Naxxar L 0
Balzan 0
Naxxar L.: C. Nicht, SJ Fenwick, R. Grech (D. Falzon), M. Micallef, D. Bonnici, J. Debono (D. Bustos), A. Buhagiar, E. Ndoye, A. Cascaval, A. Mendy, Y. Messias (J. Ellul).
Balzan: S. Mintoff, J. Borg, A. Effiong, E. Serrano Valero, U. Ljubomirac, M. Lepovic, B. Kaljevic, P. Fenech, A. Da Paixao Alves, B. Gilio de Oliveira, J. Grioli (R. Fenech).
Referee: P. Farrugia.
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, M. Scerri.
4th official: S. Spiteri.
Yellow cards: A. Da Paixao Alves, S. Fenwick, E. Ndoye, A. Effiong,
Player of the match: M. Lepovic.
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Mendy; 2. P. Fenech; 3. E. Ndoye.
Lowly Naxxar Lions stunned League leaders Balzan yesterday holding them to a goalless draw as they earned a precious point in their quest to avoid relegation.
Despite this setback, Balzan are assured of remaining leaders at least this weekend. On their part, Naxxar have moved onto the 10-point mark.
This was a match in which Balzan dominated especially in the second half when Naxxar missed the services of the injured Messias. But they defended in an organised manner as they continuously thwarted the Balzan strike force.
In the first half, Balzan enjoyed slightly more possession, and attacked more than their opponents, but Naxxar did not stare at them either and also had their good moments, probably also creating the best scoring chances.
The Lions were also unlucky in this opening half as they were forced to make two substitutions after Ryan Grech and Yuri Messias were injured and could not continue playing.
In the second half, Balzan's dominance brought a lot of pressure on the Naxxar fort, but Mendy, Ndoye and their team-mates played courageously all the way to keep their fort intact.
The first goalmouth action arrived on 14 minutes and it was Balzan who threatened. Kaljevic set Effiong who advanced unhindered into the Naxxar area only to see his low effort going agonisingly wide of the upright.
At the other end, two minutes later, a Messias cross had Mintoff in difficulty, but the Balzan goalie did well to palm the ball away from danger.
In the 27th minute, Naxxar went even closer to taking the lead. Bonnici advanced on the left flank and crossed low for Yuri Messias to hit first time only for the ball to hit the crossbar. The ball went out to Jurgen Debono who hit well over the bar from an ideal position.
Messias was injured in this action and was even taken to hospital. He was replaced by Joel Ellul.
On 32 minutes, Jacob Borg's low and dangerous cross was palmed out by goalie Nicht, just before Effiong could apply the finishing touch.
In the 40th minute, Lepovic set Kaljevic in the Naxxar area, but the latter's shot was turned to corner in style by the diving Nicht.
Before the interval, Naxxar again went close when off a cross from the right, Cascaval headed goalwards and substitute Falzon anticipated goalie Mintoff only to see his header going just over the bar.
Balzan went all out in search of a goal at the start of the second half, but had to wait till the 66th minute to create the first scoring opportunity. From a Ryan Fenech freekick, Alves headed forward for Effiong to incredibly miss an open goal with a header.
Balzan continued to dominate, but chances were few and far between. On 69 minutes, Alves was thwarted by Nicht who saved.
Naxxar defended grimly, but in the 89th minute, Balzan missed a glorious chance when Paul Fenech came face to face with Nicht, but saw the Lions goalie blocking his attempt.
Just before the final whistle, following a Ryan Fenech freekick, it was Lepovic who saw his header going just over.
Hamrun register a double over Tarxien
Hamrun S 2
Tarxien R 1
Hamrun S.: S. Sultana, T. Souza da Silveira, D. Zerafa, M. Criaco, GF De Castro, C. Zaccardo, D. Succi (J. Galea), T. Espindola de Paula, T. Caruana, D. Camilleri (L. Sciberras), L. Micallef (WB Bokila).
Tarxien R.: A. Chetcuti, M. Traore, E. Baker, G. McKay, M. Dieye, A. Agius (M. Desira Buttigieg), L. Grech, AC Scicluna, A. Benes (J. Brincat), R. Faria, S. Cipriott (A. Azzopardi).
Referee: M. Degabriele.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard.
4th official: F. Zammit.
Scorers: T. Souza da Silveira, M. Criaco, R. Faria,
Yellow cards: T. Souza da Silveira, E. Baker, T. Caruana, M. Criaco, G. McKay
Player of the match: D. Camilleri.
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Camilleri; 2. D. Succi; 3. R. Faria.
Attendance: 421.
