SAN ĠILJAN TUM INVEST...12

SLIEMA FRANK SALT...........4

(2-1), (2-1), (5-1), (3-1)

The prediction before the game was that if San Ġiljan were to win this game, the title race would be over despite the fact that the league is not midway through yet. This game showed that if they aren’t mathematically Champions, San Ġiljan confirmed that they had the potential to be the winners, with a brilliant display that gave Sliema no chance in the game.

San Ġiljan have won seven games out of seven and are nine points above of both Sliema and Neptunes. All players showed their quality, but Aleksandar Ivovic proved why he is considered one of the best players in the world, with great passes, and positive tactical intelligence, alongside four great goals.

Sliema weren’t that inferior to their opponents in the first part of the game, but after the restart they couldn’t keep up with San Ġiljan. Now that the league is far away, they have to make sure to finish in the top three to avoid a disappointing season.

San Ġiljan held a two-goal advantage after the first two sessions, winning both sessions 2-1. Ivovic opened the score, but Gambin equalised after he unmarked himself. But a splendid goal by Cousin made sure that his team stayed in front. Matthew Zammit and Aurelien Cousin made the score 4-1, but Nicholas Bugelli responded after the fourth goal to keep his team in touch.

But things changed after the break, as San Ġiljan scored twice from Ivovic and Fava in the first minute and a half to open up a four-goal advantage. From then onwards, the game was dominated by San Ġiljan as they responded to Molina’s only goal, and scored three times with a brace by Ivovic and Dino Zammit to conclude the third session with a clear 9-3 advantage.

The game didn’t have much to tell, as San Ġiljan were cruising while Sliema were only waiting for the game to be finished. Orlovic’s team won also the last session, as Matthew Zammit and Ben Plumpton scored while Dino Zammit scored the last goal of the game to respond to the goal by Aquilina, as the supporters of San Ġiljan were in celebration mode.

(Photos Dpmenic Aquilina)

San Ġiljan: J. Tanti, P. Borg, A. Galea, B. Grech, J. Galea, M. Zammit (2), B. Plumpton (1), Da. Zammit, A. Ivovic (4), A. Cousin (2), P. Fava (1), Di. Zammit (2), T. Micallef

Sliema: R. Coleiro, J. Gabarretta, E. Aquilina (1), C. Cluett, G. Molina (1), K. Dowling, M. Spiteri Staines, L. Galea, J. Gambin (1), M. Meli, Z. Mizzi, N. Bugelli (1), Z. Sciberras

Referees: Alex De Raffaele, Stefano Alfi

EXILES JETFREIGHT...........4

SIRENS ASC......................11

(0-1), (3-1), (1-5), (0-4)

The score might indicate a dominating win for Sirens but it was not the case. The game was evenly balanced till the second session, with Exiles a bit better than their opponents. But in the third session Sirens took advantage from the spaces provided by the Exiles defence on the right side, where Sirens scored almost all their goals in the third session.

An important win for Sirens that gives a great hope of finishing the second round in the top three positions. On the other hand, a disappointing defeat for Exiles who here hoping of climbing just one point behind their opponents. What is more disappointing for Dorian Pisani’s team is that they finished the second session 3-2 in front, and couldn’t keep up their game after the restart.

After David Cutajar scored the only goal of the first session, Exiles’ reaction resulted in three goals from Sullivan and a brace by veteran Michele Stellini that put Exiles in front, as Clint Mercieca reduced the gap before the end of the second session.

Sergio Afric seemed to inspire his team as Sirens took control of the game, and after Bianchi equalised the quick brace by David Cutajar, they scored three goals in quick succession by Clint Mercieca and a brace by youngster Jacob Sciberras to take a three-goal advantage. That advantage continued to be reinforced in the last session, as Sirens sealed the win with four goals while keeping their defence at its best, to secure a great win.

Exiles: M. Castillo, J. Rizzo Naudi, D. Borg Millo, M. Stellini (2), T. Sullivan (1), S. Xerri de Caro, S. Nikic, K. Griscti, N. Paris, A. Bianchi (1), B. Lanzon, L. Felice, J. Bajada

Sirens: N. Grixti, J. Zerafa Gregory, C. Presciutti (2), J. Sciberras (3), M. Grech, I. Riolo, C. Mercieca (2), D. Cutajar (4), J. Napier, J. Brownrigg, L. Caruana, J. Ciantar, O. Gauci

 

Referees: Massimo Angileri, Luigi Barletta

Second consecutive win for Birżebbugia

BIRŻEBBUGIA..................9

TA’ XBIEX AMIGOS..........1

(2-0), (4-0), (1-0), (2-1)

After winning last Saturday against Marsaskala Transcripta, Birżebbugia claimed their second consecutive win as they easily defeated Ta’ Xbiex Amigos 9-1. The game had no story as Birżebbugia dictated play from start to finish and they made sure of the win after two sessions.

This win put Birżebbugia in second position with nine points, while Ta’ Xbiex are still last with only one point. This defeat confirmed the difficulty Ta’ Xbiex are having this season as coach Keith Grima Scott is working with a squad made up of a big number of youngsters.

Birżebbugia won the first session 2-0 with goals from Sergi Mora and Neil  Cassar, and continued to score in the second session and they headed into the break with a clear 6-0 advantage that practically made sure of the win as things were standing.

Marco Risso’s team only needed to control the game, and did so by scoring the only goal of the session through Sergi Mora while they still didn’t concede a goal. The Spaniard scored his third personal goal in the last session and made it 8-0. Ta’ Xbiex managed to score their first goal with only about 100 seconds left before the end of the game, but this wasn’t the last goal as Andrew Sammut scored the final goal to round the win Birżebbugia.

Birżebbugia: D. Abela, M. Manara, S. Mora (3), D. Pace Lupi (1), A. Camenzuli (2), A. Sammut (1), S. Vassallo, N. Cassar (1), G. Farrugia (1), M. Caruana, K. Rizzo Naudi, O. Zammit, D. Spiteri

Ta’ Xbiex: J. Micallef, B. Sziranyi (1), M. Ortoleva, K. Tanti, C. Farrugia, K. Mock, E. Carabott, E. Gravina, L. Saliba, M. Pace, R. Attard, N. Saliba, L. Pace

Referees: Stefan Licari, Luigi Barletta