HAMRUN SPARTANS - 2
VALLETTA- 1
Hamrun S: D. Cassar, G. Azzopardi (P. Chircop), K. Micallef, S. Raphael, I. Misan, L. Grech, J. Neto, L. Sciberras, J. Grech, M. Manset (S. Nanapere), M. Giusti (L. Motta)
Valletta: N. Vella, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, S. Malano, M. Mifsud, J. Borg (R. Romao), C. Pani (L. Cremona), U. Uchenna, L. Aguirre, M. Velasco, V. Alihno (L. Montebello)
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap
Additional asst.refs: M. Spiteri, D. Stankovic
4th official: D. Petrovic
Scorers: M. Giusti 9, M. Manset 45, M. Velasco 65
Yellow cards: I. Misan, V. Alihno, S. Borg, U. Umeh, D. Cassar
Player of the match: M. Manset (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Manset 2. L. Aguirre 3. K. Micallef
Attendance: 595
SILVIO VELLA
Valletta missed the opportunity to all but seal Europa League qualification, needing to beat Hamrun Spartans and await the outcome of Birkirkara’s game against Floriana.
But this second consecutive league defeat confirmed that Valletta can struggle against sides they are meant to swat away with ease as they finished in fourth place behind the Stripes.
Surely on this last day of this campaign, with something at stake, Valletta were least expected to bolster their confidence and get the job done.
This league campaign has been a disappointment for the outgoing champions. In patches, they have been very good, but that is only to be expected given the quality of some players in their squad. Coach Paul Zammit’s job was about extracting more from individuals than anyone thought they had and forging a collective to accentuate their strengths and hide their weaknesses.
At this he fell short, in particular because he found it impossible to find a first XI. Long term injuries, players leaving in mid season, new ones joining in January have unsettled the side. Issues in attack cannot be secreted. Valletta scored least goals from the top four and relied heavily on an injury-riddled Michael Mifsud for goals after the departure of Federico Falcone.
No doubt they need to make reinforcements in the summer.
Hamrun embraced the chance to finish the season strongly and rose to the challenge against their eternal rivals.
With survival assured and the pressure off, it was right to suggest Jacque Scerri’s men might stir themselves, put in a long overdue decent performance and have a major say in who competes in Europe next season.
Before yesterday, the Spartans’ form had been terrible. Nine defeats in 13 winless games and down to tenth place in the standings, suggests the club had gone stale after the early months of the season had fired the imagination.
Valletta coach made changes to the side yesterday. Bartkus was replaced in goal by Nicky Vella. Steve Borg returned in defence after a long suspension while Michael Mifsud was preferred to Luke Montebello in attack and Valdo Alihno replaced Roderick Briffa in midfield.
Hamrun made only one change after their encouraging draw against Balzan. Karl Micallef replaced the suspended Manolito Micallef at the back.
The Spartans made a lively start. After only nine minutes, the Valletta rearguard was caught in shambolic mode. Manset’s pass fell to Massimiliano Giusti who scored with a low drive from just outside the Valletta area.
Hit by this early setback, Valletta struggled to pull themselves into the match. Camilleri’s long range rising shot after 20 minutes was superbly tipped into a corner by keeper David Cassar. An Aguirre grounder was again saved by the Hamrun keeper and when Mifsud netted for Valletta on 38 minutes, the goal was disallowed for offside.
With halftime looming, a Mifsud low shot ended narrowly wide.
But on the stroke of halftime, Hamrun doubled their lead. Mathieu Manset advanced from the byeline on the left and his low shot from a tight angle was deflected off the keeper over the line.
Valletta, who had been particularly flat in the fisrt half, were reinvigorated after the break. Manset though continued to be the most mobile and threatening player for the Spartans. Towards the hour, on a Micallef cross from the left, Manset’s header was saved by keeper Vella.
On the other end, Aguirre’s powerful shot rebounded off the grounded Hamrun keeper and hit the bar.
