Tarxien-Valletta 1-3

Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, M. Caruana (A. Azzopardi), B. Oliveira, T. Caruana, L. Omeruo, C. Hevia Menendez (D. Meira Santos), L. Montebello, D. Zerafa (B. Muscat), A. Alves, J. Oliveira

Valletta: H. Bonello, I. Azzopardi, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, R. Briffa, N. Priso (J.P. Mifsud Triganza), F. Falcone (A. Bruce), L. Cremona, C. Pani, U. Uchenna, A. Nafti

Referee: C. Pisani

Asst.refs:  M. Scerri, D. Castillo

4th official: P. Farrugia

Scorers: A.K. Nafti 3, B. De Oliveira 12 og, L. Montebello 21, J.P. Mifsud Triganza 87

Yellow cards: A. Nafti, U. Uchenna,  C. Menendez, L. Omeruo, A. Alves

Red card: A. Alves

Player of the match: L. Cremona (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. A. Nafti  2. L. Cremona  3. C. Menendez

SILVIO VELLA

In a game where chances were rarities, but controversies aplenty, superior Valletta beat Tarxien Rainbows to keep in touch with the leading pack.

This was a triumph of team work, garnished by two early goals, and another towards the end, that keep the Citizens well in contention in the early running.

A 2-1 lead in the first half gave Valletta a foothold on the match. And as they dominated the second  completely, they scored another goal late in the game, with the Rainbows down to ten men for the final 12 minutes after their defender Alex Alves was dismissed following two bookings.

Valletta were bereft of their suspended defender Romelu Romao, following his dismissal against Naxxar Lions, while Jhonatan Caruana and Jhonnathan are still recovering from injuries.

There were no surprises in Tarxien’s starting line-up, after their draw against Floriana the previous week, except that Daniel Zerafa regained a starting berth and Danilo Meira Santos was again named as substitute.

Abdel Karim Nafti picked up where he had left the previous week with a brace against Naxxar Lions, breaking the deadlock after only three minutes on the clock, with a powerful shot from close range.

And as the Tarxien rearguard looked still unsettled, Valletta doubled their lead ten minutes later. From a Briffa cross from the left, Priso’s effort was deflected by Bruno De Oliveira’s touch into his own goal.

But the Rainbows pounced back after 21 minutes. Forward Luke Montebello, on loan from Valletta this season, beat keeper Bonello at the far post with his glancing header, off Joao Oliveira’s corner, to reduce the arrears.

And a glaring miss on the half hour denied Tarxien an equaliser. Montebello’s low cross from the right found Triston Caruana unmarked inside the Valletta area but keeper Bonello did well to block, only for Joao Oliveira to hit the loose ball feebly.

Tarxien’s performance remained spirited but they were undermined by a lack of quality in the final third and failed to go into the break on level terms when Valletta were looking too exposed at the back.

The Citizens had what looked like a legitimate claim for a penalty turned down by the referee, on the stroke of halftime, when their striker Falcone fell inside th area when he came into contact with Bruno de Oliveira.

Valletta won a series of corners at the start of the second half but none proved productive. On 54 minutes Cremona ended a fine move with his shot going tantalsingly wide, after playing one-two with Priso.

Valletta continued to control the game. Falcone’s shot on the turn  clipped the bar past the hour.

When Tarxien replaced Menendez with Danilo Meira Santos after 66 minutes, the substitute immediately tested keeper Bonello with a low drive, in one of Tarxien’s rare threats in the second half.

Valletta put in Mifsud Triganza for Priso for the last 15 minutes. The substitute immediately presented Cremona with a good ball inside the area but the Tarxien custodian blocked at his feet.

There was still more controversy on 77 minutes. Nafti’s firm header hit the underside of the bar and the ball fell behind the back of keeper Cassar, but was adjudged not to have crosssed the line.

Hardly a minute later, Tarxien were reduced to ten men, after defender Alex Alves was sent off for a second yellow card.

Valletta exploited their numerical superiority with their third and  assuring goal three minutes from time. An unstoppable effort from substitute Mifsud Triganza from outside the area, left keeper Cassar and Tarxien totally helpless.

