Naxxar relegated despite easy win
Naxxar L. 3
Senglea A. 0
Naxxar L: C. Nicht, R. Santos Henriques Caetano, M. Souza Duarte Junior, R. Grech (R. Cassar 72 min), M. Micallef, D. Bonnici(P.S. Ellul 88 min), J. Debono (M. Fenech 79 min), D. Bustos, M. Verissimo Casarotto, D. Belhadj, Y. Messias.
Senglea A: J. Borg (M. Farrugia 83 min), J. Bondin, S. Bonnici, S. Uyi, J. Leyton, H. Vella, G. Virano (B. Volpini 46 min), I. Paz, A. Caseres, B. Gregori, P. Sammut (J. Spiteri 25 min).
Referee: Kreshmik Cyapi (Albania)
Ass. Referees: Melis Dervishi, Devis Korreshi (Albania)
Fourth Official: Orlando Kuka (Albania)
Scorers: Y. Messias 7 min, 12 min, M. Micallef 33 min
Yellow cards: G. Virano, J. Leyton, D. Belhadj, M. Duarte Junior,
Player of the match: Yuri Messias (Naxxar L)
TMI Best Three: 1. D. Bustos, Y. Messias, 3. I. Paz
Attendance: 307
Naxxar desperately needed the victory yesterday, also hoping for a St.Andrew's victory to force a decider with Tarxien, but it was not to be, and the Lions were relegated. Naxxar made sure of the victory with three goals inside the first half an hour, but Tarxien earned a precious point against St. Andrew's to force a playoff against Zejtun.
Naxxar thus failed to make it and now make a quick return to First Division football after just one season among the elite. It was a disappointing end for Naxxar who had their good moments throughout the season but failed miserably in the last phase of the season, even though they grabbed maximum points in their last two outings.
But it was too little too late for Naxxar who surely started the season with higher aspirations, and must now look forward in re-shaping the side for a tough First Division season.
Yesterday's match was a no contest with Senglea in festive mood at the end of a very positive season for them, with Naxxar's early goals killing off all interest in the match.
Nicht had to make the first save inside the first minute off an Ivan Paz freekick, but on the other end Naxxar took the lead on seven minutes. Bustos' long ball towards Messias, who dribbled past Steve Bonnici before firing a great shot that was brilliantly saved by Borg, but from the rebound Messias with an acrobatic drive found the back of the net.
Five minutes later Yuri Messias was on the mark again when his freekick from just outside the area was deflected by the Senglea wall, with the ball deceiving the Senglea custodian. Sixty seconds later Senglea almost pulled on back when Caseres beat the offside trap but was denied by a brilliant Nicht save.
With the two-goal cushion acquired Naxxar elected to control the match, with Senglea taking the upper hand but failing to create scoring opportunities. On 33 minutes Naxxar practically sealed their victory when off a Bustos corner, the goalkeeper mistimed his sortie and Manolito Micallef was on hand to head home. Four minutes from the break Nicht again saved his side, blocking Caseres' close range shot.
The second half had little more to offer with Naxxar just waiting for some good news from the other venues. Senglea had a Paz header going over the bar and on 70 minutes Uyi ventured forward but his header was well saved by Nicht.
Trovade strike keeps Mosta among elite
Sliema W. 0
Mosta 1
Sliema W.: G. Zammit, L. Borg (J. Pearson), N. Milinceanu, R. Spiteri (O. Elouni), K. Shaw, K. Ameli, M. Scerri, G. Adamovic, J. Mintoff, S. Bianciardi, F. Qeros
Mosta: A. Vella, G. Trovade (J. Tanti), M. Sammartino, T. Veronese, I. Maric, D. Nworah (J. Grech), T. Farrugia, K. Frendo, D. Xuereb, Z. Brincat, M. Soare (N. Frendo)
Referee: S. Pace
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, D. Petrovic
4th official: A. Mario Sant
Scorers: G. Trovade
Yellow cards: G. Trovade, F. Qeros, M. Scerri
Red card: Z. Brincat
Player of the match: F. Qeros
TMI Top 3: 1. F. Qeros, 2. T. Veronese, 3. K. Ameli
Attendance: 167
A Giovanni Trovade 45th minute goal yesterday was enough for Mosta to beat Sliema and save their status among the elite for at least another season.
The three points enabled them to move onto the safe 26-point mark.
In the first half, Sliema held the edge in midfield, but scoring chances were few and far between.
Both sets of defences rarely gifted their opposing front lines any real space where to create openings with the result that we were witnesses to a lot of midfield play until just before the interval when Mosta took the lead through a good goal.
