BALZAN FC 2

MOSTA 0     

Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, U. Ljubomirac (A. Alves), A. Effiong, E. Serrano, P. Fenech, J. Grioli (J. Borg), H. Ascroft, S. Bezzina, B. Kaljevic (S. Arab),  M. Lepovic, C. Mendes

Mosta: A. Vella, I. Bangoura (J. Grech), G. Nuti (Z. Brincat), T. Veronese, K. Frendo (J. Tanti), D. Mansi, D. Bartulovic, T. Farrugia, M. Soare, D. Xuereb, I. Maric

Referee: A.M. Sant

Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Apap

4th official: M. Apap

Scorers: M. Lepovic 25, J. Borg 85

Yellow cards: I. Maric, D. Xuereb, A. Effiong

Player of the match: M. Lepovic (Balzan)

TMI top 3: 1. P. Fenech 2. M. Lepovic 3. D. Xuereb

Balzan keep showing the consistency of champions. They must feel like they are within touching distance of that crown on an afternoon Micovic’s side cantered to their 15th win of the season, against inferior Mosta, and stay above nearest challengers Valletta.

Balzan’s destiny will boil down to how well they can navigate their passage through the final three games against Tartxien Rainbows, Senglea Athletic and Hibernians.

Mosta presented few problems for a Balzan side whose strength in depth was again evident, with Paul Fenech and Milos Lepovic excellent in midfield and Carlos Mendes bullish with set pieces.

The leaders were in total control in the first half. They went ahead through Milos Lepovic and Effiong hit the post.

They dominated more possession and territory during the second half but sharpness eluded them, even because Mosta remained passive and tight at the back. They finally made sure of the points with a late second goal through substitute Jacob Borg.

Balzan had Bojan Kaljevic back after suspension, but Bozovic and keeper Janjusevic did not recover from injuries, with Justin Grioli given a start at right back and Mintoff deputising in goal. Harry Ascroft also played alongside Elkin Serrano in the centre of defence, instead of Michael Johnson, with Alex Alves exiled to the bench.

Mosta rang the changes yesterday as they tried to arrest the slump, having won none of their previous five matches. Only five players, Thomas Veronese, Tyron Farrugia, Dexter Xuereb and Damir Bartulovic, as well as goalkeeper Andreas Vella, from the eleven who lost against Gzira United the previous week, kept their place in the side.

Johann Scicluna’s side showed endeavour but offered little in the way of an attacking threat and could hardly get a sniff at the Balzan goal in a game that always felt like an exercise in damage limitation.

Balzan gained the upperhand, after a probing first part of the half, with the opening goal on 25 minutes. Milos Lepovic’s grounder from outside the area surpeised keeper Vella, probably unsighted by the players in front of him, as it hit the back of the net.

Effiong twice went very close of putting Balzan further ahead. Towards the half hour he headed Leboivic’s cross but the ball was turned into a corner by the Mosta keeper.

And before the break, on a Mendes corner from the right, Effiong headed against the upright.

Mosta barely left their half in the second period and Balzan increased their dominance but struggled to find openings.

A Fenech shot on 68 minutes was saved in two attempts by keeper Vella.

Mosta produced a rare threat on 80 minutes as Bartulovic chased a long ball inside the Balzan area but hit it well over.

This one-sided contest was over five minutes from the end as Balzan scored their second, with two substitutes involved. Alves, who had goen in for Ljubomirac, sent a low cross from the left which was missed by all and sundry but other substitute Jacob Borg, steaming from the right, could blast the ball past the helpless Mosta keeper.

Mifsud strikes late to revive Valletta’s hopes

ST ANDREWS                     0

VALLETTA                           1

St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, M. Miranda Gomez, J. Farrugia, J. Vandelannoite, R. Martin, T. Azian (J. Walker), K. Atkinson (D. Zampa), M. Grima, K. Reid, T. Blagrove

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

Referee: F. Zammit

Asst.refs: L. Portelli, M. Scerri

4th official: M. Degabriele

Scorers: M. Mifsud 90+

Yellow cards: R. Martin, K. Atkinson, S. Borg

TMI top 3: 1.

Attendance: 734

Deep into five minutes of added time, substitute Michael Mifsud struck Valletta’s winning goal, against stubborn St Andrews, that enabled his side to reduce the gap with Balzan back to one point, after the leaders had won their match earlier.

Valletta’s efforts to step up their challenge in the title race, looked like suffering a setback as St Andrews had managed to shut them out during normal time.

Valletta have been in a consistent run of form, coming into the clash on the back of nine unbeaten league matches.

And the confidence generated by recent results was evident in a positive start in which they dominated early possession and created several chances. Only the goals failed to come in the first half.

In the second half, though still superior, the Citizens looked less convincing and their confidence drained as they missed several chances until Mifsud revived their hopes.

