BALZAN FC-          2

NAXXAR LIONS-   0

Balzan: I. Janjusevic, R. Fenech, S. Bezzina, A. Alves, P. Fenech, B. Kaljevic, U. Ljubomirac (J. Zerafa), A. Effiong (L. Micallef), J. Borg, B. De Oliveira (E. Serrano), M. Johnson

Naxxar L: O. Borg, A. Buhagiar, D. Falzon, F. Serafino (G. Grima), M. Micallef, D. Bonnici, M. Botta, M. Fenech, R. Cassar, J. Ellul (T. Nappa Licari), A. Lo

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, M. Scerri

4th official: P. Farrugia

Scorers: B. Kaljevic 42, U. Ljubomirac 57

Yellow cards: M. Fenech, B. Kaljevic

Player of the match: U. Ljubomirac (Balzan)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Fenech  2. B. Kaljevic  3. A. Lo

SILVIO VELLA

Goals from Bojan Kaljevic and Uros Ljubomirac gave Balzan a winning start as they overcame toothless opponents Naxxar Lions.

Balzan created a hatful of chances and should have won by a landslide.

Creating chances, and of course taking them, are what counts in the end but with Balzan having more physicality, more pace and technical ability than their newly promoted opponents, there was only going to be one winner.

Balzan’s forte remains their speedy thrusts rather than patient probing, but while such was indeed the case, their back four looked less than comfortable with the ball at their feet.

Balzan, last season’s runners-up, have strengthened their squad with the signings of new players like Serb wide player Uros Ljubomirac, Alex Alves as well as defenders Jacob Borg and Michael Johnson.

Newcomers Naxxar Lions fielded three new foreigners yesterday, their two central defenders being Italian Marco Botta and Senegalese Ameth Lo as well as other Italian midfielder Francesco Serafino. Darren Falzon and Manolito Micallef will also be playing for them this season, together with Valletta product Tristan Nappa Licari who did not start the match.

With the two new coaches, Marko Micovic for Balzan and Dennis Fenech for Naxxar, trying to apply their plan, the match began in highly competitive spirit with both teams attempting to assert their style of play. Balzan tried to work sharp passing triangles through their forward line of Kaljevic, Effiong and Alves.

Naxxar stayed composed, with four men at the back and Mark Fenech and Ryan Cassar providing cover in front of them. Darren Falzon was their most advanced player.

Naxxar’s problems yesterday were actually when trying to get hold of the ball. Their coach’s main concern must have been Serafino’s struggles to touch the ball, let alone unleash a penetrative pass. Naxxar’s collective penchant for forfeiting possession far too cheaply can hardly have represented a cause for optimism.

Balzan’s possession-based game was keeping their opponents pinned back in their own half for long periods. Naxxar’s 36-year-old keeper Omar Borg was kept busy as he first held a low shot from the right by Ljubomirac and then again fisted out Ryan Fenech’s free kick before the match was 20 minutes old. Alves and Paul Fenech both had efforts narrowly off the target and on 38 minutes Balzan went close again as Effiong pounced on Borg’s cross but his shot rebounded off the bar.

Kaljevic should have opened the scoring two minutes later. When keeper Borg did not hold Effiong’s shot, the Balzan striker headed the loose ball over the bar.

(Photos Domenic Aquilina)

But Balzan finally broke the deadlock three minutes before the break. A Ryan Fenech corner from the right was headed towards the midde by de Oliveira for Bojan Kaljevic to tap in.

In some ways, the first half went reasonably well for Naxxar, who only tested the Balzan keeper Janjusevic with a powerful Falzon shot on 41 minutes.

The pattern continued in the second half with Ryan Fenech, Kaljevic and Effiong causing bother to the Naxxar rearguard, but failing to take thir chances. Effiong headed a good chance over on Ryan Fenech’s corner and when the latter played a good through ball to Ljubomirac, his tame effort went straight on the Naxxar keeper.

Short of the hour, Effiong stemmed the action that led to Balzan’s second goal. He was unlucky when his lob over the onrushing Omar Borg rebounded off the foot of the post but with the ball still in play, Kaljevic crossed for Uros Ljubomirac to hit in.

With Naxxar left chasing shadows, they ran the risk of being humiliated were it not for Balzan’s profligacy. When Alves released Effiong, his finishing was erratic. Kaljevic had an effort blocked and another that finished wide before he thumped his direct free kick against the bar ten minutes from the end.

That made no discernible difference though. The rest of the game was a stroll for Balzan, as the Lions barely managed another attempt on goal.

VALLETTA-     1

MOSTA –        0

Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, J. Cruz, S. Malano, M. Mifsud (N. Pulis), J. Borg, R. Saleh, D. Dos Santos (K. Nwoko), C. Pani, R. Romao, N. Asceric

Mosta: A. Vella, S. Datsenko (E. Oladejo), T. Farrugia, T. Veronese, K. Magro (D. Fenech), D. Nworah, Z. Brincat, D. Xuereb, E. Zarate (K. Frendo), C. Fernandes, R. Ekani

Referee: S. Pace

Asst.refs: R. Vella, M. Borg

4th official: G. Tonna

Scorers: C. Pani 44 pen

Yellow cards: S. Datsenko, C. Fernandes, C. Pani, N. Asceric, R. Romao

Red card: C. Pani

Player of the match: M. Mifsud (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. R. Saleh  2. D. Nworah  3. Z. Brincat

Attendance: 712

SILVIO VELLA

A solitary goal from a penalty, scored by midfielder Claudio Pani on the stroke of halftime, was enough to give Valletta a narrow win over Mosta in their opening match of this campaign. The goal served to give Valletta some confidence after a disappointing past season.

