LIJA ATHLETIC 0
BALZAN FC 3
Lija A: L. Bonnici, M. Clinch (D. Agius), P. Borg, D. Scerri, L. Schembri, A. Sammut, H. Vilfor (R. Kooh Sohna), O. Sidibe, K. Hirose, E. Beu, R. Sammut (G. Borg)
Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, U. Ljubomirac, A. Effiong (J. Zerafa), H. Ascroft, B. De Oliveira, I. Bozovic, M. Lepovic (C. Brincat), S. Arab, J. Grioli (F. Attard), A. Alves, C. Mendes
Referee: D. Agius
Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: A. Effiong 31, C. Mendes 60 pen, S. Arab 71
Yellow cards: M. Clinch, C. Mendes
Player of the match: A. Alves (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Lepovic 2. A. Alves 3. E. Beu
Following two consecutive draws, leaders Balzan chalked up an important win, that their dominace merited, against cellar dwellers and neighbours Lija Athletic, that takes them four points clear above nearest challengers Valletta who play Birkirkara this afternoon.
Goals by Alfred Effiong in the first half, a Carlols Mendes penalty in the second and another from Siraj Arab soon after, condemned Lija to a ninth league defeat on the trot.
Almost constant incision to their domination of the ball left Lija gasping for breadth. At the heart of Balzan’s play, as it has been recently, was Milos Lepovic. The Serbian midfielder was his side’s orchestrator and creativity hub, with Alex Alves a constant menace to the Lija defence from the left flank.
Balzan coach Marko Micovic had to do without regular keeper Janjusevic, defender Johnson, midfielder Paul Fenech and striker Kaljevic as well as the suspended Elkin Serrano.
Lija had keeper Luke Bonnici back in goal, with Clinch and Patrick Borg returning in defence, following their elimination from the FA Trophy against same opponents the week before.
Balzan looked immediately lively and won a freekick just outside the Lija area but Mendes’ shot was turned into a corner by the grounded Lija keeper.
But Lija did not take long to settle into the game and with Beu and Hirose very much involved, the game quickly descended into a bitty midfield battle. On the quarter hour, Beu tried his luck from some distance and midway through the half, on a Schembri cross from the right, Beu backheeled the ball narrowly wide.
Balzan looked menacing as Alves enjoyed space in which to operate on the left. His insidious cross after 24 minutes was palmed out by keeper Bonnici and as the ball fell to Arab, he played it towards the middle for Lepovic to miss the target.
And when Alves floated another ball over the top of Lija’s defence, it was headed by Arab but blocked by the keeper.
Balzan’s attackers always had to take the adventurous route to get round the brawny pairing of Lija’s centre backs Sidibe and Borg.
Past the half hour, Sidibe’s clearance hit Borg and Alfred Effiong was quick to run through unhindered and scored with a sumptuous finish, coolly chipping the ball over the onrushing keeper Bonnici, to put Balzan in front.
That was the goal the half needed.
And before the break, Balzan could have established a more comfortable lead, only for Sidibe’s clearance, on a dangerous Arab cut-back cross, to undermine their efforts.
Balzan’s attacking impetus increased after the restart. Mendes put Alves going down the left. His shot was blocked into a corner by Bonnici’s outstretched leg.
On the hour, Lepovic played a diagonal pass for Alves to run inside the Lija area but was wrestled to the ground by Schembri. Carlos Mendes converted the penalty to put Balzan two up.
Balzan kept working harder than Lija and giving them no time on the ball. The result was that the leaders were a totally dominant force and put the match beyond the poor opponents on 71 minutes.
Sidibe failed to cut Effiong’s through pass and Siraj Arab could advance inside the Lija area, showing some neat footwork, and slide the ball low at the far post.
Tarxien fight back for a point but left to rue penalty miss
SLIEMA WANDERERS 1
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1
Sliema W: A. Cotticelli, K. Ameli (R. Spiteri), J. Pearson, F. Temile, M. Muchardi, E. Agius (M. Sansone) , J. Mintoff, R. Correa, P. Xuereb (F. Qeros), N. Milinceanu, K. Shaw
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, S. Radovanovic, E. Baker, G. Aquilina, A. Agius (M. Spiteri), L. Grech, A. Scicluna, S. Tounkara, W. Viera (M. Dieye), E. Calin, R. Faria
Referee: I. Barbara
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, T. Zammit
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: N. Milinceanu 25, G. Aquilina 30
Yellow cards: R. Correa, L. Grech, A. Scicluna, E. Calin
Player of the match: A. Cotticelli (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. W. Viera 2. R. Correa 3. G. Aquilina
Attendance: 375
This was a fair result but a frustrating one for Tarxien Rainbows, who glimpsed a precious three points, after cancelling out Sliema’s opener through Gabriel Aquilina but then missed a penalty through Ricardo Faria in the first half.
