NAXXAR LIONS 1
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 2
Naxxar L: C. Nicht, S. Fenwick, R. Grech, M. Micallef (M. Fenech), D. Falzon, D. Bonnici, J. Debono, D. Bustos, A. Buhagiar, N. Ousseynou, A. Cascaval
Tarxien R: C. Cassar, A. Scicluna, A. Azzopardi (A. Agius), J. Brincat, L. Grech, R. Darmanin (G. McKay), R. Faria, S. Cipriott, A. Benes (M. Spiteri), E. Baker, E. Calin
Referee: E. Mangion
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Abela
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: R. Faria 32, 66, S. Fenwick 73 pen
Yellow cards: N. Ousseynou, E. Baker, A. Agius, D. Falzon
Player of the match: R. Faria (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. R. Faria 2. A. Benes 3. R. Grech
Attendance: 208
Tarxien Rainbows followed up their previous success against Sliema Wanderers with back-to-back wins against Naxxar Lions yesterday at the Centenary Stadium. This deserved win now takes them out of the relegation zone as they climb to seven points in the standings, thanks to a brace by Ricardo Faria.
Tarxien enjoyed more ball and territory, although they were stretched defensively in the late stages, when Naxxar reduced the deficit through a Fenwick penalty.Yesterday's display was not so encouraging for Naxxar, who, despite a late improvement, ended up convincing losers.
They offered next to nothing as an attacking threat, and apart from the penalty, scoring chances were at a premium.Both teams wanted to carry on where they had left before the international break. Naxxar drew with champions Hibernians while Tarxien had tasted their first league victory against Sliema that took them one point above their opponents before kick-off yesterday.In fact, both sides showed little changes in their starting line-ups. Naxxar had Mendy suspended, with Manolito Micallef taking his place. Tarxien had Artur Benes starting the match instead of Godwin McKay.
Both keepers were called into action in the opening minutes with Tarxien's Christain Cassar alert to block as Bustos made his way inside the area on a Fenwick pass.
On the other end, Faria had connected well to Benes' cross but Christoph Nicht saved well.
The teams' inability to turn possession into chances after that made frustrating viewing for both their supporters in the first half.
The only highlight was Tarxien's goal soon after the half hour as Rocardo Faria, the Rainbows' best player until then, capitalised on a let-off by keeper Nicht who fumbled the ball on a low cross allowing the Tarxien player to hit in. The Naxxar keeper protested with the referee about some alleged foul on him in the process.
Tarxien scuffed a good chance to extend their lead ten minutes after the restart. Benes laid an inviting ball inside the Naxxar area in the path of Brincat who contrived to miss the target from a most promising position.
That left Naxxar with some hope, although the Lions were struggling to creat anything meaningful. Their passes had gone awry, first touches were clumsy and their play was simply too slow. A tame Fenwick header went straight on the goalkeeper.
Tarxien kept playing the better football and, showing a greater willingness to push forward, they were rewarded in the 66th minute.
Cipriott played the ball wide on the right to Benes, whose cross was met by the lethal Ricardo Farina to apply the finishing touch and increase his side's advantage.
But as the Rainbows were looking comfortable, slowly, the Lions fought back from their haphazard opening as they were awarded a penalty on 73 minutes as Scciluna pulled Falzon inside the area on a Buhagiar cross. Scott Fenwick scored from the spot to reduce the arrears.
Suddenly we witnessed a frentic final 15 minutes, with Naxxar pressing harder for an equaliser and Tarxien defending grimly. On 78 minutes Debono had an effort going slightly wide and in the match's added time, a dangerous Falzon shot was blocked into a corner by Scicluna.
Valletta struggle to win despite dominating
Valletta 4
Lija Ath. 2
Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, J. Gill Cruz, S. Malano, M. Piciollo, K. Nwoko, J. Borg, J. Zerafa, R. Saleh (R. Fenech), D. Rocha dos Santos (N. Pulis)
Lija Ath.: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, L. Muscat (P. Borg), D. Scerri, E. Beu, L. Schembri (A. Galea), A. Kooh Sohna, A. Bello Osagie, C. Cassar, O. Sidibe, D. Leeflang (N. Spiteri)
Referee: D. Agius
Asst refs: R. Vella, P. Apap
4th official: A. M. Sant
Scorers: M. Piciollo 2, D. Dos Santos, Beu 2, one pen, Nwoko
Yellow card: R. Fenech, N. Spiteri
Player of the match: M. Piciollo
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Piciollo, 2. D. Dos Santos, 3. A. Bello Osagie
Attendance: 879
A superior Valletta side had to struggle yesterday evening to overcome bottom club Lija by the odd goal in five. Valletta led 2-1 at the interval with goals from Piciollo and Dos Santos, before Lija reduced the gap from a Beu penalty near the end of the opening 45 minutes. This victory sent Valletta temporarily to the top jointly with Gzira on 16 points. The Maroons will only be in action tomorrow against Hamrun and need only a draw to regain the sole leadership.
It was a richly deserved win for the citizens who dominated proceedings for most of the time. Even if the Athletic were still in contention by the end of the first half and for most of the second half, it was evident that they did not live in the same street as their opponents.Valletta dominated midfield with Denni dos Santos in top form, scoring a goal (the second) and providing the assist for the first scored by Piciollo, another in-form player who proved to be a constant thorn in the Lija defence.
