HIBERNIANS 1
FLORIANA 1
Hibernians: A. Hogg, M. Kreuzriegler, R. Gomes, J. Lima, R. Soares, M. Dias (J. Bezzina), J. Degabriele (J. Mbong), B. Kristensen, J. Elias, A. Agius, M. Sahanek
Floriana: E. Akpan, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, C. Borg, I. Varela, M. Vella, J. Cabral (D. Grima), A. Cini, A. Oyama, M. Fontanella
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, M. Borg
4th official: E. Grech
Scorers: E. Ruiz 40, M. Sahanek 73
Yellow cards: A. Agius, M. Vella, B. Kristensen, C. Borg, R. Soares, S. Pisani
Player of the match: M. Sahanek (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Sahanek 2. I. Akpan 3. R. Gomes
Attendance: 774
Hibernians dropped their first points in this campaign when held by rivals Floriana in a highly competiitive match. They now trail leaders Gzira by two points.
For all their territorial dominance and chances created, Hibernians should have won this but they did not have everything their own way against resilient Floriana and there were a few anxious moments for Miller and his players to endure after the Greens took the lead shortly before the break.
For long spells, Floriana had to absorb their opponents's pressure and their performance was leavened only by some inspirational saves by their goalkeeper Ini Akpan. To their credit, Tedesco's boys did not surrender in the face of superior opposition and held to a point.
Hibernians had Jorge Elias starting in attack alongside Jurgen Degabriele as Clayton Failla was dropped to the bench. The Brazilian needs to adopt quicker to his new environment.
Floriana made two changes in their starting line-up as Clyde Borg returned to replace Marcelina and Arthur Oyama started as left back instead of James Baldacchino.
The Greens' keeper Akpan was kept busy in the initial stages, having to deal with a series of high balls raked inside his area by Hibernians. On seventh minute, on Lima's delivery of a free kick, he misjudged his sortie but Rui Gomes shot the loose ball against the upright.
Thereafter Hibernians enjoyed the lion's share of possession without creating a great deal until midway through the half. Lima ran through inside the Floriana area. The Brazilian was one-on-one with Akpan, but the Floriana goalkeeper came out on top, blocking the midfielder's shot with both hands.
A minute later an Agius cross from the left found Degabriele unmarked inside the Floriana area. The Hibernians' striker failed to finish off though, when blocked by Akpan twice in succession.
The goal came on the other end against the run of play though. Floriana, who had hardly threatened, struck five minutes before the break. Pisani played a corner kick from the left and defender Enzo Ruiz headed past keeper Hogg to give the Greens the lead by halftime.
The goal served to give Floriana greater confidence and hampered Hibernians's rhythm in the second half.
Cabral failed to connect on an inviting bouncing ball inside the Hibernians' area and on 54 minutes Cini advanced down the right but put his shot wide.
Anxious not to be eclipsed, Hibernians tried to push more forward. Jorge Elias had a goal disallowed for offside past the hour and when two minutes later, the ball ended up in Floriana's net, on a Lima free kick, the goal was also ruled out among loud protests.
The champions' efforts were rewarded on 73 minutes. Marco Sahanek took the ball into his stride as he advanced from midfield and unleashed a low powerful drive from edge of area to beat keeper Akpan and level matters.
Hibernians kept chasing a winner in the closing stages but they eventually fell short when a Soares free kick was blocked by the Floriana wall and a late Sahanek effort was repelled by the inspiring Floriana shot-stopper Akpan.
First win of the league for Birkirkara
BIRKIRKARA 2
MOSTA 0
Birkirkara: P. Schranz, C. Attard, N. Vukanac, L. Maia, R. Camenzuli, M. Andelkovic, L. Cremona (M. Guillaumier 61'), J. Grech, B. Fernandez de Brito (K. Zammit 77'), E. Nfor, L. Montebello (E. Herrera 46')
Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira, T. Farrugia, T. Veronese, I. Maric, D. Ifeanyi, K. Magro, D. Xuereb (Z. Brincat 52'), E. Bilbao Zarate, C. Martins (D. Fenech 89'), J. Ekani
Yellow Cards: R. Camenzuli 6', M. Guillaumier 67' (B), K. Magro 60', I. Maric 72' (M)
Red Cards: K. Magro 88' (M)
Scorers: E. Nfor 74' pen, M. Guillaumier 85' (B)
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Andelkovic (B), 2. J. Grech (B), 3. L. Ferreira (M)
BOV Player of the match: Ernest Nfor (Birkirkara)
Attendance: 503
Birkirkara clinched their first win of the league as they defeated Mosta with two goals in the last fifteen minutes. This win meant also a positive return for coach Paul Zammit as he is searching to put the stripes back on track.
