VALLETTA                     0

BALZAN FC                   0

 

Report: Silvio Vella

Photos: James Galea

 

Valletta: H. Bonello, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, S. Malano, M. Piciollo (K. Nwoko), E. Beltre', J. Zerafa, R. Saleh, R. Muscat, M. Alba (M. Mifsud), A. Prosa

Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, S. Bezzina, M. Johnson, U. Ljubomirac,  I. Bozovic (J. Grioli), B. Kaljevic, P. Fenech, M. Lepovic, E. Serrano, A. Alves (R. Fenech), C. Mendes (A. Effiong)

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, L. Portelli

Additional asst.refs: M. Degabriele, E. Grech

4th official: D. Petrovic

Yellow cards: I. Bozovic, M. Alba, S. Bezzina, M. Lepovic, U. Ljubomirac, B. Kaljevic, J. Zerafa

Red cards: M. Lepovic, U. Ljubomirac

Player of the match: S. Malano (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. E. Beltre  2. P. Fenech   3. J. Zerafa

Attendance: 2,023

 

The top of the table clash finished goalless, with Balzan holding on to their three-point advantage over nearest rivals Valletta in their consistent league campaign.

It was a rather quiet affair that failed to warm the hearts on a sunny but cold afternoon at the National Stadium, with no goals in sight but seven yellow cards and two dismissals. The match however was played in sporting spirits and produced some flowing football from two sides with technical qualities.

With the two best defences of the Premier League thriving, it was little surprising that both sides preserved more clean sheets.

This was the sixth in the last eight matches for Balzan. Valletta have only conceded three goals in their last 11 matches.

Long stretches of the first half were positively stodgy, with most of the time the sides remaining too cautious and only occasionally looking threatening.

The second half looked slightly more lively, although it was played high on energy and low in terms of excitement.

Valletta made three changes from the side that drew with Sliema Wanderers the previous week. Steve Borg was suspended, with Pani left out of the squad and Nwoko relegated to the bench. Juan Cruz, Rowen Muscat and Albert Prosa were given starts instead.

Balzan also replaced De Oliveira with Elkin Serrano at the back and had Alex Alves returning from suspension, with Alfred Effiong named as a substitute.

But that changed nothing from the teams' usual tactical set-ups, with four at the back, a holding player in front of them, four across midfield and one advanced striker.

No wonder goalmouth action was in short supply.

 

The only two noteworthy episodes of a tight first half came from Valletta. Malano thumped his shot against the bar after 24 minutes and on the half hour Piciollo headed Beltre's cross inches wide.

Balzan were the first to look menacing after the interval. From a Mendes corner, the ball headed by Serrano just over.

On the other side, Piciollo robbed Bozovic of the ball from near the byeline, his cut back was met by Alba whose shot was deflected.

With both coaches aware that something had to change, Valletta introduced  Kyrian Nwoko for Piciollo while Balzan replaced Mendes with Effiong on 65 minutes.

Valletta were enjoying the edge in possession by then. They went close of making the breakthrough on 79 minutes. They won a free kick after Lepovic fouled Nwoko with a late tackle just outside the area. Malano's free kick flashed fractionally wide.

Balzan found space in the dying minutes but Zerafa was alert to block Ljubomirac who had received a square pass from Effiong.

Valletta's belated sustained pressure had other substitute Michael Mifsud almost capitalising on a Balzan defensive lapse, but shooting against the side netting from the right.

As tempers boiled, Balzan had two players, Lepovic and Ljubomirac sent off for two yellow cards, in separate incidents during five minutes of added time.

Finally order and a stalemate prevailed.

 

 

 

Hibernians' dominance produces no goals

 

MOSTA                0

HIBERNIANS       0

 

Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira, M. Sammartino, T. Veronese, K. Magro, D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, J. Ekani (Z. Brincat), D. Xuereb (K. Frendo), I. Maric, E. Agyemeng

Hibernians: A. Hogg, M. Kreuzriegler, J. Mbong, R. Gomes (D. Vella), J. Bezzina (J. Lima), C. Failla, J. Degabriele, B. Kristensen (A. Neto), J. Moreira, A. Agius, G. Gorozia

Referee: S. Spiteri

Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, W. Debattista

4th official: E. Mangion

Yellow cards: R. Gomes, B. Kristensen, M. Sammartino, A. Agius

Player of the match: J. Bezzina (Hibernians)

TMI top 3: 1. J. Bezzina  2. A. Vella  3. C. Failla

 

 

Report:  Silvio Vella

Photos: James Galea

 

These were two points dropped by Hibernians, who, despite all their dominance and ball possession, were held to a goalless draw by Mosta.

The final scoreline reflected the pattern of play because Hibernians were the better side. Yet for all their fluent play, and chances created, they suffered too much from a familiar lack of edge.

Hibernians' performance had been fluid, yet scrappy near keeper Andreas Vella's goal. Jurgen Degabriele, in particular, fluffed several chances. But it was far from a one-man failure. Moreira and Gorozia were also guilty of spurning chances.

Johann Bezzina, integral to most of Hibernians moves, enjoyed a decent game in midfield and often went himself for goal but the champions found the Mosta keeper in a vein of good form and denied them several times as well.

Coach Mark Miller could not be blamed for bemoaning lack of ruthlessnes and as the match progressed, he was left fuming for the fact that such dominance could not seal victory for his side.

Hibernians thus remain in sixth place, on equal points with Floriana, but trailing Birkirkara and Gzira United by two points, as they lose further ground from the top teams.

Mosta sat deep and rarely showed any offensive instinct. As time went by and Hibernians failed to make the breakthrough, the match progressed to their liking. The result means they have lost only once in their last four league matches.

Both teams went into this match following wins the previous week. Mosta had beaten Tarxien Rainbows while the champions beat Gzira United.

Hibernians had defender Rodolfo Soares suspended, Jorginho was not included in the squad and Jackson Lima was kept on the bench for 85 minutes.

Mosta gave a first start to new Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemeng, with Dexter Xuereb replacing Jan Tanti.

 

After 12 minutes, Mosta keeper Vella was called to turn a Failla long range shot into a corner. When Moreira played an inviting square pass to Degabriele, the latter hit tamely from inside the area.

A Gorozia effort went narrowly wide. Degabriele failed to conclude another chance midway through the half, when foiled by the onrushing Mosta keeper, after a delightful through ball by Kristensen.

The Paolites kept up their press but continued to fluff chances. On 39 minutes Bezzina persisted from the left, sent a low cross that was blocked into a corner by defender Farrugia. From an Mbong cross, following good work by Gorozia, Degabriele skied the ball from a promising position.

And before the break, Bezzina's rasping low shot narrowly missed the target.

Mosta rarely crossed the half-way line. The only time they threatened was towards the half hour. Ferreira  warmed Hogg's gloves with an angled shot from the right.

Hibernians remained in their attack versus defence mode even in the second half. The Mosta keeper twice held out shots from Bezzina and Failla. After Moreira headed Failla's cross over, Degabriele missed the most glaring opportunity on 65 minutes as he connected to Bezzina's low cross but completely missed the target.

With frustration creeping in the Hibernians' side, Mosta grew teeth. On 72 minutes, Agyemeng made progress towards the Hibernians goal from the right and was halted by Kristensen's tackle from behind. The ball, from Veronese's resultant free kick, landed on the roof of the net.

Substitute Arlindo Neto missed two other chances for the Paolites in the late stages. By then, however, doubts had already began intruding on those wearing black and white, inhibiting their failure to beat inferior opponents.