In the second half, play did not improve, but Sliema exerted a lot of pressure in their search for an equaliser; however they found the Mosta defence, especially goalkeeper Andreas Vella, unyielding.
When Mosta were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Zachary Brincat for a second yellow card, Sliema increased their pressure on the Mosta goal, but Johann Scicluna's boys defended grimly and stubbornly till the very end to make sure of extending their stay among the elite by at least another season.
The first real action arrived on 25 minutes when Ameli was through in the Mosta area, but Sammartino was just in time to clear to corner. From the resultant cornerkick, taken by Qeros, it was again Ameli who headed just over the bar.
In the 34th minute, Mosta threatened seriously through a fine 20-metre effort from Moussa Soare, but his effort was excellently turned to corner by Sliema goalie Zammit.
Mosta took the lead on the 45th minute, when Veronese set Giovanni Trovade beautifully in the Sliema area and the latter beat Zammit with a great rising shot from a difficult angle.
At the start of the second half, Sliema almost equalised. From a Qeros freekick, the ball was headed forward into the path of Milinceanu whose effort hit the base of the upright and rebounded out.
In the 65th minute, Mosta ended in 10 men when Zachary Brincat was shown a second yellow card and was dismissed after a tough tackle on Ameli.
A minute later, from a Qeros freekick, a Goran Adamovic header appeared to be heading towards the net, but goalie Andreas Vella kept his side in the lead with a splendid save to corner.
In the 83rd minute, Mosta were awarded a freekick from outside the Sliema area, but Veronese hit wide.
Sliema kept trying till the very end but Mosta kept their cool to emerge winners and relegating their neighbour rivals Naxxar despite the latter's 3-0 win against Senglea.
Saints secure safety as play-off awaits Tarxien
Tarxien R. 0
St. Andrews 0
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, S. Radovanovic, E. Baker, G. Aquilina, L. Grech (G. McKay), A. Scicluna, S. Tounkara, B. Traore, E. Calin (W. Viera), R. Faria, S. Cipriott (A. Agius)
St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, M. Miranda Gomez, M. Davis (M. Grima), J. Van Delannoite, R. Martin, M. Gauci, K. Atkinson (J. Walker), J. Farrugia (A. Friggieri), D. Jackson, T. Blagrove
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann
Yellow cards: S. Radovanovic, R.Martin. M. Gauci, J. Van Delannoite
Player of the match: D. Jackson (St Andrews)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Jackson 2. E. Calin 3. E. Baker
Attendance: 357
St Andrews preserved their elite status for another season, thanks to this goalless draw with Tarxien Rainbows.
A point apiece, means the Rainbows, who finished in 12th place, will now have to play the relegation play-off against Division 1 side Zejtun Corinthians to decide their fate.
Back-to-back league wins in the previous fortnight had put St Andrews in a more advantageous position, one point above rivals Tarxien Rainbows proir to this key fixture.
Yesterday, the Saints had forward Keimar Reid suspended but had captain Joseph Farrugia back in the side.
Buoyed by a win against Balzan and a draw against Hibernians, Tarxien Rainbows' destiny was also still in their own hands on this final day. Coach Jose Borg retained the same starting eleven who played the previous week.
The game lived down to expectations. Two ordinary sides huffing and puffing without any real real wit or creativity.
The first half had been end-to-end without too many thrills in front of goal.
Although they were the first to threaten, with a Jackson shot turned into a corner by keeper Cassar after six minutes, the Saints looked like they were content to settle for the draw that would guarantee them safety.
Aware that Naxxar, three points adrift, were winning against Senglea Athletic, there might have been some apprehension for Tarxien, who could not afford to lose the game.
The Rainbows did have a couple of good chances, hitting the woodwork twice in the opening 45 minutes.
Past the quarter hour, Calin's direct free kick rebounded off the bar, with Traore shooting the loose ball well over the goal.
On 35 minutes a Cipriott searching cross shot from the left was held out by the post, before St Andrews could clear the danger.
Set pieces always looked the likeliest route to the breakthrough. Four minutes into the second half an Atkinson free kick forced keeper Cassar to stretch himself and turn the ball into a corner.
However, there seemed to be no real desire for St Andrews to attack with more intent.
Tarxien tried to push for a winner in the closing stages, with coach Borg introducing Andrew Agius and Wellington Viera in the second half.
They only looked menacing though with Traore reaching for a Tounkara cross bur heading over and Faria's shot on the turn also missing the target.
Pedestrian in possession and devoid of ideas going forward, the two teams were plodding their way through the match.
At the end, this goalless stalemate had suited St Andrews better but there is still light at the end of the tunnel for Tarxien Rainbows.