan player to concede a penalty. Kaljevic claimed the responsibility but then dispatched his shot wide.
The second half was not a pretty affair. Balzan kept trying as they moved forward but Hamrun remained resilient as Jake Grech and Igor Misan provided good cover in front of their defence.
When keeper Davisd Cassar missed a high ball, the unmolested Lydon Micallef headed towards an unattended goal but Manolito Micallef managed to block.
On 56 minutes Lydon Micallef headed the ball towards Kaljevic but his close effort was turned into a corner by the Hamrun keeper.
Hamrun threatened on the hour. The Balzan keeper repelled Jake Grech’s shot but Manset shot the loose ball wide, before Balzan introduced Abdelkarim Nafti for Piciollo and later Paul Fenech for Agius.
It promised to be a long and nervy final half hour.
Balzan’s early promise faded a little but they continued to run themselves into the ground. Sometimes, though, it was not enough, as when Giusti’s pace after 75 minutes caught the Balzan rearguard hugely exposed. Substitute Leandro Motta had space but put his shot narrowly wide.
Kaljevic shot horribly over when served by De Barros as frustration crept in the Balzan side in the late stages and Oliver Spiteri’s lads were left shortchanged by a stubborn Hamrun defence.
Mosta 0
Floriana 2
Mosta: Y. Cini, K. Frendo, Z. Brincat (N. Frendo), T. Farrugia, E. Vella, D. Xuereb (F. Onwudinjo), JP Mifsud Triganza (N. Farrugia), J. Ekani, M. Toth, C. Hengbart, NP Doding.
Floriana: J. Haber, A. Scicluna, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, C. Borg (R. Camenzuli), I. Varela (S. Pisani), A. Cini (J. Pisani), A. Samb, N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella.
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, W. Debattista.
4th official: P. Farrugia.
Scorers: R. Camenzuli, M. Fontanella,
Yellow cards: A. Cini, T. Farrugia, K. Frendo, J. Pisani,
Player of the match: M. Fontanella
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Fontanella, 2. A. Samb, 3. R. Ekani.
Henry Brincat
Two quick goals in the second half enabled Floriana to add three points to their tally as they beat Mosta 2-0.
Substitute Ryan Camenzuli struck in the 71st minute and Mario Fontanella added a second two minutes later to put the Greens firmly in command – a lead which they kept comfortably till the end.
Despite remaining in fifth place, the match was a good test for the Greens who are now preparing to do well in the final phases of the FA Trophy, eyeing an Europa League berth through a victory there.
As for Mosta, it was a disappointing result. Having held the Greens till the 70th in a quite organised manner, they then succumbed to two quick goals.
It was a heavy blow from which they never recovered.
Play was rather monotonous in the first half, but Floriana held the edge in midfield where Amadou Samb, Chiesa and Cini took control.
But Mosta defended in an organised manner with Farrugia and Hengbart dominant in the heart of the defence.
Moreover, Mosta also had a few good moments of their own, especially through Priso Doding, but Haber was never really tested as the Blues were found wanting in their conclusions.
The match only became alive in the last 20 minutes when Floriana eventually took the lead and went on to score a second two minutes later.
Those two goals killed all Mosta’s hopes of saving at least a point from this encounter and barring any decision in their favour from the MFA Appeals Board meeting next Wednesday, they will now have to face Pembroke in a crucial match for either of the two teams to avoid bottom place in this year’s competition.
Mosta threatened through Njongo Priso on six minutes. He received a good ball from Mifsud Triganza, but his final effort was blocked to a corner.
At the other end, five minutes later, Chiesa had a shot blocked by a Mosta defender.
On 18 minutes, Floriana went very close to open the scoring. From a cornerkick action, a shot by Varela was cleared from over the line by Ekani.
On the 29th minute, from a Fontanella cornerkick, Ekani headed the ball away in Chiesa’s path who, however, saw his shot going just wide.
In first half added time, both sides had a chance to take the lead. First it was Mosta who had a Tyrone Farrugia freekick saved by Haber. At the other end, immediately afterwards, it was Chiesa, all alone, who saw his shot hitting the onrushing Ekani with the ball ending in a cornerkick.
Early in the second half, from a Fontanella cross, substitute Jurgen Pisani had a header blocked by Mosta central defender Farrugia to corner.
