MOSTA- 0
HIBERNIANS - 5
Hibernians coach Branko Nisevic was eager for his team to return to winning ways after their 2-2 draw against Naxxar Lions before the international break.
The last time Hibernians played Mosta in January, the match ended in a 1-1 draw, but lightning does not strike twice.
In yetserday’s second game at Ta’Qali, Mosta were obliterated by a burst of attacking football. Three stunning strikes in the first half, and another two in the late stages, crushed Mosta, and demonstrated Hibernians at their best, full of self expression and the desire to play. The gulf in talent was evident all afternoon.
Clueless Mosta were unable to contain the Paolites’ urgency and mere huff and puff was not enough to spare them a fourth defeat in their last five league matches. Toothless in attack, obliging in defence, they left themselves with too much to do after falling behind heavily in the first half.
The league leaders gave a rare start to Luis De Melo Lima, recovered from a shoulder injury, to partner Jorginho in attack as Jean Paul Farrugia was deployed in a more retreated role in midfield behind them. Jonathan Pearson made way for the returning Andrei Agius in defence.
Energetic, competitive and sharper on the ball, the Paolites had dropped hints that they could undo Mosta early in the game. The verve and vision of their skipper Andrew Cohen were making his opponents look dull. A Gomes shot from outside the area was held out by keeper Borg, who was left stranded midway through the half as Jorginho sent a curling shot at the top left hand corner on a Cohen assist.
Mosta, without the inspiration and drive of Gary Roberts, always struggled to move out of their defensive shell.
On 37 minutes, Cohen set Jorginho from the right. His cross was skied by De Melo. Hardly two minutes later, Jackson lima thumped his shot against the bar as Hibernians kept moving the ball with invention and clarity.
That led to their second goal on 40 minutes. Jean Paul Farrugia chested Failla’s cross and hit the ball with power past the helpless keeper Borg from close range.
A move of classic refinement brought Hibernians their third goal on the stroke of halftime. Cohen whacked another floating cross from the left. Soares showed all his aerial dominance as he ran in from the blind side to head the high ball towards the middle for Luis De Melo to score with a free header.
The second half was mostly uneventful with Hibernians mildly controlling the proceedings. In truth, they did not have to excel, because right before them, the opponents were crumpling.
On 68 minutes, after Mosta failed to make good of an indirect free kick from inside the Hibernians area, the leaders broke away. Cohen’s through pass put Jorginho clear but as keeper Borg held the ball out, Jean Paul Farrugia’s effort was also blocked only for De Melo to miss the target. Keeper Borg was called into action again to turn Failla’s rasping shot into a corner.
There was still time for Hibernians to score two more goals within the last seven minutes. Cohen laid the ball to substitute Jurgen Degabriele to shoot low past keeper Borg and then a Tyrone Farrugia block fell to Degabriele who crossed for Jorginho to complete the route.
Mosta were a sorry ragged bunch by the end. Few sides can live with Hibernians in this sort of form
ZEBBUG RANGERS- 1
FLORIANA- 3
Floriana produced a display of contrasts to win this match and keep on course for a place in European competition next season. They looked good value for their double advantage in the first half but faltered in the second, handing the initiative to their opponents for long periods.
Floriana started on better form but after taking a double lead, through Vito Plut and Matteo Piciollo, they made hard work of this win, allowing their opponents to push forward, and hit one back early after the restart, which made for a nervy finish. The Greens’ third and assuring goal, five minutes from time, came in controversial manner after Zebbug were denied a penalty and from the same action Emanuel Briffa broke clear from half pitch to make the points safe.
Zebbug spent the first half hour in abject disarray and conceded two goals that had a huge bearing on the final result and undermined their ambition to take something from this match. They only played some attacking football in the second half.
Zebbug coach Alfonso Greco might feel proud of his players’ contribution but disappointed with the result which plunges his team further into trouble at the bottom end of the table.
Zebbug were already depleted without the suspended Yessus Camilleri, Matias Muchardi and Thomas Paris. To rub salt into their wounds, their central defender Lee Galea suffered a facial injury, following a collision with his own keeper Jeffrey Farrugia, and had to leave the pitch after only two minutes on the clock.
Floriana appeared initially clumsily one-dimensional and were over reliant on some crosses from the flanks that found little support. On one by Luke Micallef after eight minutes, Pisani headed straight at the Zebbug keeper.
