QORMI- HIBERNIANS 0-6

SILVIO VELLA

A deceptive promising start for Qormi ended in deflation and no little humiliation as they were trounced by leaders Hibernians to the tune of six goals.

This win was the latest demonstartion of Jorginho's penalty-box prowess as he scored a hat trick, with fellow Brazilian Luis Edison completing the formalities with a late brace and Clayton Failla adding his name to the score sheet, as Qormi also fell victims to the Premier League's unbeaten leaders, who turned their superiority ruthlessly into goals in the second period.

While Hibernians were an unchanged side from the one that started against Floriana the previous week, Qormi's coach Josef Mansueto deemed it fit to make no less than five changes from the line-up that drew against Naxxar Lions.

He dropped Albert Bruce, Bjorn Bondin, Jospeh Chetcuti and Emerson Vella, besides the suspended central defender Matias Mazzetti.

Roderick Sammut played alongside Jonathan Bondin at the back, with Steve Agius and Duncan Pisani as wide backs, as Pietro Viggiani started in midfield. Anderson Quatrochi was Qormi's point of reference. But the inclusion of forward Ryan Micallef, together with Frank Temile and Alfred Effiong, against the league's tightest defence, was perhaps the Qormi coach's most ambitious selection.

Hibernians might have been surprised by Qormi's game plan and looked extremely uncomfortable in the initial stages as they failed to take a grip on the proceedings. When Failla back heeled his pass to Jorginho, the latter lofted the ball from an ideal position inside the Qormi area.

The leaders suffered a setback when Marcelo Dias limped off after 20 minutes but after that they gradually started to find their usual rhythm and pace, the remaining minutes of the first half had a familiar feel for Hibernians. Lots of possession, a sprinkling of chances, including an effort held out by the post, but little to show for their dominance.

Bondin failed to intercept Cohen's through ball and Luis Edison almost capitalised but the Qormi keeper Farrugia rushed out of his line to smother the danger.

Past the half hour, Farrugia again blocked at Failla's feet on an Mbong's cross from the right until Qormi collapsed to concede on 35 minutes. They clumsily lost possession in midfield, allowing Kristensen to play a long ball forward for Jorginho to hit in past keeper Farrugia.

As Hibernians probed for a second goal, the Qormi shot stopper repelled Failla's shot and minutes before the break Edison ran in from the blind side on the right to hit Failla's low cross against the foot of the post, failing to give his side a more comfortable lead.

Qormi's real threat came minutes earlier through the perseverance of Effiong whose jinking run took him past Soares and Agius inside the Hibernians' area but was blocked by keeper Bonello.

The goal deluge was to follow after the interval with Hibernians scoring five more times and twice more denied by the woodwok.

On 50 minutes  Qormi's rearguard was again found wanting on yet another Hibernians' pass through the middle and the clinical Jorginho punished them with a second goal.

Six minutes later Edison played one-two with Jorginho but his final shot rebounded off the upright. At this stage, Hibernians looked already firmly in command.

On 57 minutes Jorgingho completed his hat trick as he headed in Cohen's corner from close range and the bar saved Qormi from further derision, holding out Failla's effort.

And with Qorm falling apart, there was still time for Luis Edison to add two more goals withn as many minutes. On 73 minutes he connected well to the promising Mbong's cross from the right, which keeper Farrugia failed to hold out and then chipped the ball gleefully past the Qormi keeper when standing unmolested on the edge of the area on another splitting pass.

Three minutes from the end, Clayton Failla added more misery to poor Qormi as he cut through the middle and rifled an unstoppable shot past keeper Farrugia.

BALZAN FC-                 1

NAXXAR LIONS-           3

SILVIO VELLA

Naxxar Lion's revival, under coach Jesmond Zerafa, continues, stretching their unbeaten run to four matches, as they lift themselves further up the table and above the relegation zone, on 14 points thanks to this deserved win against Balzan.