Hamrun Spartans consolidated their mid-table position as they beat lowly Tarxien Rainbows in yesterday's second match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
In so doing, they also started the second round on a top note to also keep alive their hopes of eventually earning an Europa League berth next season. It was also a double win for the Spartans who had beaten the Rainbows 4-1 in the first round match.
The Spartans now move on to the 23-point mark, while Tarxien remain on 10 points.
Hamrun were in command for most of the match, but near the end, Tarxien bridged the gap and the Spartans had to fight hard to keep the Rainbows at bay.
The Spartans enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the first half as they surged forward in search of goal which arrived midway through the half.
The Spartans were by far the better team on the field of play as they took control of midfield, keeping their opponents in their own half for most of the time.
In the second half, the Rainbows tried hard to get back on level terms as they also created some chances of their own, but when they suffered a second goal, it seemed to be all over for them, until they reduced the gap from a penalty. However, it was not enough for them to save the match.
In the 5th minute, Hamrun had their first pot at the Tarxien goal - a shot by De Castro which went over the bar.
In the 12th minute, as Hamrun continued to attack, it was Criaco who shot over following a cornerkick action.
Tarxien replied four minutes later as Faria set Matar Dieye who advanced into the Spartans area, but his effort was turned to corner by goalie Sultana.
Hamrun took the lead in the 20th minute when off an Espindola freekick, Tiago Souza da Silveira headed into the Tarxien net.
Just before the interval whistle, Hamrun almost added a second goal when from an Espindola short freekick, Succi came face to face with goalie with goalie Chetcuti, but the latter blocked the Hamrun player's effort.
Soon after the restart, Tarxien threatened through an Andrew Agius shot which was blocked by a Hamrun defender.
The Spartans added a second goal in the 56th minute when Dale Camilleri passed to Davide Succi who in turn set Marco Criaco for the latter to hit home past Chetcuti.
In the 59th minute, after some good work by Dale Camilleri, Zaccardo crossed into the Tarxien goalmouth, but the ball passed across goal with no takers in sight.
Succi missed a sitter for Hamrun on 67 minutes. Face to face with goalie Chetcuti, he just passed the ball weakly into the safe hands of the Tarxien goalie.
On 76 minutes, Azzopardi had a shot well saved by Sultana to corner, but from the cornerkick, the official noted an infringement in the Spartans area and awarded Tarxien a penalty. From the spotkick, Ricardo Faria made no mistake.
Tarxien now pressed for an equaliser, but the nearest they went to scoring was through a McKay crossshot which passed threateningly across goal.
Valletta close gap on Balzan with Denni winner
Mosta 0
Valletta 1
Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira (N. Frendo), Z. Brincat (D. Xuereb), T. Veronese, K. Magro, D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, R. Ekani, G. Blessing, I. Maric, D. Nworah (K. Frendo)
Valletta: N. Vella, R. Camilleri, D. Dos Santos (U. Umeh), M. Piciollo, K. Nwoko (S. Malano), J. Borg, J. Zerafa, R. Saleh, C. Pani (N. Pulis), R. Muscat, R. Romau
Referee: E. Grech
Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap
4th official: S. Pace
Scorers: D. Dos Santos 4
Yellow cards: K. Magro, D. Dos Santos, I. Maric, T. Veronese
Player of the match: M. Piciollo (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Piciollo 2. L. Ferreira 3. C. Pani
Attendance: 585
Leaders Balzan to one point by beating Mosta on an afternoon when the result mattered more than the performance.
Denni Dos Santos' early goal proved sufficient for a narrow win, as the Citizens bounced back from defeat against Gzira United the previous week.
Mosta certainly made it a more awkward afternoon than many people had expected, with Ferreira and Blessing catching the eye in attack and Ekani also impressive on the right flank.
Valletta raced out of the blocks and the difference in sharpness between the two teams was emphasised by the opening goal after four minutes. Piciollo played the ball square to Denni Dos Santos, his shot taking a slight deflection to beat keeper Andreas Vella.
To their credit, Mosta were not demoralised, even if three minutes later they were forced to withdraw the injured Zac Brincat. They should have at least got an equaliser before halftime.
They were unlucky when, upon their first real threat midway through the half, Nworah's long range drive rebounded off the bar.
On the half hour, Blessing saw his first-time effort, on Ekani's cross, saved at point-blank range by the Valletta keeper.
Switching roles up front, Ferreira and Blessing gave the Valletta defence constant headaches.
Valletta could only get one other sight at the Mosta goal in the first half. Piciollo broke from midfield, played the ball to Saleh who placed it narrowly off target.