Despite finishing the game on the losing side, Mosta coach Johann Scicluna has to be satisfied with his team's performance as they held on a much more quoted side, and had to be a penalty to break their rear guard. This performance must be encouraging for them when they face opponents their calibre.
Scicluna made only one change from their win against Lija as Kurt Magro started again in midfield instead of Zachary Brincat. On the other hand, Paul Zammit made five changes from their defeat against Gżira. Nikola Vukanac and Mislav Andelkovic returned for Birkirkara and made their debut this season. Cain Attard, Jake Grech and Luke Montebello also started the game unlike the last one.
Birkirkara held the initiative in the early minutes but failed to produce enough danger to the post of Andreas Vella. In fact, they were only dangerous with a shot by Ryan Camenzuli after 17 minutes that finished off target.
Mosta started to balance their opponents and ended the first half with two actions that could have easily resulted in a goal. First, on the 38th minute, Leonardo Ferreira crossed from the by-line to Kurt Magro who created his own pace, but failed to score as his shot was blocked by the defence. Two minutes later, Ferreira opened up the Birkirkara defence with a brilliant back heel to David Ifeanyi who beat the offside trap, advanced but his effort was saved well by Schranz.
Birkirkara were more determined in the second half and in the first quarter they had a number of occasions. On the 49th minute the shot from central position by Mislav Andelkovic sailed over the bar, and six minutes later they hit the post. Llywelyn Cremona received a pass from Jake Grech and beat Andreas Vella with a low shot, but he was denied by the upright.
A minute later, Ernest Nfor failed to take advantage from a miss kick by Ivan Maric as he failed to conclude. Two minutes before the hour mark, Andreas Vella had to save brilliantly to deny a splendid header by Lucas Maia.
Finally, Birkirkara managed to break the deadlock on the 73rd minute as they were given a penalty for a foul by Tyrone Farrugia on Ernest Nfor. From the penalty spot, Nfor beat Andreas Vella. Paul Zammit's team went close to the second goals on the 83rd minute after a great personal action by Kurt Zammit but after he dribbled past his opponents, his shot was saved by Vella.
But the Mosta goalkeeper couldn't do anything two minutes later, when Matthew Guillaumier fired in the net from outside the penalty area to close the game. Jake Grech could have also scored at the end but after a great counter-attack by Edward Herrera and Ryan Camenzuli, he failed to conclude in the net.
Gżira United keep marching on
TARXIEN R. 1
GŻIRA U. 2
Tarxien: C. Cassar, S. Cipriott (A. Cilia Mumford 89'), A. Scicluna, L. Grech, G. McKay (M. Brincat 82'), M. Spiteri, A. Agius, J. Brincat, R. Darmanin, R. Silva Faria, A. Benes,
Gżira: A. Cassar, G. Muir, C. Gatt Baldacchino, A. White, K. Pulo, M. Avila Perez, R. Briffa, A. Cohen, S. Tounkara (L. Brincat 84'), N. Okoye (Z. Scerri 59'), A. Samb (N. Muscat 75')
Yellow Cards: M. Avila Perez 29', G. Muir 62', (G), C. Cassar 34' (T)
Scorers: A. Samb 35' pen, N. Okoye 48' (G), A. Benes 90' (T)
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Cohen (G), 2. A. Samb (G), 3. R. Briffa (G)
BOV Player of the Match: Amadou Samb (Gżira United)
The result might give an indication that the match was balanced, but in fact it was a fine display by Gżira United. They managed to take the lead in the first half and practically controlled the game quite with ease as Tarxien failed to mount any danger towards the Gżira defence.
Darren Abdilla kept the same team that beat Birkirkara before the international break, with the exception of Andre White who regained his place in defence. On the other hand, Josè Borg made four changes for Tarxien. Andre Scicluna started as a central defender instead of his usual left-back position. Matthew Spiteri and Artur Benes started in midfield while Ryan Darmanin returned from suspension in as the main striker.
The early stages of the game showed the superiority of Gżira as they held the initiative with Roderick Briffa almost opening the score in the first action of the game with a shot from outside the box. Gżira were again dangerous on the 11th minute as Amadou Samb shifted the ball on his left from the edge of the small box but Christian Cassar saved his central effort.
Time was passing by and Gżira were still better. They had the best chance of the half in the 21st minute as Tounkara received a perfect pass by Andrew Cohen, dribbled past Cassar and crossed a low ball to Okoye who needed only to score from close range. He failed to hit the ball well enough and finished in the direction of Amadou Samb who fired over the bar.
Tarxien's first effort on goal came four minutes later with a shot by Ryan Darmanin that forced Anthony Curmi to tip into a corner.
Gżira were awarded a penalty ten minutes before the break, for a foul by goalkeeper Christian Cassar on Samb. The same player scored in his top right corner from the penalty spot.