Two goals within the first 20 minutes by the Malta international striker Terence Vella put the Lions in the driving seat and although Balzan hit one back through an unimpressive Gianmarco Piccioni before halftime, Naxxar scored their third through Emenike before the hour and their win was never in doubt

Meanwhile, Balzan's  troublesome sequence in Premier League matches was extended as Naxxar  inflicted a third defeat out of their last seven winless matches, in which Oliver Spiteri's team collected only four points. They are slowly slipping out of the top half in the standings.

Balzan had Clive Brincat and Luke Sciberras back in the team after suspension but missed the services of defender Samir Arab, following their one-all draw against Zebbug Rangers the previous week.

Naxxar also made two changes from the side that stuttered to gain a late point against Qormi, by introducing Terence Vella for Pape Gueye and Pablo Doffo, wearing the captain's armband and featuring in much of his side's best work, replaced Del Negro.

Terence Vella immediately made his presence felt as he twice scored within the first 20 minutes to give the Lions an early two-goal cushion.

His first goal after 14 minutes was of sheer execution as Vella controlled the ball inside the Balzan area on the left, lobbed it over an opponent before drilling a rising shot past the helpless keeper Sultana.

Six minutes later, the Naxxar forward again made the best of Emenike's cross from the left, flicking the ball in from close range, to exhibit his poaching talents.

Until then, Balzan were shorn of  inventive, as they looked lethargic, lacking bite or purpose during a dull first half as bleak as the weather at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

They were still in contention by halftime though as they reduced the arrears seven minutes before the break after they had two successive goals, from Picioni and Guerrero, ruled out for offside within as many minutes.

There was no denying them on 38 minutes, after a Guerrero cross from the left was missed by the Naxxar defence and Gianmarco Piccioni scored with a powerful strike.

Naxxar regained their two-goal lead on 55 minutes. The effective Doffo started the move  from midfield, feeding Ribeiro, who played the ball wide on the left for the unmarked Uchenne Emenike to beat keeper Sultana with a low drive.

Balzan effected a double substitution soon after, putting in Mifsud Triganza and Dylan Grima, and later even Ryan Darmanin, but they found it hard to get any real momentum against a solid Naxxar rearguard, despite some chaotic late efforts that lacked adequate finishing.

At the end, they were left contemplating a rather bad patch at this stage of the season.

Mosta return to winning ways

Stewart Said

Mosta-Pieta 3-1

Mosta returned to winning ways when they defeated Pieta Hotspurs 3-1 with a fine display in the first half to take advantage of Balzan's loss. Peter Smith's team deserved the win and the early goal paved the way for the team to administer the game better.

Although they returned home empty-handed,  Pieta out in a decent performance but failed to make a quick reaction after Dyson Falzon's second yellow card.  

After their disappointing defeat against Valletta, Peter Smith made three changes in his initial formation with Rodriguez Ekani who returned in defence, Ryan Grech was used in midfield while Ribeiro dos Santos started as a winger instead of youngsters Kurt Zammit and Kyle Frendo while Mano Micallef was ruled out with an injury that he sustained in their last game. Kurt Magro was included in midfield to give more strength in the zone. 

On the other side, after their win against Birkirkara, Noel Coleiro made only two changes with Claudio Frances replacing Cain Attard while David Cassar returned in goal instead of Miguel Montfort. 

Mosta created the first danger after five minutes when Ribeiro dos Santos headed back to Ryan Grech but from an ideal position, his shot went off target.

Mosta took the lead on the 9th minute when Bojan Kaljevic took advantage of a defensive mistake, passed to Daniel Mariano Bueno who beat Cassar with a low shot.

Pieta responded two minutes later when Jurgen Pisani crossed to Rafael Xavier but his header missed the target. Pieta went close on the 19th minute when from a free-kick by Frances, Nikola Tasic saw his header denied by the post.

But Mosta doubled on the 22nd minute when Dyson Falzon made a quick one-two with Kaljevic , advanced and crossed to Nemanja Milovanovic who managed to beat Cassar with a well-timed shot.

Pieta were reduced to ten men on the 27th minute when Nikola Tasic was shown a straight red card after an argument with Dyson Falzon. 

Pieta reduced the margin on the 35th minute when Tyrone Farrugia fouled near the penalty area, and Claudio Frances scored with a beautiful left-foot free-kick that gave Borg no chance.