A win yesterday would have taken them out of the bottom three. But the draw means the Rainbows will continue to hover in the drop zone as they catch up with Naxxar Lions, a point adrift of St Andrews above them.
Sliema may not need points as urgently as Tarxien but surely they need grind out better results to stay in the top half of the standings. They have won only two of their last eight matches.
The continued absence of Mark Scerri and Jefferson De Assis through injury, indisputably affected Sliema’s creativity and their cutting edge against a Tarxien team with high salvation ambitions yesterday.
Ricardo Correa was their main source of menace yesterday but mostly from set pieces.
Sliema introduced a new Italian goalkeeper, Antonio Cotticelli, on loan from Benevento. He proved decisive with his penalty save off Faria after 32 minutes. The Wanderers also had central defender Stefano Bianciardi suspended, and Adamovic out of the squad as Jonathan Pearson started instead. Kilan Ameli was preferred to Sansone in a wide position in midfield.
Tarxien created the half’s first episode of note after 22 minutes, when, following a short Sliema clearance on Viera’s coss, Tounkara shot fractionally wide.
What meagre flair that was on show came initially from Nikolae Milinceanu, who seemed determined to prove his worth, with a well taken goal midway through the half. Temile went past Radovanovic from the right, played the ball through to the Moldovan striker to outpace the keeper and slot in the ball.This was only Milinceanu’s third league goal for the Wanderers this season.
That, however, had illuminated a slow burning match and spurred Tarxien to increase their efforts. On the half hour they levelled matters and what was worse for the Wanderers, the goal came from their former player Gabriel Aquilina, who had a first shot blocked by keeper Cotticelli but he made no mistake on the second attempt.
Tarxien were handed a glorious chance to take the lead immediately after. Faria’s shot was held by Mintoff’s arm inside the area and the Rainbows were awarded a penalty but Sliema keeper flung himself the right way to hold out Faria’s effort from the spot.
Sliema started the better in the second half. Temile went past Grech from the right, cut towards the middle but placed his shot well over.
Tarxien did improve after that and also threatened two minutes later when Aquilina ran in from the blind side to connect to Viera’s cross but missed the target. Towards the hour, Baker’s firm header, off a Calin corner, rebounded off the Sliema keeper’s body and was deflected into a corner.
The Wanderers might have been unlucky when twice denied by the woodwork within as many minutes. Correa whipped a free kick from the right that both Milinceanu and keeper Vella failed to connect to and the ball rebounded off the upright.
Then, on another Correa free kick from the left, Shaw reached before the Tarxien keeper but headed against the bar.
Sliema finished the stronger side with keeper Vella just intercepting Spiteri’s low cross before other substitute Qeros could connect and Milinceanu tested Vella with the last shot of the match as Tarxien held on for a point.
Gzira and Floriana share spoils in unattractive match
Gzira U. 0
Floriana 0
Gzira U.: J. Haber, R. Briffa, C. Gatt Baldacchino, D. Mambouana, K. Thackray, M. Avila Perez (H. Garba), E. Zarate Bilbao (N. Muscat), A. Cohen (J. Corbolan), Z. Scerri, A. Samb, N. Okoye
Floriana: I. Akpan, S. Nayar, E. Pepe, S. Pisani, J. Cabral, J. Pisani, M. Paolucci (D. Grima), A. Cini, A. Oyama, M. Fontanella, E. Marcelina.
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, D. Petrovic
4th official: C. Pisani
Yellow cards: N. Okoye, E. Zarate Bilbao, A. Cohen, A. Cini
Player of the match: A. Cohen
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Cohen, 2. E. Marcelina, 3. C. Gatt Baldacchino
Attendance: 534
Gzira and Floriana shared the spoils in a goalless draw in an unattractive match.
It was a match dominated by the two defences which were superior to the opposing forwards.
The point enabled Gzira to occupy third place alone, one ahead of Birkirkara, who have today’s match against Valletta in hand.
The only positive aspect in this match was perhaps the excellent performance of two players – Andrew Cohen for Gzira and Emerson Marcelina for Gzira. They were their respective team’s midfield generals.
For the Greens, the point did not satisfy them a lot as they remained four points behind the Maroons. Most probably they will now have to lay their hopes for a berth in the Europa League next season on winning the FA Trophy.
The first half was rather poor with little action in front of both goals.
Floriana were perhaps more adventurous as they enjoyed a little bit more possession, but apart from not testing goalie Haber seriously, they also failed to produce a single decent shot towards the Gzira goal.
The same can be said about Gzira who, although never dominated, were forced to play second fiddle to the more methodic Floriana side.
The Maroons also failed to test Floriana goalie Akpan except on one occasion. Otherwise Samb and Okoye were well under the control of the Floriana defence.
In the second half, the pattern did not change much with the Greens enjoying slightly more possession but rarely, if ever, testing goalie Haber seriously.
Gzira again were forced to defend but when they attacked, they also lacked flair and only once did they create a clearcut chance, which they missed.