Valletta’s marked improvement made the Spartans defend with some nervousness, but no less commitment. The Citizens pulled one back on 65 minutes. Aguirre’s cross from the left was headed in by Max Velsaco from close range.
Valletta introduced Luke Montebello as Hamrun put in Leandro Motta and retreated deeper, attacking on the counter.
Manset’s tame effort was saved by keeper Vella before being substituted.
Hamrun were living a little dangerously as the match drew to a close but they survived five minutes of added time to claim a morale-boosting win.
Mosta-Pembroke 4-2
Relegation finally became a reality for Pembroke Athleta. Pedro Calcado’s hat-trick and another goal by Njongo Priso, all in the second half turned the tables for Mosta and pushed Pembroke unceremoniously into Division 1 after two seasons.
Mosta’s future in the Premier League is still uncertain as they have to play a relegation play-off against Division 1 side Qormi next week but at least they were left to fight another day.
After a bleak and least imaginative of campaigns, punctuated by problems on and off the field, it was the least Pembroke could expect. For so long, they have been teetering on the ropes awaiting the knock-out punch.
Although twice winning these corresponding fixtures this season, their second round 5-0 win was overturned and the three points awarded to Mosta for alleged match-fixing atempts. Following seven straight defeats, they looked already doomed by April but the deduction of five points to Mosta, a draw against Tarxien and a win over Hamrun Spartans, rekindled Pembroke’s hopes for survival, going into this last match on equal points with their opponents.
The mood was subdued, more about apathy than anger and punctuated by lengthy silences from the few sets of supporters present. No one could be blamed for staying away.
Pembroke showed their intent to pummel Mosta into submission from the very start. Yet Pembroke could not quite turn their territorial advantage into goals. For the first half hour there there was not a single effort on target from either side.
Pembroke hit on the counter from the resultant corner. Kooh Sohna advanced through the middle, going past three opponents before being obstructed by Magro inside the area to win a penalty. Stevan Racic tucked it away to give his side a first-half lead.
The first chance after the interval also fell to Pembroke. On 50 minutes Kooh Sohna chased a long ball on Naatey’s pass, controlled it well inside the Mosta area but missed the target when faced by the goalkeeper.
Njongo Priso punished Pembroke for that miss as he showed more composure, hardly one minute later, when he chased a long ball through the middle, beat the Pembroke static defence and hit past the helpless Calleja Cremona.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Suddenly Mosta began to attack with more conviction. Past the hour they had overturned the scoring. On a Magro high cross, Hengbart’s header was blocked by keeper Calleja Cremona, the ball fell to Pedro Calcado who scored with a low shot.
There were signs that Pembroke had reverted to all their bad habits – flimsy at the back, short of leadership and not enough players taking responsibility.
Their disjointed second-half display gave way to more frantic pressure. On 68 minutes Calcado picked Mifsud Triganza’s pass and from just inside the area he beat the Pembroke keeper with a low drive.
Visibly rattled, Pembroke tried to hit back and were unlucky when on 73 minutes Radonkovic’s shot rebounded off the underside of the bar after a melee had ensued inside the Mosta area.
Pembroke ended up infuriated when conceding a penalty a quarter hour from time when keeper Calleja Cremona was adjudged to have felled Magro inside the area. Pedro Calcado scored from the spot to administer the last rites.
Mosta defended with great purpose and there was never any genuine sense their opponents would save themselves after that 25minute spell when they conceded four goals, even if Pembroke hit a meaningless late goal in added time through a headed effort by Raphael Kooh Sohna from a corner.
Floriana 1
Birkirkara 2
Floriana: J. Haber, A. Scicluna, A. Monticelli (C. Borg), E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, S. Nayar, A. Cini (M. Vella), A. Samb, N. Chiesa, R. Camenzuli (L. Cutajar).