But Mosta regained their two goal lead on the 41st minute when Ribeiro dos Santos didn't connect from a Ryan Grech cross, the ball returned to Grech who passed to Matteus Ribeiro dos Santos who scored with a bit of fortune. 

With Mosta leading by two goals, the second half reduced its rhythm. Mosta could have added another one on the 51st minute when Kaljevic took advantage from a mistake by Leonardo Fortunato dos Santos but after he advanced, his final shot finished off target.

Mosta also were reduced to ten men on the hour mark when Dyson Falzon was shown the second yellow card after a foul on Rafael Xavier Zacarias. Pieta tried to find the goal to get them back in the game and a few minutes later a shot by substitute Dylon Agius finished off target.

Noel Coleiro also included veteran Malcolm Licari to shake things up front but although they were superior territorialy, they weren't dangerous and Mosta controlled till the end to claim three important points.

Another convincing win for the Champions

Stewart Said

TARXIEN R............0

VALLETTA.............6

Valletta continued their winning streak when they easily defeated Tarxien Rainbows 6-0 in an identical match of last week. The game was without story as Valletta took control of the game from the early minutes while Tarxien weren’t dangerous towards their opponent’s goal.

For another game Valletta had various players who stood out namely Roderick Briffa, Shaun Bajada and Ryan Fenech in midfield while Nafti, Barry and Elford Alliyu opened Tarxien’s defence with numerous crosses and passes.

Tarxien again disappointed and continued their negative run with six games without a win and three consecutive defeats and Clive Mizzi has a very tough job to shake things up.

Valletta coach Ivan Zammit kept the same formation that defeated Mosta except Ryan Fenech who returned and started ahead of Hugo Faria. On the other side, after their defeat against Sliema, Clive Mizzi made four changes in his starting line-up. Jonathan Debono returned in goal instead of Sean Mintoff while Kane Farrugia, Luke Zahra and Matthew Tabone replaced Owen Bugeja, Alessandro Lopes Pereira and Carlos Hevia Menendez.

Valletta started the game on the attack and after just three minutes went close when Shaun Bajada tried with a shot from the left side but his shot finished off target. The citizens took the lead on the 15th minute when Roderick Briffa entered in the penalty area and crossed to Abdelkarim Nafti who scored with a first-time shot.

Tarxien were finding it difficult to play their game while Valletta total control of the game and on the 28th minute a powerful shot by Nafti finished over the bar. The Champions were given a penalty on the 39th minute when Ryan Sammut fouled Hamza Barry in the penalty area and referee Alan Mario Sant ordered a penalty. From the penalty spot Hamza Barry made no mistake.

Valletta closed the first half on the attack and on the 43rd minute a right foot shot by Ryan Fenech was neutralised by Debono and two minutes later a shot by Lateef Elford Alliyu was turned into a corner by Debono.

The second half kept the same rhythm and on the 51st minute Briffa passed to Nafti who had a shot tipped into a corner. From the subsequent corner Valletta scored the third goal when Bajada crossed in the penalty area and Lateef Elford Alliyu headed past Debono.

The citizens continued to attack on the 55th minute when Barry passed Elford Alliyu who continued to Nafti but the Tunisian’s shot finished over the bar. Five minutes later from a free-kick by Nafti, a header by Roderick Briffa finished centimetres off target. Briffa again went close when he received a pass from Elford Alliyu but his low shot was denied by the post.

Tarxien had their only shot on target on the 71st minute when Nicky Vella saved a shot from Triston Caruana. But Valletta netted a poker on the 75th minute when Bajada gave a perfect ball to Hamza Barry who lobbed over Debono and scored in an empty net.

Valletta again were denied by the post on the 81st minute when Nafti crossed to Briffa but his header was denied by the upright. Briffa tried again four minutes later when he caught Debono out of his position but his shot finished over the bar. 

The champions scored their fifth goal on the 88th minute when Nafti crossed to Lateef Elford Alliyu who beat Debono with a fine header. A minute later substitute Raphael Kooh Sohna also found a chance to score when he received a good ball and had no difficulty to beat Debono.