They had both defenders Emy Beltre’ and Joseph Zerafa absent yesterday, with Romeu Romao and Jean Borg playing instead.

St Andrews had Mathew Gauci suspended and he was replaced by Ricardo Martin in midfield.

St Andrews played well enough to suggest they can end the season on an optimistic note. They might have felt aggrieved that they were left with nothing to show for all their efforts, paying the price for a momentary lapse of concentration in defence. The Saints remain in 12th place, teteering above the relegation zone, with matches against Lija, Birkirkara and Tarxien Rainbows still to play.

Most of Valletta’s efforts were blocked by St Andrews’ two central defenders Vandelannoite and Blagrove, who manned the barricades with tremendous defiance.

As expected, Valletta, inspired by Matteo Piciollo’s bristling pace, were sharp in possession, passing the ball crisply.

The Saints had to absorb some concerted early pressure as Valletta created a couple of decent chances within the first 20 minutes. Piciollo’s angled effort from the left was blocked into a corner and as the same player ran down the left, minutes later, his cross was cut by Vandelannoite before Prosa could connect.

On 18 minutes, a Prosa close header was blocked by Calleja Cremona’s stretched arms.

Saleh exchanged passes with  Malano but put his effort off target.

Valletta’s best chance came on the half hour. Alba’s cross was hooked by Piciollo, whose effort rebounded off the post. Muscat’s shot on the loose ball was blocked by Vandelannoite and Saleh failed to put his effort on target.

The woodwork came to both sides’ rescue shortly before halftime. Piciollo was again denied, hitting the upright before Malano shot wide.

On the other end, Azian thumped his shot against the bar in St Andrews’ only real threat during the opening 45 minutes.

Aware that Valletta needed more cutting edge, coach Danilo Doncic introduced Michael Mifsud, for the wasteful Saleh, for the second half.

Mifsud immediately tested keeper Calleja Cremona, with his low drive footed out by the Saints’ shot stopper.

And towards the hour, from a Alba corner, Mifsud’s shot was blocked by several St Andrews bodies.

Valletta kept whipping crosses inside the Saints’ area but more with panic rather than conviction. And as the breakthrough failed to come, frustration  was growing at some points in the stands after missed chances.

With Nwoko also going in for the injured Muscat, Valletta lost their shape in midfield for the final half hour.

St Andrews almost punished them on 67 minutes when Atkinson shot against the outerside of the post from near the byeline on the right.

Spared that scare, Valletta created another chance through Alba’s inviting cross but Prosa headxed over.

Valletta keeper Bonello had been mostly untorubled but seven minutes from the end, he repelled Atkinson’s shot into a corner with some difficulty.

The match looked heading for a goalless draw until Michael Mifsud pounced on a harmless ball inside the area to score Valletta’s winner in added time. And send the Valletta fans in raptures.

Fontanella gives Greens three precious points

Floriana            2

Naxxar L.          0

Floriana: M. Grech, S. Nayar, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, M. Vella, J. Cabral, J. Pisani, A. Cini, D. Grima (D. Grima), M. Fontanella (B. Sciberras), E. Marcelina.

Naxxar L.: L. Polli Gomes, R. Santos Caetano, M. Souza Duarte (D. Falzon), R. Grech, M. Micallef, R. Cassar, M. Casarotto (D. Bonnici), M. Fenech, E. Ndoye, D. Belhadj, Y. Messias.

Referee: E. Grech.

Asst refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic.

4th official: T. F. Cann.

Scorers: M. Fontanella 2,

Yellow cards: M. Souza Duarte, E. Ruiz,

Player of the match: M. Fontanella.

TMI Top 3: 1. M. Fontanella, 2. E. Ndoye, 3. M. Vella.

Naxxar Lions suffered a setback to their hopes of avoiding relegation when yesterday they suffered yet another defeat at the hands of Floriana.

Strikes by Mario Fontanella – one in each half - were enough for the Greens to take three precious points to maintain their chase for a third or 4th place which might land them a berth in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

Floriana, missing international striker Steve Pisani through suspension and regular goalie Akpan, remain in 5th place on 41 points, three behind third placed Birkirkara, with three matches remaining.

 Floriana enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but after taking a very early lead, they failed to add to their tally as Naxxar improved considerably at the back.

The Lions also had their own moments and should have scored at least once, but Casarotto missed a very good opportunity midway through the half and the Lions had to continue playing second fiddle.

The match had barely gone into the 2nd minute and Floriana were already in the lead. A colossal defensive blunder by Naxxar goalie Polli Gomes and a defence colleague, allowed Juninho Cabral to take possession and pass to the unmarked Mario Fontanella, who had absolutely no difficulty in planting the ball into the unguarded net from two metres.

Naxxar’s reply arrived on the 9th minute. After a Marcelina blunder in midfield, Messias took control and advanced only to see his fine effort from the edge of the area going just over the post.

