Valletta-Balzan 1-0
Valletta: N. Revishvili, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Fenech, L. Montebello (E. Agius 76’), A. da Silva Souza (L. Elford Alliyu 76’), S. Bajada, D. Rocha dos Santos, I. Maisuradze, A. Nafti, L. Dimech
Balzan: M. Bartolo, J. Grioli, S. Bezzina, A. Scicluna, R. dos Santos, K. Magro, D. Grima, E. Bilbao Zarate, P. dos Santos Calcado, L. Micallef (F. Aboulezz 77’), J.L. Armario Negrin
Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Jurgen Spiteri
Scorers: D. Rocha dos Santos 51’ (V)
Yellow cards: J. Grioli 56’, K. Magro 74’, P. Calcado 82’ (B), L. Dimech 68’ (V)
Red card: P. dos Santos Calcado
BOV Player of the Match: Alan da Silva Souza (Valletta)
Attendance: 1,630
Valletta kept their title hopes alive when they defeated Balzan 1-0 to remain two points adrift of Birkirkara and now it is confirmed that the final game will decide this year’s championship.
The game was full of tension from Valletta’s part as a draw would have crowned Birkirkara champions for the fifth time. Balzan played a defensive game and tried to close all spaces while Valletta, after a shaky start, gained control and deserved maximum points.
Valletta coach Andre Paus made two changes from their last game against Mosta, with Jonathan Caruana and Luke Dimech both returning from suspension. They took the place of Ian Azzopardi and the suspended Roderick Briffa.
After suffering seven defeats in the Championship Pool, Balzan won against Sliema and drew against Hibernians in their last two outings. They had Vignaroli and Sciberras missing while Grioli returned after serving a suspension and started instead of Aboulezz.
Balzan had their first action of the game after three minutes when a free-kick by Pedro Calcado finished off target. On the 10th minute Balzan again went close when Dylan Grima tried with a good shot but Revishvili saved.
Valletta replied with two shots on the 15th minute – the first by Alan da Silva Souza that finished off target and a minute later a shot from Maisuradze that went over the bar.
The Citizens looked to be in control and on the 21st minute Nafti crossed to Steve Borg, who headed a bit wide.
Balzan could have taken the lead on the 43rd minute when from a counter attack, the ball finished at Zarate who tried with a low shot but Revishvili saved.
Valletta started the second half more aggressively and took the lead on the 51st minute when Alan da Silva Souza crossed to Denni Rocha dos Santos who scored with a first time shot that hit the post before entering into the net.
Valletta went close to add another on the 70th minute when from a cross by Ryan Fenech, the shot from Luke Montebello finished a bit wide.
Two minutes later a free-kick by Shaun Bajada finished over the bar. On the 78th minute a good run by the same Bajada finished with a cross-shot that ended a bit wide. Four minutes later, a shot by Edmond Agius was saved without difficulty by Bartolo.
Valletta went close to the second goal on the 85th minute when Edmond Agius concluded a personal action with a shot that finished centimetres wide.
***
Mosta and Sliema share the spoils
Sliema-Mosta 0-0
Sliema: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, J. Borg (J. Mintoff 46’), M. Scerri (T. Cilia 60’), S. Ohawuchi, G. Zammit, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Woods (A. Xuereb 79’), P. Barbetti, M. Muchardi, S. Biancardi, A. Vladavic
Mosta: O. Borg, R. Ekani, T. Farrugia, M. Brincat, I. Grech, A. Carrozza, R. Grech, M. Micallef, I. Zammit, C. Martins (D. Pereira 4’), G. Piccioni
Yellow cards: M. Micallef 18’, I. Grech 29’, R. Grech 89’, D. Pereira 90’, O. Borg 90’ (M), S. Ohawuchi 42’, S. Biancardi 45’, M. Muchardi 71’, C. Gatt Baldacchino 90’ (S)
Red card: R. Ekani 90’ (M)
Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Roberto Vella
Additional Assistant Referees: Alan Mario Sant, Trustin Farrugia Cann
4th Official: Clayton Pisani
BOV Player of the Match: Manolito Micallef (Mosta)
In a balanced match that had a dramatic ending, Mosta and Sliema took a point each in a goalless draw.
The result left both teams in search of that possible remaining Europa League berth which will now be determined later this week.
The first half was dominated by Mosta with Sliema finding difficult to express their best football. In the second half, Sliema attacked more but if it had not been for the numerous chances missed by Piccioni, Mosta could have finished the game on the winning side. But the end of the match was very dramatic with
both teams going very close to a win.
Sliema were coming from five defeats in their last six outings losing their last game 6-0 against champions Birkirkara. Paltemio Barbetti, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino and Admir Vladavic returned for the Blues.
Mosta, who lost their last two outings 4-0 and 5-0 against Birkirkara and Valletta respectively, had to play without the suspended Bojan Kaljevic while they lost Cristian Martins in the beginning of the match.
The first action of the game came from Mosta when after 10 minutes, a shot from outside the box by Piccioni finished over the bar. On the 18th minute there was some controversy after Mosta scored. Ekani crossed to Mano Micallef who rose with goalkeeper Glenn Zammit but Micallef scored with his hands. After talking with additional referee Alan Mario Sant, the goal was disallowed and Micallef was cautioned.
Mosta went close again on the 24th minute when a shot from the distance by Piccioni was turned into a corner by Zammit. Sliema almost took the lead against the run of play when a minute later Ohauwchi passed to Ivan Woods who tried with a good shot but found Omar Borg ready to save.
On the 30th minute a free-kick by Vladavic finished off target. Six minutes later from a corner kick action, the final header by Tyrone Farrugia finished over the bar.
Mosta went close on the 38th minute when an overhead kick by Pereira was brilliantly turned into a corner by Glenn Zammit. Few minutes later Mosta again went close when after a mistake in the midfield zone by Jacob Borg, the ball finished ahead on Piccioni but his low shot finished off target.
Sliema started the second half as they ended the first and on the 53rd minute Ohawuchi lobbed over Borg but Tyrone Farrugia was there to head off the line.
A minute later, a low shot by Mano Micallef was turned into a corner by Zammit. Mosta lost a golden opportunity on the 58th minute when after a mistake by Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Piccioni advanced and came face to face with Zammit but his shot finished centimetres off target.
Piccioni again came close on the 67th minute when after a brilliant pass by Mano Micallef, Piccioni shot off target from 11 metres. The Italian again made the impossible on the 78th minute when from close range he shot over the bar. A minute later a shot by Muchardi was blocked by Omar Borg.
The match wasn’t over as on the 90th minute Pereira scored for Mosta, but until the players, officials and supporters were celebrating, after a talk with the additional referee, the official, Malcolm Spiteri, disallowed the goal.
At the restart, from a long ball into the Mosta box, Ekani fouled Ohawuchi and the referee ordered a penalty. Ekani was sent off for violent conduct among the protests by the Mosta clan. But from the penalty spot Omar Borg saved Admir Vladavic’s kick.