Balzan Y 2
Mqabba 1
Balzan Youths moved closer to promtion to the top division of local football with a hard earned victory over second placed Mqabba.
This top of the table clash between two of the best sides in this category, did not produce a very high level of play, but it was very keenly contested especially in the final part. Both teams had their good moments, but Balzan had the edge as they took the chances that came their way and defended well, suffering Mqabba’s goal in their only defensive lapse.
balzan have now opened an impressive 10-point lead at the top, and are practically home and dry. For mqabba this was a setback as they have to fight it out with Mosta, Lija, St. George’s, who suffered an unexpected defeat yesterday, and the ever improving and surprising Melita side.
The match had a very slow start with both sides finding it hard to create scoring chances. The first twenty minutes were practically played in midfield with Mqabba having a slight edge.
Balzan went very close on 22 minutes when Calcado’s freekick smashed against the crossbar with Kris Calleja beaten. A minute later an identical freekick by the same Calcado went inches wide.
On 26 minutes Mqabba’s first attempt at goal with a Mazitelli overhead kick going slightly over the bar. On 39 minutes Balzan broke the deadlock when Calcado’s short corner found Conceicao completely unmarked, with the Brazilian anticipating all Mqabba defenders to tap the ball home.
Mqabba had a good chance of getting the equalizer two minutes from the break with Caushi passing towards John Paul Muscat who hit well over the bar from an ideal position.
In the second half Mqabba took full control of the match in search of the equalizer. A Caushi freekick hit the side netting on 53 minutes, and on the hour a Caushi freekick was well headed by Timotic but the ball went inches wide.
A minute later Balzan came close to a second goal when Conceicao beat two defenders before passing towards Steve Meilak, but Calleja desperately charged out of position to save a certain goal.
On 74 minutes Balzan doubled the score with a great counter break when Anywanna was unstoppable on the left and crossed towards Calcado whose precise control and clinical finish left the Mqabba helpless.
But a minute later Mqabba were back in the reckoning when John Paul Muscat anticipated goalkeeper Tabone and substitute Marlon Briffa hammered home. The game was now more tense with Mqabba doing their last desperate efforts to save this match.
They attacked stubbornly, but Balzan’s defence was able to withstand the pressure and hold to this precious lead, to earn a very important win.
Balzan Y – F. Tabone, C. Ciantar, J. Francica, C. Micallef, R. Forace, B. Bondin (D. Agius), D. Grima, R. Conceicao, P. Calcado, U. Anywanna (L. Micallef), S. Meilak (A. Agius).
Mqabba – K. Calleja, P. Grima, M. Bonnici (J. Shead), A. Scicluna, B. Timotic, M.A. Psaila (M. Briffa), T. Mazitelli, C. Calleja (D. Azzopardi),J.P. Muscat, W. Caushi, S. Magro.
Referee – Adrian Azzopardi
Pieta dash Saints’ promotion hopes
Pieta H 3
St George’s 2
A lively Pieta side yesterday beat promotion candidates St George’s by the odd goal in five to dash their hopes of making it to the top division.
It was certainly an unexpected result for St George’s even though they were in stuttering form lately. Their Brazilian import Ruiz was completely off form and never made an impact on the Pieta defence, which however conceded a lot, making some glaring blunders.
On their part Pieta played an excellent match, attacking for most of the time. Robson Luis Bandeira was in top form, together with Zach Muscat who scored a brace and Quilin Refalo who squeezed the ball home for the winner. Pieta have now reached the 15-point mark and are mathematically safe even though no one really expects that bottom placed Msida will ever make a recovery.
Pieta started like a house on fire with the St George’s defence reeling and after four minutes the Hotspurs were one in front when Zach Muscat beat the offside trap to beat Thomas Galea with a low shot.
Pieta kept piling up the pressure and a Bandeira effort slightly missed the upright. On 15 minutes St George’s goalkeeper Thomas Galea made a great save off a Quilin Refalo shot from a wel taken corner by Dominic Mifsud.
Mid-way through the first half the Saints made their first attempt at goal when an Anthony Bonello header was turned into a corner by goalkeeper Kersten Vella. Four minutes later Mark Barbara passed towards Ruiz who shot wide from an ideal position.
On 31 minutes the Saints were back on level terms when Glenn Bonello anticipated a hesitant Ryan Mifsud in defence, with the Pieta defender tripping the Saints’ striker for a blatant penalty. From the penalty spot Glenn Bonello made no mistake.
The Saints went close to take the lead before the break but Luke Agius failed to connect to a Mark Barbara cross.
On the resumption St George’s were awarded another penalty when Ryan Mifsud made the second penalty of the day handling a Glenn Bonello cross shot. For the second time Glenn Bonello kicked from the penalty spot placing the ball in the top corner.
But the Saints’ joy was short lived as five minutes later Pieta were back on level terms when Bandeira created havoc in the Saints’ defence, also dribbling past goalkeeper Galea, and for Zach Muscat it was an easy job slotting the ball home for his brace.
Following a Luke Stivala effort well saved by Vella, Pieta scored what proved to be the winner on the hour. Bandeira powered his way past a couple of defenders passing the ball to Ouwu, who left the ball to the unmarked Refalo who beat Galea with a precise grounder.
In the remaining thirty minutes the Saints were never effective and never really gave the impression of saving the match. Their best effort came from Ruiz, but his shot was well saved by Vella.
Six minutes from time the Saints lost their captain Emanuel Sevasta who was given the marching orders after receiving a second yellow.
Pieta H – K. Vella, D. Owuo, R. Mifsud (K. Fedele), B. Sciberras, Q. Refalo, R. Bandeira (D. Camilleri), S. Grech, Z. Muscat, C. Grech, D. Mifsud, I. Grech.
St. George’s – T. Galea, A. Bonello, M. Milutinovic, E. Sevasta, L. Agius, G. Inguanez (D. Zarb), M. Barbara, J. Ruiz (N. Caruana), G. Bonello, L. Stivala, T. Farrugia.
Referee - Fyodor Zammit