Lija were not given a chance to settle down before Piciollo gave Valletta the lead, but after suffering a second goal and after missing a clear goal scoring chance through Sohna, they rallied to score a penalty, thus remaining in contention.
In the second half, Valletta had a fiery start, adding a third goal but missed good chances before Gzira hit back to reduce the arrears once again.
From then on, Valletta continued to dominate without being effective, but they managed to keep Lija far away from their post with relative ease as Borg and Camilleri were in command at the back. And just before the end, Piciollo sealed the issue with a fourth goal.
Valletta quickly took the game to their opponents and in the first minute, from a Piciollo pass, it was Denni dos Santos who tested goalie Bonnici, but the latter saved.
In the sixth minute, Lija missed a gilt-edged opportunity to take the lead. Abubakar Bello Osagie set Kooh Sohna who advanced, but with only Bonello to beat, he hit the ball wide.
Valletta took the lead in their next attack in the 11th minute. From a Dennis freekick, it was Piciollo who scored with a fine diving header.
Dos Santos had a fine effort going just over the bar on 18 minutes and, soon after, Bonnici was forced to punch out a fierce shot from Piciollo.It was 2-0 in the 32nd minute. And it was Denni dos Santos who fired a grounder from 25 metres which completely beat Bonnici.
The very active Piciollo tried again on 40 minutes, but goalie Bonnici dived sideways to save. A minute later, at the other end, Lija were awarded a penalty when Kooh Sohna was floored by Ryan Camilleri. From the resultant spotkick, Beu made no mistake, sending Bonello the wrong way.
Valletta again took command as they added a third goal in the 46th minute. From a Piciollo perfect cross, it was Kyrian Nwoko who headed a beauty past Bonnici.
Five minutes later, Bello Osagie missed a great opportunity to score a second for Lija as he sent two Valletta players the wrong way only to see his rather weak effort being blocked by goalie Bonello.At the other end, it was Saleh who emulated the Lija player as he advanced into the area, only to be robbed of the ball by Bonnici.
Gzira, however, scored their second goal on 55 minutes. It was Bello Osagie who set Beu on the left flank and the Lija striker's effort went in via the upright.
Steve Borg went close for Valletta with a header that hit the post and in the 90th minute, Denni had a fine lob from outside the area, beating Bonnici, but the ball landed on the roof of the net.On the stroke of time, it was Piciollo, set by Nwoko, who scored a fourth goal for Valletta.
Narrow derby win moves Hibs closer to Gzira
Senglea 0
Hibernians 1
Senglea: T. Aquilina, J. Bondin, J. Leyton, S. Bonnici, S. Uyi, T. Vella, M. Garzia, H. Vella(M. Escobar), N. Palmeri, N. Virano, I. Paz
Hibernians: A. Hogg, M. Kreuzriegler, J. Degabriele, D. Vella, R. Soares, M. Dias, C. Failla, J. Bezzina, J. Dos Santos, A. Agius, M. Sahanek (J. Lima)
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, T. Debono
4th official: S. PaceScorers: D. Vella
Yellow cards: H. Vella, M. Garzia, A. Agius, T. Aquilina
Player of the match: J. Degabriele
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Degabriele, 2. A. Agius, 3. D. Vella
A narrow 1-0 lead over Cottonera rivals Senglea Athletic yesterday evening enabled champions Hibernians to move momentarily into second place in the standings.
A Dunstan Vella strike on 13 minutes proved to be the winner for the Paolites who, however, were mostly unimpressive.
This derby match, played in front of new national coach Tom Saintfiet, left a lot to be desired, but at the end, Hibernians deserved their win, especially after showing so much superiority during the second period.
In the first half, as was widely expected, it was the Paolites who took the initiative and eventually took a deserved lead.
But Senglea were in no mood to throw in the towel. In fact, they retaliated and pressed for an equaliser. Hibernians covered well at the back with the experienced Agius and Soares well in command and goalie Hogg never appeared seriously bothered as the yellow reds proved to be ineffective up front.
In the second half, the Paolites took complete command of midfield and kept Senglea in their own half for long stretches.But despite their superiority, the Paolites failed to add more goals to their tally and Senglea remained in contention, even if they also failed to test goalie Hogg.
Hibernians took the initiative from the first minute and contrived to miss some half chances before eventually taking the lead in the 13th minute, when from a Failla corner, it was Dunstan Vella who headed goalwards, the ball hitting a defender on its way into the net.
Senglea's reply came in the 17th minute when Terence Vella advanced on the right only to his badly and wide from the edge of the area.In the 27th minute, Hibs almost added a second when a long distance Sahanek shot almost deceived goalie Aquilina, but the Senglea keeper managed to turn to corner.
Senglea threatened to equalise on the 30th minute when off a Terence Vella pass, Matias Garzia saw his full-blooded shot hitting Rodolfo Soares. Four minutes later, from a Paz corner, it was defender Uyi who headed badly and wide from an ideal position.Paz was again a protagonist on 38 minutes. He went past two players in the Hibs area, but his low shot was easy prey for Hogg.
In the 54th minute, it was goalie Aquilina who denied Degabriele, turning to corner a fine effort from the right. Soon after, off a Jorge dos Santos pass, Failla hit the ball just over the bar from an angled position.
As the champions insisted on attack, it was Dunstan Vella who tested Aquilina, but the Senglea custodian was equal to the task.On the 77th minute Hogg was called into action to stop an Ivan Paz freekick. And at the other end, it was Degabriele who received a good ball from Bezzina, only to hit wide when ideally placed.