FLORIANA-                                        3

SLIEMA WANDERERS -                   0

Floriana: M.Calleja Cremona, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, Clyde Borg (M. Villa), Conor Borg (S. Pisani), J. Pisani, A. Scozzese, M. Picciollo, E. Briffa, N. Chiesa (F. Aboulezz), M. Fontanella

Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, M. Scerri (P. Xuereb), M. Mifsud, P. Calcado, R. Ledesma, C. Gatt Baldacchino (A. Friggieri) , J. Bezzina (M. Potezica), G. Muir, S. Bianciardi, L. Dimech

Referee:  T. Farrugia Cann

Asst.refs:  R. Vella, M. Borg

Additional asst.refs: E. Azzopardi, M. Apap

4th official: T. Debono

Scorers: M. Piciollo 18, 66, S. Pisani 88

Yellow cards: N. Chiesa, M. Scerri, P. Calcado

Player of the match: M. Piciollo (Floriana)

TMI top 3:  1. M. Piciollo  2. A. Scozzese  3. G. Muir

Attendance: 1,035

Greens’ unbeaten run goes on with Piciollo double

SILVIO VELLA

The finishing power of Matteo Piciollo should be hailed by the Floriana coach and supporters  after his double in Floriana’s  3-0 victory over Sliema Wanderers in yesterday’s ‘Old Firm’ derby. Piciollo’s brace, who had scored only once before this season,  sealed the points before substitute Steve Pisani added a third in the dying minutes to end a miserable afternoon for the Wanderers.

Matteo Piciollo had replaced Juninho in the starting line-up in Floriana’s only change from their previous draw against Tarxien Rainbows.

For Sliema Wanderers, a four-game unbeaten run came to an end and they will feel frustrated by their poor form.

Defensive frailties were Sliema’s undoing yesterday against a Floriana side which remained watertight at the back but exploited better the few chances that came their way.

Sliema needed to hold the ball better. They failed to deliver the balls that their strikers and wide men want and at the end it was not hard to understand why they have only scored four times in seven matches in this campaign.

This was supposed to be a tricky encounter for both teams, both recovering well from opening defeats to stay unbeaten in their last four league outings and sitting pretty on the 10-point mark.

The  Wanderers were buoyed by the rerturn of Mark Scerri in midfield, after missing the previous two matches, although striker Kerlon was missing.

Floriana had been threatening with a couple of early efforts from Monticelli that failed to find the right target, before forging ahead on 18 minutes. Sliema keeper Zammit  was caught ball-watching after a loose clearance and Matteo Picciollo  had no problem in planting the ball in for his second league goal this season.

Sliema’s reaction was far from coming although coach Azzopardi made a tactical change shortly before the break, putting in Marko Potezica for Johann Bezzina.

There was no immediate change to the course of the game, as the pattern that had been established early on continued even after the restart -  Floriana stifling all of Sliema’s ineffective possession and then hitting them on the break.

Sliema went close towards the hour as Muir advanced from the left, tried to lob the ball over the grounded keeper Calleja Cremona but Scozzese recovered in time to clear the ball before it crossed the line.

Sliema collapsed to concede a second time on 66 minutes. Piciollo picked possession on Fontanella’s pass to shoot past the stranded keeper Zammit.

Clyde Borg was stretchered off for Floriana on 78 minutes, soon after Conor Borg had also been replaced  by Steve Pisani.

With Sliema already looking resigned to their fate, the Floriana substitute added a third goal with two minutes remaining. Piciollo provided the cross from the left for Pisani to hit firts time past the helpless keeper Zammit.

Naxxar L. 1

Pembroke 5

Pembroke: M. Farrugia, Z. Levniac, A. Cini, R. Tanti, O. Bugeja (L. Micallef), P. Barbetti, K. O'Brien, A. Laudisi, G. Villalobos (T. Fenech), A. Martz, L. Grech.