The game became more even in the second half even if Mosta, lacking the creativity of Zarate in midfield, were allowed to break down the flanks with remarkable ease at times.
Ferreira was put through by Farrugia but was blocked by the onrushing Valletta keeper. On the hour, Ferreira beat the Valletta offside trap on Magro's pass, but Blessing failed to reach for his cross shot. An Ekani tame shot, on a Veronese cross, was well saved by keepr Nicky Vella.
On the other end, a Denni Dos Santos rasping shot was turned over the bar into a corner by the Mosta keeper, who also footed out an effort from substitute Malano, who had gone in for Nwoko. Belief started to echo among the Valletta fans as their side started to get forward more promptly. Piciollo blazed his shot from the right across the face of the Valletta goal.
Mosta lost some cutting edge with the injury of Ferreira on 75 minutes and in the late stages the game started to boil over in a series of unseemly clashes. Veronese was lucky to escape with only a yellow card after his shove on Romao.
Mosta pressed on for some late consolation but this time they could not find a way through.
Senglea revival continues with win against Sliema
Senglea A 3
Sliema W 0
Senglea A: M. Farrugia, R. Vella (S. Bonnici), J. Bondin, S. Uyi, J. Leyton, M. Garzia (M. Del Negro), I. Paz, N. Virano, T. Vella, N. Palmieri, P. Sammut (R. Dalli)
Sliema W: G. Zammit, J. De Assis, M. Muchardi, R. Spiteri (R. Correa), N. Milinceanu, S. Biancardi, M. Scerri, E. Agius, J. Pearson, J. Mintoff, G. Adamovic ( F. Qeros)
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic
4th official: D. Agius
Scorers: T. Vella 8, 75 pen, P. Sammut 49
Yellow cards: R. Vella, J. Leyton, M. Scerri, N. Palmieri, J. Mintoff, J. De Assis
Player of the match: T. Vella (Senglea A)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Bondin 2. R. Vella 3. M. Muchardi
Senglea Athletic comfortably dismantled Sliema Wanderers in a 3-0 victory at Hibernians Stadium, with a brace from Terence Vella and another from Peter Sammut.
After victory against Naxxar Lions, a second on the trot against Sliema hinted at momentum under coach Paolo Favaretto.
Senglea worked tirelessly and defended expertly for the three points on an afternoon when their opponents looked short of ideas and lacked that steely character to come back into the contest after finding themselves on the backfoot early in the game.
Even without the suspended Caseres, and with Terracciano left on the bench, Senglea should take positives from the physical determination with which they went about their task and largely kept Sliema at arm's length.
A goal, after eight minutes, put them early in the driving seat. Terence Vella picked Virano's pass wide on the right and curled a low cross shot past Biancardi that completely surprised the Sliema keeper Zammit, when disracted by Palmieri's presence in front of goal.
Senglea's hopes of trying to stifle the Wanderers worked as the first half progressed and John Buttigieg's side struggled for tempo and rhythm.
The Wanderers had Mark Scerri starting in midfield instead of Sansone, Ryan Spiteri replacing the injured Temile and Jonathan Pearson playing as centre back, with Stefano Biancardi moving wide on the left in a for-man defence.
They had plenty of possession on the fringes of the Senglea area but they were frequently too narrow and they struggled to pick the killer pass.
Matthew Farrugia in the Senglea goal was never overworked, except when turning a De Assis effort into a corner, towards the half hour, after Milinceanu had headed down the ball to him inside the Senglea area.
Senglea could have done better on the counter, as Sliema pressed, but the diligence with which they held their lead excused any inattention further forward.
The first half drifted by with little in the way of penalty box action.
Sliema put in Ricardo Correa for Spiteri at the start of the second half but suffered a further setback, conceding Senglea's second goal hardly four minutes after the restart.
Peter Sammut robbed Mintoff of the ball on the left, played a deft one-two with Palmieri and placed the ball low beyond keeper's reach at the far post.
Slima needed to summon more ruthlessness in attack to break a Senglea defence marshalled superbly by Jonathan Bondin and Randal Vella.
On 56 minutes Milinceanu's header had the Senglea keeper beaten but Bondin cleared off the line. Keeper Farrugia was twice called to hold out long range shots by Scerri.
Otherwise Sliema's attacking play lacked urgency and rhythm with Milinceanu struggling to get involved.
Senglea did not sit deep for the entirety of the contest and struck a third goal on 75 minutes. Terence Vella was again involved, as he converted a penalty after Biancardi floored Sammut inside the Sliema area.
For the second time in seven days, Senglea were left with something to cherish.