The Greens had to do without their injured midfielder Clyde Borg, who limped off past the hour, to be substituted by Brooke Farrugia. But as they seemed to be running out of ideas, they broke the deadlock two minutes short of the half hour. Briffa sent a low cross inside the Zebbug area, for Vito Plut to turn and beat keeper Farrugia with a low drive.
Hardly three minutes later, Zebbug conceded a penalty for Barbetti’s handling inside the area. Keeper Farrugia saved Matteo Picciolo’s shot from the spot but was rendered helpless by the same player’s second attempt on the loose ball.
It was only after this double setback that Zebbug jerked into some shape and competed more vigorously for the remaining minutes of the first half. Monti’s free kick caused embarassment to the Floriana rearguard after keeper Calleja Cremona parried the ball and Cobo blocked Yussouf’s effort on the line.
Two minutes before the break, Ciantar’s rising shot from the edge of the area was tipped over into a corner by the Floriana custodian.
Zebbug opened the second period on the front foot and deservingly reduced the arrears after only five minutes. Ciantar’s cross from the right was flicked by Britto towards Rashid Yussouf to beat keeper Calleja Cremona at the near post.
Six minutes later the effective Ciantar tested the Floriana keeper with a low diagonal drive from a distance.
Aware that something had to change, Floriana coach Giovanni Tedesco put in Gary Muir and also Giovanni Galea. On 73 minutes, Piciollo played the ball wide to the advancing Galea who was denied by an excellent save from keeper Farrugia.
As they seriously threatened for an equaliser, the Rangers were undone five minutes from the end. Monti’s inswinging corner from the right was turned around into a corner by keeper Calleja Cremona and from the resultant corner, Zebbug’s claims for a penalty, following Marcelina’s block inside the area, were turned down by the referee, only for Floriana to break away through Emanuel Briffa, who inflicted more punishment with a third goal after a solo surging run.
Tarxien R. 0
Birkirkara 2
Birkirkara consolidated second place in the standings thanks to an easy 2-0 win over bottom placed Tarxien Rainbows.
These three points have temporarily lifted the Stripes to four points above their rivals Valletta who will only be in action tomorrow.
Both sides were seeking the three points for different reasons. The Stripes aimed at consolidating second place and are now four points ahead of Valletta who will be in action tomorrow against Naxxar Lions. The Rainbows needed the points to get away from bottom place in the standings where slowly, but surely, they have become firm candidates for the Big Drop.
The Stripes scored both goals in the first half through Vukanac and Shodiya and after that, in the second half, they rarely pressed hard, preferring to administer their lead against a side which failed to penetrate a strong defence.
In the first half, the Rainbows tried hard to get going, but despite all their endeavour, they rarely tested goalie Haber between the Birkirkara posts.
They lacked creativity as the Stripes proved to be a far better outfit, confirming their superiority by scoring two goals and going near on a couple of other occasions.
Play was more or less in the hands of the Stripes once again in the second half, but they rarely pressed hard to add more goals to their tally.
Instead, it was Tarxien who fought gamely to try and get back in contention, but the Stripes’ rearguard with Vukanac (until substituted) and Mazzetti outstanding, proved to be more than a handful for the Rainbows’ strikers.
The match had a very quiet start and it was in the 17th minute that the first action was noted. It was Godar Pereira who tested Haber, but the Birkirkara goalie saved with ease.
In the 23rd minute, it was Birkirkara who threatened seriously to take the lead. Shodiya set Ryan Camenzuli who went past a number of players in the area only to be denied by a splendid intervention from goalie Sean Mintoff.
The Stripes were not to be denied and three minutes later they took the lead through Nikola Vukanac who headed home a perfect Ryan Scicluna freekick.
In the 33rd minute, from an Herrera cross, Shola Shodiya’s header was weak and Mintoff could save without difficulty.
Birkirkara goalie Haber was rarely in action, but on the 38th minute he was called to save a low shot from Casado. Soon afterwards, at the other end, a fine Ryan Scicluna effort hit the side rigging.
But in the 40th minute, it was 2-0. From a perfect cross by Zach Muscat, it was Shodiya who headed past a helpless Mintoff.
Shodiya almost scored his side’s third on 44 minutes when he won a tackle in the Tarxien area, but his effort went wide.