Darren Abdilla's team started the second on the attack and managed to double the score with their first real action of the half as Ndubisi Okoye fired past Cassar after receiving a good ball from an ideal position. Gżira were controlling the game at their pace, while Tarxien couldn't find a way to be dangerous.
Gżira continued to attack and in the middle of the second half, captain Moises Avila Perez came close with a powerful shot from the penalty area that was saved by Cassar. Things were looking good for Gżira, and they could have confirmed the win four minutes from time, but substitute Luca Brincat missed the target from close range after a brilliant cross from the right side by Nikolai Muscat.
Tarxien managed to claw one back on the 90th minute as Artur Benes received a pass from Darmanin and slotted past Anthony Curmi. But this goal came late and Tarxien couldn't make one last push to save the game.
Balzan and Sliema fire blanks
BALZAN FC 1
SLIEMA WANDERERS 0
Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, M. Lepovic (R. Fenech), S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, B. Kaljevic, U. Ljubomirac, A. Effiong (A. Alves), J. Grioli, M. Johnson, E. Serrano, C. Mendes
Sliema W: G. Sarao, S. Bianciardi, M. Muchardi (J. Pearson), G. Aquilina (E. Agius), P. Xuereb, J. De Assis, R. Correa, M. Scerri, R. Spiteri (F. Temile), A. Muscat, N. Gavric
Referee: S. Gregg (N. Ireland)
Asst.refs: K. Hanna, G. Andrews
4th official: T. Clarke
Yellow cards: E. Serrano, M. Lepovic, C. Mendes, A. Muscat
Player of the match: J. De Assis (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Mendes 2. J. De Assis 3. U. Ljubomirac
Balzan and Sliema Wanderers played an entertaining goalless draw at the National Stadium, as they keep dropping points in this early stage of the season.
It was a competent enough display from both sides, although the two frittered good chances to win the game.
The Wanderers might feel the more aggrieved, missing a first half penalty through their captain Alex Muscat.
Sliema endured pangs of anxiety in the late stages as Balzan finally found some rhythm of their own, but spurned them all, even denied by the woodwork and Sliema keeper Giuseppe Sarao.
Both teams went into this game with contrasting fortunes. Sliema had a romp against Naxxar Lions while Balzan were surprisingly defeated by St Andrews before the international break.
Balzan gave a debut start to 31-year-old Brazilian attacking midfielder Carlos Mendes, better known as Cadu', in the absence of Ryan Fenech, who seemed not fully fit. Milos Lepovic played in front of the defence as Jacob Borg sat on the bench.
Sliema also had a Brazilian forward making his debut yesterday. Jefferson De Assis played in attack in place of Frank Temile. Another Sliema newcomer, Edmond Agius, joining from Birkirkara, also made a substitute appearance at the start of the second half. Matias Muchardi was given the nod ahead of John Mintoff.
Balzan started promisingly enough, troubling their opponents along their flanks. It was clear Sliema were having difficulty dealing with the high balls raked inside their area. On the quarter hour, the Sliema defence failed to clear an Effiong cross from the left and the unmarked Mendes shot narrowly wide, with the ball probably having a slight deflection off Bianchardi.
De Assis showed up for Sliema on 20 minutes as he ran inside the Balzan area from the left but blazed his effort across the face of goal.
Four minutes later, the Brazilian won a penalty for the Wanderers. As he chased a long Xuereb clearance, he was felled by Balzan Serrano's late tackle inside the area. Captain Muscat failed to put his side ahead though. His feeble shot from the spot was saved by the Balzan keeper Janjusevic.
The action was evenly balanced for the remainder of the first half with neither side creating any goal scoring opportunities.
Balzan were again the first to threaten after the interval. On 52 minutes, Mendes' free kick from the edge of the area was held out by the Sliema keeper Sarao, Effiong headed the rebound but Bianchardi cleared.
Sliema also had their chances. Towards the hour, De Assis was put through by Muscat. He ran inside the area but his shot was turned into a corner by keeper Janjusevic.
The game was evenly poised at this point and both coaches were aware something had to change.
Sliema put in Frank Temile for Spiteri as Balzan effected a double substitution, introducing Ryan Fenech and Alex Alves for Lepovic and Effiong.
That livened up the contest as Balzan created some good opportunities to break the deadlock.
On 70 minutes Sliema defender Muscat miskicked his clearance on a Ryan Fenech shot but keeper Sarao was alert and saved.
Three minutes later, a Mendes corner from the left rebounded off the innerside of the far post, the ball was held out by Sarao but Kaljevic hit horrendously over from close range.
Suddenly Sliema found themselves having to deal with Balzan's pressure. An Alves effort was deflected into a corner and five minutes from time, Kaljevic had his cross shot hitting the foot of the post before Ljubomirac shot against the side netting.
For all the huffing and puffing, the stalemate prevailed.