Naxxar L.: A. Scicluna,. L. Lodetti, R (S. Arab), C Cardozo, D. Falzon, L. Pecorella, S. Hadzibulic (D. Bonnici), J. Debono (I. Grech), D. Fenech, A. Buhagiar, E. Lattes, Mandinho.

Referee: A. Mario Sant

Asst refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap, 

4th official: A. Azzopardi.

Scorers: S. Hadzibulic, K. O'Brien, L. Grech, G. Villalobos 2 (one penalty), L. Micallef.

Yellow cards: L. Grech,  

Red card: A. Buhagiar

Player of the match: G. Villalobos

TMI Top 3: 1. L. Grech, 2. G. Villalobos, 3. D. Falzon.

Henry Brincat

Premier newcomers Pembroke came back from a goal in arrears to register a convincing and deserved win against a poor Naxxar Lions side yesterday.

Thanks to this win, Pembroke moved steadily away from the relegation zone as Naxxar remain at the bottom of the standings with no points to their credit after seven matches. On the other hand, Pembroke have moved temporarily up the standings onto the 10-point mark.

Overall, it was a deserved with for the Premier newcomers who, after a rather balanced first half, dominated the second.

The Lions hopes are certainly decreasing with every match they are playing. It is evident that the players look demotivated and unless they start collecting points quickly, they will find it very hard to move up the standings in their effort to stave off relegation.

The first half was lively with the ball moving from one side to the other of the pitch at a fast rate.

Pembroke held the initiative at first, but Naxxar came back strongly to share the exchanges.

They even managed to find the right opening to take the lead, but Pembroke also rallied back to score a deserved equaliser after having gone close on a couple of occasions.

In the second half, it was a different story. It was Pembroke who scored an early goal and galvanised by their lead, they soon added a third to continue dominating.

In fact, it was not a surprise that they added two more goals before the end.

Both sides studied each other in the opening stages, but in the 13th minute, Pembroke had the first scoring opportunity. Barbetti took a short freekick to Martz whose fierce shot was palmed out by goalkeeper Pecorella. The rebound went to Laudisi whose shot from the edge of the area just missed the far post.

At the other end, in the 25th minute, a Jurgen Debono shot was blocked by a defender, but a minute later, Naxxar took the lead. It was Cardozo who set Hadzibulic who beat Matthew Farrugia.

Pembroke were unlucky not to equalise on the 30th minutre when an Austin Martz grounder hit the upright.

The Premier newcomers insisted and in the 32nd minute, it was Laudisi who was set in the area only for his effort to be blocked by the onrushing Pecorella.

Pembroke were back on level terms in the 43rd minute when after a fine solo run by Villalobos, his cross went to Kyle O'Brien who easily found the net from two metres.

Just before the interval whistle, Laudisi had a good chance to put Pembroke ahead, but after going round Pecorella, he had the misfortune of seeing a Naxxar defender clearing the ball before he could shoot into the empty net.

Pembroke took the lead soon after the change of ends. A Martz effort was partially saved by Pecorella, but Leighton Grech was on hand to hit home.

In the 54th minute, Pembroke almost scored a third when Angus Buhagiar cleared the ball from over the line off a Leighton Grech effort.

In the 65th minute, Leighton Grech went close with a shot that hit the side rigging. But a minute later, he was set by Martz to round goalie Pecorella before being floored by Buhagiar. The official quickly pointed to the dreaded spot apart from showing the red card to Angus Buhagiar. From the spot-kick Gustavo Villalobos made no mistake to put his team 3-1 up.

It became 4-1 in the 75th minute when Villalobos advanced on the left flank to beat Pecorella once again. And seven minutes later, it was substitute Lydon Micallef who scored a fifth goal.

Naxxar were denied a second consolation goal two minutes from the end when goalie Matthew Farrugia turned to corner in style a Duane Bonnici humdinger.

Balzan 1

Qormi 0

Balzan: C. Cassar, D. Grima, E. Bilbao Zarate, S. Arab (L. Micallef), G. Mensha, A. Vujacic, A. Effiong (R. Darmanin), EO Serrano Valero, L. Sciberras, C. Brincat, J. Grioli.