The match degenerated so much that the next action worthy of note arrived on the 64th minute, and that was only a long distance shot by Fontanella which sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Floriana eventually took the lead on the 71st minute. It was Andre Scicluna who lifted a fine cross in the Mosta area and substitute Ryan Camenzuli hit home a fine first timer.
Two minutes later, Floriana increased their lead when Samb went past two Mosta defenders before setting Fontanella, who had little difficulty in planting the ball past Yenz Cini.
In the 84th minute, from a Fontanella cross, Chiesa saw his close range header saved by Cini and the upright. From the resultant cornerkick, Tyrone Farrugia almost committed an own goal, but his deviation off a shot by a Greens striker luckily finished in the waiting hands of Cini.
Pembroke Ath. 0
Sliema W. 2
Pembroke Ath.: M. Calleja Cremona(C. Abdilla), M. Attard, C. Pouga, S. Racic, A. Borg, Z. Levnaic, D. Jawad, T. Radovnikovic, E. Naatey, N. Grevch, R. Kooh Sohna (Z. Grech).
Sliema W.: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, J. Mintoff, R. Spiteri (M. Sansone), L. Incorvaja (M. Potezica), M. Muchardi, S. Biancardi, R. Correa, JP Farrugia (L. Brincat), F. Temile, P. Xuereb.
Referee: M. Degabriele.
Asst refs: R. Aquilina, D Petrovic.
4th official: AM Sant.
Scorers: S. Biancardi, JP Farrugia
Yellow cards: M. Attard, R. Spiteri, R. Kooh Sohna, E. Naatey,
Player of the match: S. Biancardi.
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Mintoff, 2. JP Farrugia, 3. S. Biancardi.
Attendance: 238.
Henry Brincat
Sliema Wanderers found little resistance from bottom club Pembroke as they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win.
Although they had to wait till the second half to score the two goals, the Blues richly deserved their victory as they were in complete control from start to finish.
Suffice to say that Pembroke never really troubled Blues’ goalie Sarao throughout the whole match.
Sliema remained sixth in the standings, while Pembroke now await their last match against companions in distress Mosta to try and avoid bottom place.
The two sides failed to enthuse the sparse crowd present in the first half.
Sliema enjoyed territorial superiority but rarely found a good opening to penetrate the Pembroke Athleta defence.
It was only in the late stages of the opening 45 minutes, that the Blues threatened to take the lead, but Pembroke held on and the opening half remained goalless.
The bottom club’s intention was clear right from the start as they concentrated mainly on defence, hoping to surprise the Blues with some fast counter-attacks which, however, not only were few and far between, but also never troubled Sliema goalie Sarao.
In the second half, the Wanderers increased their pressure and it was no surprise that they eventually opened the scoring.
When they scored a second goal, the match was as good as over and the Blues confidently went on to emerge easy winners.
Pembroke provided the first ‘thrill’ on the 10th minute as a shot by Jawad was blocked by Sliema captain Alex Muscat.
In the 26th minute, Sliema replied through an angled shot from Ryan Spiteri, but his effort went wide. A minute later, from a cross by Muscat, Jean Paul Farrugia had a header saved by Calleja Cremona.
In the 33rd minute, Temile headed over the bar off a Mintoff cross. And moments later, from another Mintoff cross, the ball was cleared out to Biancardi who miskicked the ball from an ideal position.
The best shot at goal arrived in the 39th minute. It was Alex Muscat who tested Calleja Cremona seriously, but the Pembroke goalie covered himself with glory, turning to corner in style.
At the other end, in a rare Pembroke attack, a header by Pouga was saved by the alert Sarao.
Soon after the start of the second half, from a Correa cross, Farrugia headed straight into Calleja Cremona’s waiting hands.
Pembroke responded through a fine effort from Kooh Sohna, but the ball went just wide.
In the 56th minute, Spiteri tested Calleja Cremona, but the Pembroke goalie saved well. Soon after, Temile had a shot hitting the upright.
Sliema deservedly opened the scoring in the 59th minute. From a fine Spiteri cross, it was Stefano Biancardi who headed past Calleja Cremona.
On 70 minutes, Calleja Cremona had to punch away a dangerous cross by Spiteri, but a minute later, it was 2-0 when Mintoff set Jean Paul Farrugia in the area and he made no mistake.