The first action arrived on the 15th minute with the Greens threatening through a Juninho Cabral header which went just over the bar.
A lot of midfield play ensued, but after the 30th minute, Haber had to deal with a long distance lob from Paolucci, while at the other end, Andrew Cohen had a low shot going wide of Akpan’s right upright.
On 39 minutes, Gzira earned a freekick from just outside the area, but Cohen’s shot was turned to corner with difficulty by Akpan.
In the 54th minute, off A Cohen pass, goalie Akpan rushed out of his charge to anticipate Samb.
At the other end, Nayar attempted a long distance freekick which Haber dealt with confidently.
Moises Avila Perez missed a good chance to put Gzira in the lead when off another Cohen cross, he miskicked the ball from an ideal scoring position.
On 64 minutes, Cohen set Okoye in midfield, but the latter’s attempt, with Akpan out of position, flew well over the bar.
Four minutes later, a dangerous Jurgen Pisani low cross was missed by Fontanella and Oyama in front of goal.
In the late stages of the game, the game degenerated as it became evident that it was more important for either side not to lose.
In the 87th minute, Akpan dealt confidently with a low Haruna shot
Ivan Paz gives Senglea three precious points
Senglea 2
St Andrews 1
Senglea: M. Farrugia, R. Vella, J. Bondin, S. Uyi, J. Leyton, M. Garzia, H. Vella (S. Bonnici), I. Paz, T. Vella, A. Caseres (P. Sammut), B. Gregori (B. Volpini)
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, M. Gomez, T. Azian, M. Grima (K. Atkinson), J. Farrugia, J. Van de Lannote, M. Gauci, J. Walker (T. Blagrove), D. Jackson, K. Reid
Referee: S. Spiteri
Asst refs: L. Portelli, P. Abela
4th official: E. Grech
Scorers: M. Garzia, J. Farrugia, I. Paz
Yellow cards: M. Grima, J. Van de Lannote, M. Gauci, M. Calleja Cremona, T. Blagrove, J. Leyton
Player of the match: Ivan Paz
TMI Top 3: 1. I. Paz, 2. J. Farrugia, 3. T. Vella
Former St Andrews player Ivan Paz was a Senglea hero yesterday as his 82nd minute goal gave his side three precious points from their direct relegation clash against St Andrews.
Earlier, Garzia had given the yellow reds a third minute lead which J. Farrugia temporarily cancelled on 77 minutes.
The three points have pushed Senglea to the 22-point mark, just one below Mosta, though still in 10th place. But they are now a good six points above the same St Andrews.
Play was more or less balanced in the first half, but Senglea were more direct in their approach and created more chances than the Saints who lacked punch up front.
Senglea were in command as they took an early lead which they then administered quite comfortably till the end of the half.
The Saints tried hard to get going, but found it really hard to penetrate, so much so that Senglea goalie Farrugia was never really tested.
In the second half, the Saints pushed forward with much more determination, but they still found it hard to score before they eventually equalised. But then they suffered a killer blow as Paz scored Senglea’s winner soon after. All their efforts to get back on level terms till the end proved fruit less and it was Senglea who missed two glorious chances in added time.
The yellow reds managed to take the lead in the third minute. From an Ivan Paz freekick, it was Matias Garzia who headed into the net from close in.
The Saints responded with another freekick. From Farrugia’s kick, it was Azian who breasted the ball down to Gomez who, however, fired over the bar.
In the 24th minute, Senglea went close to adding a second goal when from a Paz cross, Terence Vella controlled well only to see his fine volley hitting the crossbar.
In the 35th minute, Calleja Cremona was called into action to save a Vella shot deviated towards goal by a St Andrews defender.
In the 43rd minute from an Azian pass, Farrugia saw his shot being blocked by a Senglea defender.
Just before the interval, an Ivan Paz freekick sailed harmlessly over the post.
Soon after the start of the second half, off a Farrugia freekick, Azian saw his header saved by Farrugia.
At the other end, Senglea’s Gregori twice threatened to score. First he had a good effort going over and moments later, he advanced unhindered only to see Calleja Cremona blocking his effort.
St Andrews replied with a good effort from Gomez, but the ball went just over the post. The same Gomez again had a good effort going just wide on 67 minutes.
In the 77th substitute Blagrove had a header saved by Farrugia, but a minute later, St Andrews finally equalised through captain Farrugia who hit home after receiving from Azian.
Their joy was, however, shortlived as Senglea regained the lead five minutes later. It was man of the match Ivan Paz who fired home an excellent freekick which beat goalie Calleja Cremona all ends up.
Just before the end, with goalie Calleja Cremona in the Senglea area in search of an equaliser, the ball was cleared upfield and Volpini’s effort from midfield into an unguarded net went just wide. Soon after it was Terence Vella who saw his shot hitting the upright in another fast Senglea counter attack.