Qormi FC: A. Vella, A. Cassar, O. Sidibe, NO Ojuola, B. Berntsson, S. Agius, C. Gauci, K. Magro (Sv Oproiescu), CG Monti (E. Vella), R. Micallef (T. Vella), GA Nilsson.

Referee: M. Borg

Asst refs: D. Sultana, R. Aquilina

Additional refs: S. Spiteri, M. Degabriele

4th official: L. Portelli

Scorers: Vujacic

Yellow cards: EO Serrano Valero, J. Grioli, ED Bilbao Zarate, B. Berntsson, A. Vella

Red card: V. Senatore, 

Player of the match: G. Mensha

TMI top 3: 1. G. Mensha, 2. O. Sidibe, 3. A. Effiong.

Balzan strike late to take sole leadership

Henry Brincat

A late added time goal by Aleksander Vujacic gave Balzan an important three points which have enabled them to take the sole leadership of the Premier League. 

Balzan now have 17 points, two ahead of Valletta and three over Hibernians who, however, have today's match against Mosta in hand.

Although failing to leave the best of impressions, Oliver Spiteri's side certainly deserved the points as they never said 'NO'. On the other hand, Qormi must have felt very disappointed with the outcome, losing a point when it seemed to be in the bag.

Balzan were missing the injured Ryan Fenech and Bojan Kaljevic as well as Steve Bezzina. On the bench were goalie Senatore and Maxim Focsa.

Balzan's Effiong, Sciberras and Bilbao Zarate were playing against their former team-mates. Effiong, the last of them to join Balzan, presented a bouquet of flowers to the Qormi fans before the kick-off.

Despite the absences, Balzan appeared to be a superior side in the first half when they created the best scoring opportunities.

They took control of midfield with Mensha, Serrano Valero and Vujacic working non-stop and this enabled them to force Qormi into their own half for long stretches.

However, the yellow blacks also had their own moments and inspired from the back by an in form goalie Vella and a splendid duo formed by Sidibe and Berntsson in the heart of the defence, they fought gallantly to keep Balzan at bay.

In the second half, it was a different story. Balzan started to dominate and penned Qormi into their own half for very long stretches, but they could not penetrate.

Till their last-gasp goal, they were kept under check by the Qormi massed defence and goalie Vella was never really tested seriously.

Qormi elected to defend for what could have been a precious point. But they risked a lot apart from giving Balzan all the space they needed to build so many attacks. 

Moreover, Nilsson was too isolated up front and could hardly do anything without any help whatsoever.

Balzan enjoyed the initiative in the opening stages and on the third minute, Qormi goalie Vella had to dive sideways to stop a Bilbao Zarate shot.

On eight minutes, it was Effiong who tested Vella, but the Qormi goalie saved in two attempts.

At the other end, three minutes later, it was Nilsson who was handed a splendid chance after a lapse by a Balzan defender, but he skied the ball from an ideal position.

On 21 minutes, it was Mensha who tried his luck from afar, but goalie Vella denied him with a good save.

In the 38th minute, Balzan threatened again through Mensha who had a fine effort just missing the upright.

But it was Qormi who had the best chance in the 43rd minute when substitute Oproiescu received a good ball in the area, went round his direct opponent Clive Brincat only for the latter to recover and clear to corner before the Qormi striker could shoot at goal.

At the start of the second half, in the 48th minute, there was a surprise red card for Balzan's reserve goalie Senatore who was on the bench. The latter probably made some unwarranted remarks. He will now not be available for the club's next match against St Andrews.

At the other end, in a fast counter attack, Monti advanced to just outside the Balzan area, but his effort was weak and Christian Cassar had no problem to save.

Balzan went close to breaking the deadlock on the 66th minute when a full blooded shot by Lydon Micallef hit Ojuola's head on its way to goal.

Balzan finally found the opening in added time. It was Player of the Match Godwin Mensha who crossed into the Qormi area where Vujacic was in the right position to beat Andreas Vella with a clean header.