Pani was eventually sent off 13 minutes from time.

Mosta however left the pitch with heads held high as they almost succeeded in thwarting Valletta with a defensive display and should take credit for their resilient showing.

Their defensive duties were executed properly here, albeit while sacrificing support to Fernandes and Brincat in the opposition half.

Valletta have quite a new look about them this season. With Cremona, Montebello, Briffa, Aguirre and Velasco all gone, they recruited new foreigners like Oman international midfielder Raed Saleh and tall Serb striker Nicola Asceric. Denni Dos Santos returned for a second spell as did goalkeeper Henry Bonello. But Ryan Camilleri and Joseph Zerafa did not feature for the Citizens yesterday, while Kyrian Nwoko only went in as a substitute. Other defender Jonathan Caruana is still suspended.

The same can be said about Mosta, who only retained their Premier status after winning the play-off last season.

Among the new faces in their line-up yesterday were Ukraine defender Semen Datsenko and Italian Tomas Veronese, Nigerian midfielder David Nworah and the returning Brazilian forward Cristian Fernandes. Chilean Edison Zarate also made a start in midfield for coach Johann Scicluna’s side.

The quality of Nworah’s passing immediately stood out and he should prove a potent asset for Mosta this season.

Valletta tried to impose their game on their opponents with the pace of Michael Mifsud, Denni and Saleh, but for a good half hour Mosta managed to break their rhythm.

In fact it was only on 37 minutes that Valletta created their first real threat as Malano went past Datsenko inside the Mosta area but keeper Andreas Vella did well to foot out his effort.

On the other end Fernandes arrived fractionally late on a Xuereb low cross, with only the keeper to beat.

With halftime looming, Mosta gave away a penalty as defender Datsenko pushed Asceric inside the area. Claudio Pani tucked it away to give Valletta a slender lead before the break.

(Photos Domenic Aquilina)

There was more urgency to Valletta’s performance after the interval. Malano failed to reach for Asceric’s low pass, mistiming his run.

Asceric tested the Mosta keeper Vella with a low drive and on 70 minutes Mifsud had a shot at goal blocked by the Mosta defence.

Malano was again blocked as he went inside the Mosta area on a Saleh short pass.

Valletta had their midfield maestro sent off on 77 minutes after collecting a second booking and that handed Mosta a lifeline.

Immediately  Brincat blazed his shot just wide. Coach Scicluna was quick to put in forward Emmanuel Oladejo for Datsenko as Valletta retreated Mifsud and replaced him with Nicholas Pulis.

With two minutes remaining, Brincat almost equalised for Mosta in his side’s best chance of the match. His goalbound header, on Veronese’s cross, brought the match’s best save from the otherwise inoperative Valletta keeper Bonello. It was a rare opportunity Mosa could not afford to squander as they finally paid a hefty price.

 

 

Sliema W             2

Senglea A            2

Sliema W: G. Sarao, J. Mintoff, G. Aquilina (M. Scerri 78 min), R. Spiteri (L. Motta 78 min), P. Xuereb, F. Temile, S. Bianciardi, M. Muchardi, A. Muscat, R. Correa, G. Adamovic (M. Sansone 51 min).

Senglea A: T. Aquilina, J. Bondin, I. Azzopardi, A. Terracciano, M. Garcia, T. Vella (R. Dalli 92 min), H. Vella, N. Palmieri (A. Caseres 85 min), B. Muscat, S. Bonnici, I. Paz.

Referee: Fyodor Zammit

Ass.referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Sammy Attard

Yellow cards: R. Correa, M. Muchardi, P. Xuereb (Sliema W), A. Terracciano, B. Muscat, J. Bondin (Senglea A)

Scorers: N. Palmieri 26 min, G. Aquilina 36 min, J. Mintoff 39 min, M. Garcia 53 min,

Player of the match: Matias Muchardi

TMI best three: 1. M. Muchardi, 2. M. Garcia, 3. T. Aquilina

Chris Cassar

Newly promoted Senglea earned a deserved draw against the more fancied Sliema Wanderers in an entertaining match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

Sliema dominated the first half and had several scoring chances, but found in Timmy Aquilina a hard nut to crack. On the resumption Senglea scored a great goal to make it 2-2, and then the match was more balanced with Sliema unable to turn the tide in their favour.

Sliema only regained the upperhand in the dying stages, going close through Bianchardi who hit the crossbar.

Sliema were in full control in the first half pushing their opponents on the defensive and creating several scoring opportunities. Muchardi was in splendid form distributing several passes from which the Sliema forwards failed to score.

Temile went close on 17 minutes with his shot missing the base of the upright by a whisker and Gabriel Aquilina should have done better from an ideal position. The Senglea custodianTimmy Aquilina made some good saves and made a daring sortie to block Mintoff.

Against the run of play Senglea took the lead on 26 minutes when off a Paz corner, Palmieri headed home. Ten minutes later Sliema levelled matters when Gabriel Aquilina slotted home from the edge of the area following a corner action.

On 39 minutes Sliema took a deserved lead with a well executed move on the left flank between Temile and Correa, with the latter’s low cross shot met by John Mintoff who slotted home from close range.

Eight minutes into the second half Senglea drew level with a great goal score by Matias Garcia who dribbled his way inside the area leaving three Sliema defenders in his wake before beating Sarao with a low drive.

Seven minutes from time Sliema went close when from a Mark Scerri freekick, Stefano Bianchardi’s header slammed against the crossbar.