Birkirkara: H. Bonello, E. Herrera, C. Bubalovic (S. Bonnici, M. Guillaumier), M. Andelkovic, S.Dimitrov (E. Agius), V. Plut, N. Vukanac, J. Zerafa, M. Alba, R. Scicluna, G. Malan.
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: L. Portelli, W. Debattista.
Add. Asst refs: M. Degabriele, S. Pace
4th official: A. Camilleri.
Scorers: M. Alba, V. Plut, E. Pepe.
Yellow cards: C. Bubalovic, A. Cini, A. Samb, S. Pisani, J. Zerafa, S. Nayar.
Player of the match: M. Alba.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Alba, 2. N. Chiesa, 3. R. Scicluna.
Attendance: 547
Henry Brincat
Birkirkara finished third in the competition after their victory against Floriana and with Valletta going down 2-1 against Hamrun.
These results saw the Stripes moving onto the 62-point mark and Valletta remaining on 59.
But the Stripes cannot say whether they will be admitted to European football as they still have to wait for the outcome of their appeal following the withdrawal of their UEFA licence.
Before the kickoff, Stripes skipper Gareth Sciberras, who started yesterday’s game as a substitute, was presented a gift by the club – he is quitting the game.
The game had a very slow start – there was not one single decent move in the opening 25 minutes – as the two defences appeared too superior to the two front lines.
Play was rather monotonous and restricted to midfield, but it eventually came to life in the final 15 minutes of the first half culminating in two incidents which were obviously the highlights of those opening 45 minutes.
First we had Floriana scoring what from the press box appeared to be a goal with the referee allowing play to go on (later it was confirmed to us reporters that the ball had hit the crossbar not the net). A few minutes later, at the other end, Birkirkara took the lead after a fast breakaway.
In the second half, play was livelier with Floriana seeking an equaliser and with the Stripes operating in fast counterattacks with man of the match Miguel Alba a protagonist.
When the Stripes added a second goal, it seemed to be all over, but the Greens fought back to score a goal and missed a great chance to get an equaliser when they were awarded a penalty in added time. But Pepe hit wide from the spotkick.
Neither side was convincing in the opening stages as the two sets of strikers were toothless in front of solid defences.
We had to wait till the 27th minute to see something noteworthy. Following a Dimitrov cross, Floriana goalie Haber intercepted graciously before Malan could do any damage.
Five minutes later, Dimitrov tried his luck with a volley, but Haber was not surprised and saved with ease.
In the 34th minute, Floriana appeared to have scored after a Vukanac clearance from over the line hit Camenzuli with the ball appearing to hit the roof of the net and rebounding out. Neither the referee nor his assistant signalled a goal and played went on, despite some protests by Floriana players.
Play continued and four minutes later, at the other end, it was Birkirkara who scored as Plut advanced on the right to cross low for Alba who beat Haber with a grounder.
In the 39th minute, it was Alba who hit wide from a good position and before the interval, Malan advanced into the Greens area only to be robbed of the ball in the nick of time by a Floriana defender.
Floriana were denied an equaliser by Bonello in the 45th minute as he blocked a shot from Camenzuli.
At the start of the second half, Camenzuli had a headed effort stopped by Bonello who turned to corner.
On the hour, substitute Guillaumier set Plut in the Greens area, but Haber rushed out of his charge to intercept.
Birkirkara doubled their lead in the 76th minute. It was Alba who broke away from near his own area, avoided tackles from two Floriana defenders and crossed perfectly for Vito Plut to first time home past a helpless Haber.
Floriana pulled one back on the 80th minute. A freekick from the far left produced a melee in the heart of the Birkirkara area which was resolved by Pepe who shot home from close in.
Floriana pressed for an equaliser and were awarded a penalty in added time after a dangerous tackle by Zerafa on Samb in the area. But from the spotkick, Enzo Ruiz hit the ball over to hand victory – and the assurance of third place – to the Stripes.
