Hibernians 1
Birkirkara 0
Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Da Gracia Gomes, J. Degabriele (J. Dos Santos), D. Vella, R. Soares, M. Dias, C. Failla, J. Bezzina (J. Mbong), J. Lima, A. Agius, M. Sahanek (M. Filho Morgon).
Birkirkara: P. Schranz, C. Attard, N. Vukanac, L. Maia, M. Andelkovic, R. Scicluna (A. Attard), J. Grech (L. Montebello), C. Da Silva Concalves, B. Fernandez (E. Herrera)., K. Zammit, F. Montero de Oliveira (E. Herrera).
Referee: M. Degabriele
Asst referees: L. Portelli, S. Attard.
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann.
Scorers: C. Failla, pen.
Yellow cards: J. Grech, C. Attard, J. Degabriele, R. Scicluna, K. Zammit
Red cards: R. Da Gracia Gomes, L. Maia.
Player of the match: M. Sahanek.
TMI Top 3: 1. C. Failla, 2. M. Sahanek, 3. R. Scicluna.
Attendance: 828
Champions Hibernians claimed all the three points from a tough encounter with Birkirkara to maintain the pace at the top.
Clayton Failla converted a 50th minute penalty and that proved to make all the difference between the two teams at the end.
The Paolites deserved the verdict as they showed superiority over the Stripes who lacked punch up front.
Hibernians now move into fourth place on 21 points, three behind current leaders Gzira, though Valletta, on 23 points, can again become leaders if they beat Hamrun this afternoon.
Following this defeat, Birkirkara have dropped one place - from 8th to 9th - remaining on 13 points.
In the first half, Hibernians enjoyed much more possession as Birkirkara appeared to be concentrating more on defence.
The Paolites were in command of midfield and were much more dangerous from the flanks where Dias, on the right, and Failla, on the left, were leaving their mark.
But they were unlucky as they had two shots hitting the upright and therefore Birkirkara could still breathe freely.
The Stripes never appeared to be menacing: so much so that goalie Hogg had a relatively easy 45 minutes as he was never seriously tested.
In the second half, Hibs took the lead early but when they lost Da Gracia Gomes through a second yellow card, it appeared that Birkirkara would retaliate, but it was not to be. For despite their continuous attacks, they only tested goalie Hogg seriously on one occasion and that was before they also lost Maia - dismissed as well - thus bringing both teams back on numerical parity.
The first action arrived at the Birkirkara end when Sahanek received from Degabriele, but his effort was weak and easily controlled by Schranz.
In the 16th minute, from a Lima corner, the ball arrived at Degabriele's feet on the edge of the area, but his effort went just over. Soon after, Sahanek advanced unhindered into the Stripes area, but his shot hit the upright and rebounded out to be cleared by the Birkirkara defence.
Birkirkara's first real attack arrived on 31 minutes when Scicluna set Grech but the latter's fine rising shot went just over the bar. On 37 minutes, from a Kurt Zammit cross, Vukanac's header went straight into Hogg's grateful hands.
On the stroke of halftime, Hibernians were once again very unlucky not to score when Sahanek set Failla unmarked on the left flank, but his effort hit the upright with Schranz beaten all ends up.
At the start of the second half, Sahanek first timed well over the bar following a Degabriele cross.
The Paolites did not take long to take the lead, however. In the 50th minute, they were awarded a penalty when Dias was floored by Maia as he entered the area. From the resultant spotkick, Clayton Failla made no mistake.
In the 56th minute, Hibs goalie Hogg was called upon to effect his first save as he dived sideways to turn to corner a Fernandez freekick.
In the 64th minute, Hibs ended in 10 men when Rui da Gracia Gomes was shown a second yellow card and was therefore dismissed.
The Stripes enjoyed their numerical advantage only for eight minutes as Maia received a second yellow card on 72 minutes and was also dismissed.
In the 76th minute, after a fine run on the right flank, Dias crossed perfectly for Sahanek, but the latter hit over the bar when well placed.
A minute later, Birkirkara appealed in vain for a penalty when goalie Hogg rushed out of his charge to dive at Da Silva Concalves' feet, but the official waved play on.
Till the end, the Stripes tried hard to get a leveller, but the Paolites held on to the delight of their fans.