At the start of the second half, it was Casado who tried his luck from the distance, but the ball went well over the post.
In the 72nd minute, a shot by Cini was dealt with confidently by Haber and moments later, Ajomu Darlington managed to find Haber’s net, but was rightly ruled offside.
Just before the end, Tarxien had their first real effort through Vallecillo Casado, whose fine dipper was excellently turned to corner by the diving Haber.
Qormi 0
Sliema W. 0
Neither of the two teams must have been satisfied following this goalless draw.
With Floriana beating Zebbug, Sliema’s chances for an Europa League berth have taken a nosedive, while Qormi, though winning a precious point, might not have been happy as they clearly deserved to win all three. Their performance yesterday was very encouraging as they continue battling against relegation.
The Blues are now on 22 points, seven behind Floriana and five adrift of Balzan. Qormi remain fourth from bottom, but now have 12 points, two more than Pieta and Zebbug with Pieta having tomorrow’s game against Balzan in hand.
It was a keen match all the way, but Qormi appeared much more dangerous than Sliema whenever they attacked, especially in the latter stages of the match.
Sliema had Pedro dos Santos Calcado and Mark Scerri missing through suspension but Bianciardi was making a welcome return after a long absence. Qormi had Chetcuti missing.
In the first half, the Yellow Blacks set the pace as they enjoyed more possession. Midfield was in their control with Edafe Uzeh and Ryan Micallef roaming from one side to the other of the pitch and winning several balls.
On the other hand, Sliema appeared weak in midfield and also appeared shaky at the back where they found some difficulty in stopping Alfred Effiong.
The Wanderers played the waiting game operating on the counter, but Michael Mifsud was too isolated (apart from a single occasion) and rarely made an impact against a Qormi rearguard in which Berntsson and Mendoza never missed a clearance.
In the second half, Sliema had the better start, but that did not last long as Qormi came back strongly, once again taking control of midfield.
At the end, Sliema must have thanked goalkeeper Glenn Zammit who saved a point for them. There was never any doubt he was the man of the match with at least three great saves.
Qormi scored on the 13th minute through an Effiong header off a Ryan Micallef freekick, but the point was disallowed, probably because of a foul.
Immediately afterwards, at the other end, Farrugia was Qormi’s saviour as he blocked a dangerous Mifsud shot. From the rebound, Mintoff’s effort was cleared to an abortive corner by Berntsson.
In the 16th minute, Ryan Micallef was through in the Sliema area, but Zammit came to Sliema’s rescue, blocking his close range effort.
Qormi missed a good chance on the 27th minute. A fine run by Duncan Pisani ended with a low cross which Ryan Micallef hit badly and wide.
The Yellow Blacks were very unlucky not to open the scoring on 31 minutes when a Jonathan Bondin shot was deviated against the Sliema crossbar.
On the stroke of half time, it was Bianciardi who set Bocar, but the latter’s lob was harmless and went over the bar.
At the start of the second half, Bocar ran past two Qormi defenders, but his left footed effort was weak and Farrugia could save with ease.
In the 51st minute, it was Pisanu who had a freekick hitting the side rigging.
Qormi missed a sitter on 56 minutes. Villalobos came face to face with goalie Zammit, but the latter covered himself with glory saving the close range shot.
Zammit was again the protagonist on 60 minutes as he saved a good Effiong effort from an angle.
Qormi insisted and three minutes later, it was again Zammit who saved Sliema as he dived sideways to turn to corner in style a good effort from Ryan Micallef.
Qormi protested for a penalty when Clifford Baldacchino tackled Micallef in the area. The latter fell right in front of Zammit, but the official, close to the action, ignored the Yellow Blacks’ protests.
On 81 minutes, Sliema were awarded a freekick from just outside the area, but Pisanu lifted his effort well over the bar.
In the 84th minute, it seemed as if Sliema would clinch it when substitute Ribeiro dos Santos was in an ideal position in the centre of the Qormi defence, but his shot was blocked by a Qormi defender in extremis.
In the 86th minute, Effiong set Villalobos on the edge of the area, but the latter hit well wide.
Qormi were most unlucky on the 89th minute when substitute Leighton Grech saw his effort hitting the upright and rebounding into Glenn Zammit’s waiting hands.