In the 17th minute, Floriana had a Cabral freekick going just wide.

Naxxar missed a glaring opportunity to equalise on 20 minutes when Floriana goalie Grech missed a ball on the edge of the area. It ran kindly to Casarotto, but his lob sailed harmlessly over the bar.

Floriana, helped with the wind blowing from behind their backs, maintained the initiative and an Enrico Pepe shot failed to find the target.

Till the end of the first 45 minutes, Floriana remained firmly in control, but never really came close to scoring again.

Naxxar showed more determination as the second half started. In fact, in the 50th minute, Belhadj had a low shot well saved by the diving Grech.

In the 62nd minute, Naxxar goalie Polli Gomes had to rush out of his lines to anticipated substitute Borg Castaldi.

 In the 65th minute, a fine move by Floriana between Marcelina, Vella and Borg Castaldi ended with the latter’s flick going wide.

Two minutes later, the Greens scored their second goal. From a Maurizio Vella freekick, it was Mario Fontanella who anticipated goalie Polli Gomes to head into the net.

Soon after, at the other end, from a Daren Falzon freekick, Santos Caetano headed over the bar from an ideal scoring position.

On 79 minute, goalie Polli Gomes had to dive sideways to turn to corner a Vella good effort.

In the 86th minute, Jurgen Debono had a shot partially saved by Grech, but Micallef hit badly and Ruiz could clear the ball away.

Four minutes from the end, Floriana almost added a third when a Cabral shot was partially saved by Polli Gomes. The rebound by Fontanella was also blocked on the line by the goalie with the ball eventually cleared to corner.

Two free-kicks and a penalty give Sliema the win

ĦAMRUN S.                       2

SLIEMA W.                         3

Ħamrun: S. Sultana, K. Micallef (J. Galea 71’), T. Souza de Silveira (T. Caruana 76’), D. Zerafa, T. Espindola, D. Camilleri, G. De Castro, A. Faria, M. Criaco, L. Micallef, A. Nilsson

Sliema: G. Zammit, J. Mintoff, K. Shaw, S. Biancardi, A. Ni Nortney, M. Muchardi, E. Agius, M. Sansone (J. De Assis 81’), F. Qeros, R. Calisto, F. Temile

Yellow Cards: G. De Castro, D. Zerafa, T. Souza de Silveira, K. Micallef (Ħ), R. Calisto (S)

Scorers: M. Muchardi 21’, 51’, R. Calisto 48’ (S), A. Faria 25’, K. Shaw og 27’ (Ħ)

Referee: Darryl Agius

Assistant Referees: Edwar Spiteri, Chris Francalanza

Attendance: 456

Two goals in the beginning of the second half proved to be decisive for Sliema Wanderers as they defeated Ħamrun Spartans by the odd-goal in five. This game didn’t have a particular importance as both teams were in the middle of the table, but this win saw Sliema climb momentarily above Floriana and Hibernians while also kept their slim hopes alive to finish in fourth place.

Ħamrun coach Jacques Scerri made three changes from the team that defeated Naxxar a week ago. Steve Sultana returned in goal instead of Jake Galea, while Karl Micallef and Guilherme de Castro took the place of Cristian Zaccardo and Triston Caruana. On the other hand John Buttigieg kept faith in the same eleven that beat St. Andrews.

The Spartans almost took the lead after just three minutes with a good save by Glenn Zammit and later Stefano Biancardi cleared off the line to save his team in the early stages of the game. Sliema replied with a free-kick from the right side by Ricardo Calisto but Steve Sultana had no trouble to save the ball

John Buttigieg’s team opened the score almost in the middle of the first half as midfielder Matias Muchardi beat Sultana with a brilliant free-kick in the top corner.

Ħamrun’s reaction was fruitful enough to level the game four minutes. Artur Faria took advantage from a blunder by Glenn Zammit and the Sliema defence, and scored from outside the box in an empty net. Two minutes later, Ħamrun went ahead. Lydon Micallef entered the penalty area from the left side and tried to cross from the left side, but the ball was deflected by Kurt Shaw and ended up beating his own goalkeeper.

Before the end of the first half, Frank Temile tried twice. On the 40th minute he tried with a low shot that finished off centimetres wide, and three minutes later, Temile tried with a header but again missed the target.

Sliema equalised in the first action of the second half. It was again a free-kick but this time taken by left footer Ricardo Calisto that hammered past Sultana. Three minutes later, the Blues were awarded a penalty after referee Darryl Agius ordered a penalty for a foul by Daniel Zerafa on Frenci Qeros. Matias Muchardi scored the second goal of the game as he made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The Wanderers had the opportunity to double to their lead on the 72nd minute. Edmond Agius unmarked himself to prepare to shoot but his effort was blocked well by Sultana. Sliema controlled the last efforts by Ħamrun to open up a five-point gap over them.