Kaljevic goal decides shambolic affair
Tarxien R 0
Balzan 1
Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, J. Grioli (J. Borg), M. Johnson, A. Effiong (J. Zerafa), U. Ljubomirac, M. Lepovic, B. Kaljevic, B. De Oliveira, A. Alves (M. Platisa), C. Mendes, S. Arab
Tarxien R: C. Cassar, E. Baker, E. Calin (M. Brincat), L. Grech, J. Brincat, A. Agius (M. Traore), A.Scicluna, R. Darmanin, A. Benes, R. Faria, M. Desira Buttigieg (A. Cilia Mumford)
Referee: D. Agius
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, P. Apap
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: B. Kaljevic 8
Player of the match: C. Mendes (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Grioli 2. C. Mendes 3. C. Cassar
Attendance: 246
This was really a poor quality game, won by Balzan thanks to a Bojan Kaljevic early strike, but otherwise it was a distance from being good.
Balzan's fourth consecutive win extends their winnig streak to nine league matches now and takes them as joint leaders with Gzira United, one point above Valletta who play Hamrun Spartans this afternoon.
Tarxien have now lost eight games already this season, the last four on the trot, and it was alarming to see a team playing with so little belief and conviction, never mind quality.
After taking an early lead Balzan laboured for tempo and cohesion. In the absence of Ryan Fenech, Lepovic failed to provide enough invention to the side although they enjoyed a rather stress-free 90 minutes which provided few talking points.
Both sides showed some changes in their starting line-ups. Balzan coach Micovic opted to rest some regulars, with keeper Janjusevic, Paul and Ryan Fenech, Steve Bezzina, as well as Elkin Serrano all missing the match.
Tarxien, who had Sean Cipriott suspended, gave starts to Andrew Agius, Luke Grech and Matteo Desira Buttigieg, with Godwin McKay and Ayrton Azzopardi making way.
Balzan made a strong start and were quick to take control. Hardly one minute on the clock, the Tarxien keeper Christian Cassar was called to hold out Kaljevic's close range header on a Grioli cross.
Seven minutes later, they made the breakthrough. On an Arab cross from the left, Bojan Kaljevic hit the ball low trademark style past the Tarxien keeper.
That lead allowed them somehow to relax. There were also signs of slackness in Balzan's play.
The Tarxien side initially looked disjointed in comparison, offering little in the way of threat on Sean Mintoff's goal. But other than a Griloli cross shot, held out by keeper Cassar and the loose ball skied by Lepovic, neither side carried much of a threat for the remainder of a dull first half as Balzan practised their passing game, in no apparent hurry to get to the Rainbows' goal.
Balzan played with increasing purpose and confidence after the interval. Tarxien, for their part, could not get out of their slumber.
Balzan should have doubled their lead on 70 minutes when keeper Cassar blocked Kaljevic's shot from close range but Effiong hit the foot of the post on the rebound.
Tarxien's only noteworthy opportunity came three minutes later when Calin's curling free kick from outside the area on the right hit the side netting.
Tarxien finished on the offensive but Brincat's corner in added time was ably handled by the inoperative keeper Mintoff.
Mansi late strike gives all points to Mosta
Mosta 2
Senglea A 1
Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira (N. Frendo), Z. Brincat, T. Veronese, K. Magro, D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, D. Biondo (K. Frendo), D. Zarate, I. Maric, JR Ekani.
Senglea: G. Cetrangolo, J. Bondin, J. Leyton, A. Terracciano, S. Uyi, M. Garzia, H. Vella (M. Del Negro), G. Virano, R. Dalli (P. Sammut), AR Caseres, T. Vella.
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: W. Debattista, P. Abela.
4th official: S. Spiteri.
Scorers: Z. Brincat, G.Virano, D. Mansi.
Yellow cards: H. Vella, D. Zarate, D. Biondo, K. Magro, A. Terracciano
Player of the match: G. Virano.
TMI Top 3: 1. T. Veronese, 2. G. Virano, 3. JR Ekani
A Mansi strike on 86 minutes gave Mosta all the three points in a keenly contested encounter with Senglea - a victory that allows the Blues to move into a healthier position in the standings.
Zac Brincat had given Mosta the lead only for Gonzalo Virano to equalise for Senglea just before the interval.
The precious victory lifted Mosta onto the 14-point mark, while Senglea remained in 10th place on nine points.
The first half was rather balanced with Senglea having the stronger start and Mosta coming back into the game enjoyed possession to take the lead against the run of play and then even threatening to increase their tally.
But Senglea never threw in the towel and were rewarded for their efforts before the interval, scoring a glorious equaliser through a fine shot from Virano.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first period, although it was Mosta who prevailed at the end, thanks to that late Mansi strike.
Senglea enjoyed possession for most of the first 20 minutes, but then Mosta started to move forward more frequently also creating a few good scoring opportunities, which however, went begging.
When everything seemed pointing towards the sharing of the spoils, Mosta earned a freekick from which Mansi scored what proved to be the winner.