Sliema W.2
Balzan 1
Sliema W.: G. Sarao, A. Muscat, JP Farrugia, D. Dos Santos (R. Spiteri), P. Xuereb, M. Muchiardi, S. Bianciardi, R. Correa, M. Potezica, G. Aquilina, F. Temile (J. Mintoff).
Balzan: C. Cassar, R. Fenech, A. Samir, L. Micallef (M. Piciollo), S. Cipriott, C. Brincat, M. Lepovic (P. Fenech), A. Effiong, P. Lapira (B. Kaljevic), A. Da Silva Souza, E. Serrano Valero.
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst refs: D. Sultana, R. Aquilina.
4th official: A. Johnson.
Scorers: D. Dos Santos, G. Aquilina, A. Effiong.
Yellow cards: M. Lepovic, E. Serrano Valero, S. Arab, C. Cipriott.
Player of the match: R. Correa.
TMI Top 3: 1. R. Correa, 2. D. Dos Santos, 3. C. Cassar
Henry Brincat
Sliema Wanderers finished the league campaign on a positive note yesterday as they deservedly beat Balzan by the odd goal in three.
Strikes from Denni dos Santos and Gabriel Aquilina gave them a healthy 2-0 lead at the end of the first half. Alfred Effiong scored Balzan’s goal in the 71st minute.
The match had little or no significance for both sides.
In fact, Balzan coach Oliver Spiteri fielded a depleted side at the start as they were assured of their runner-up placing earlier.
On the other hand, Sliema coach John Buttigieg fielded a fully-fledged formation, of course, in preparation for the FA Trophy semifinals - the Wanderers are now basing all their hopes of a European berth by winning that competition.
The Wanderers were clearly the better side with veteran Denni dos Santos in control of midfield, spraying intelligent passes to his team-mates.
Had it not been for the excellent Christian Cassar between the Balzan posts, their 2-0 margin would have been bigger.
Balzan were in a different street and at times struggled to get going. In fact, it was only near the end of the first half that they produced two good scoring opportunities, though both were missed.
In the second half, they showed some improvement with the introduction of midfielder Paul Fenech and strikers Kaljevic and Piciollo, but it was only after Sliema missed a couple of good opportunities that they pulled a goal back which was not enough to give them a win in their final match of the season.
Balzan had the first opportunity in the 5th minute but Paul Lapira’s effort went over the bar.
In the 16th minute, Sliema went very close to taking the lead. It was Dennis dos Santos who set Jean Paul Farrugia in the area, but the latter’s effort was blocked by the onrushing Christian Cassar. The ball ran out kindly to Frank Temile, but his goalbound effort was miraculously saved by Cassar – two great saves in the space of a few seconds.
Sliema took the lead in the 19th minute. It was a fine pass from Temile which set Jean Paul Farrugia in front of Cassar. The goalie this time could only touch the ball on its way to goal with Denni dos Santos adding the finishing touch before the ball crossed the line.
On 26 minutes, Correa sent in a very dangerous cross in the Balzan goalmouth, but a defender managed to clear in extremis before Farrugia could conclude.
In the 33rd minute, it was 2-0 as Correa received a good ball on the left flank and advanced to cross low. Cassar could not hold the ball and Gabriel Aquilina was on hand to fire home from near the goalline.
Balzan were denied a goal on 39 minutes, when Sarao dived sideways to turn to corner in style a Ryan Fenech humdinger.
Soon after, it was Lepovic who provided Lapira with a good opportunity, but the latter miskicked the ball in front of goal.
In the 55th minute, Sliema almost added a third when Alex Muscat had a fine volley hitting the crossbar with Cassar beaten.
In the 70th minute, Correa brought the best out of Cassar who produced an excellent save to turn to corner in style.
Moments later, Temile then missed a sitter for the Blues who paid dearly for this lapse as Balzan pulled one back immediately afterwards. From a Piciollo cross, Kaljevic’s header was only partially saved by Sarao and Effiong was on hand to plant the ball into the net.