Senglea threatened first on 6 minutes through a Gonzalo Virano effort which was blocked to a corner.
Three minutes later, off a Terence Vella cross, it was Caseres who lifted the ball onto the crossbar when it was easier to score from where he was positioned, just four metres away from goal.
Mosta opened the scoring on the 23rd minute - in their first real threat on the Senglea goal. From a Veronese perfect cross, it was Zac Brincat who flicked home past a helpless Cetrangolo.
In the 41st minute, from a Julian Leyton cross, it was Matias Garzia who saw goalie Andreas Vella diving sideways to save his header.
Senglea equalised on the 45th minute when Gonzalo Virano beat goalie Vella with a fine dipper from 20 metres.
Senglea started the second half on attack and on 56 minutes, Bondin had an angled cross landing on the roof of the net. But soon after, from a Caseres cross, Terence Vella missed a sitter, hitting just over the bar from close in.
Senglea continued to insist on attack and in the 65th minute, a fine Ryan Dalli cross-shot just missed the target.
At the other end, Mosta also missed a good chance. It was Ferreira who persisted in a solo move and then set Brincat on the right, but the latter hit badly from a favourable position.
In the 69th minute, Veronese advanced on the left but saw his effort punched out by goalie Cetrangolo, the ball ran out to substitute Kyle Frendo whose shot, however, went just over.
In the 75th minute, Vella had a fine volley going over the Mosta post. At the other end, from a Veronese corner, Farrugia flocked forward, but Maric, in a good central position, flicked wide.
In the 86th minute, Mosta earned a freekick which was taken by Veronese. The ball created havoc in front of goal and it was Mansi who scored what proved to be the winner.
Senglea tried hard to save the match, but Mosta kept their cool to emerge winners.
Saints dig deep for a draw
St.Andrews 1
Lija A 1
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, P. Beltre', A. Borg, M. Grima, A. Friggieri, K. Atkinson (T. Azian), K. Butler (M. Miranda Gomez), J. Farrugia, J. Walker, M. Davis, T. Blagrove
Lija A: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, P. Borg , D. Scerri, A. Sammut (N. Spiteri), L. Schembri (J. Varela), R. Kooh Sohna, A. Bello Osagie, C. Cassar, O. Sidibe, D. Leeflang
Referee: S. Pace
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, T. Debono
4th official: M. Spiteri
Scorers: R. Kooh Sohna 14, J. Farrugia 80 pen
Yellow cards: P. Borg, M. Davis, D. Scerri, C. Cassar, O. Sidibe
Player of the match: M. Davis (St Andrews)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Davis 2. J. Farrugia 3. S. Ousmane
For the most part, St Andrews had to dig in for a point after falling behind to Lija Athletic's opener, by their best striker Kooh Sohna, as early as the quarter hour in yesterday's match at the Centenary Stadium.
The Saints have a tendency to fold once they fall behind but here at least they fought back, equalising late through a Joseph Farrugia penalty. This was more than they deserved for all their possession as Lija handed them the initiative too early.
This leaves the Saints two points above Lija and lifts them one place above Naxxar Lions, 12th in the standings.
The pressure was on St Andrews to show some improvement after their poor run of three consecutive defeats in which they scored only once. The team, still officially without a coach for some weeks now, made three changes to the side that lost to Sliema Wanderers before the international break. Enmy Beltre', Kevaughn Atkinson and Kyle Butler replaced Azian, Miranda Gomez and Nehemiah in their starting line-up.
Lija had registered their first win after ten matches into the season against Tarxien Rainbows a fortnight before but they had Erjon Beu suspended yesterday.
The Saints' early flurry of attacking intent was soon restrained when Lija took the lead short of the quarter hour.
St Andrews tried to make their way back into the game but apart from some thrusts by Travis Davis from the right and a shot from a distance by Blagrove, they offered little in response until midway through the half a Farrugia free kick was tipped over the bar into a corner by the Lija keeper Bonnici.
St Andrews returned after the interval and pressed Lija back without managing to create any clear chances, except for a Farrugia free kick that sailed over the bar.
But when the Lija players looked like they had lost some of their composure, the Saints suddenly looked capable of capitalising.
A Beltre' effort narrowly missed the target and a shot from substitute Miranda Gomez was blocked, with Azian's headed effort cleared off the line by the Lija defender Borg, who was then forced off after sustaining an injury.
Reward for the Saints came ten minutes from the end when they were awarded a penalty after Leeflang felled Davis inside the area.
Captain Joseph Farrugia took the responsibility to tuck it away and make sure St Andrews take a deserved point.