TARXIEN RAINBOWS - 4
NAXXAR LIONS - 0
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, B. De Oliveira, B. Muscat, T. Caruana, A. Azzopardi, C. Hevia Menendez (R. Bajada), L. Montebello, D. Zerafa, A. Alves, J. Oliveira (T.Tabone Desira), R. Anderson (L. Omeruo)
Naxxar L: L. Pecorella, B. Rajovic, A. Scicluna, L. Lodetti, D. Toure, T. Sarina(Y. Sammut), R. Cardozo, J. Godar Pereira, J. Debono (D. Bonnici), D. Fenech, A. Tarlazis
Referee: M.Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C.Francalanza
4th official: A. Azzopardi
Scorers: B. De Oliveira 63, A. Azzopardi 70, A. Alves 76, L. Montebello 81
Yellow cards: C. Menendez, J. Godar Pereira, B. Oliveira, D. Toure’
Red card: J. Godar Pereira, B. Rajovic
Player of the match: A. Alves (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Azzopardi 2. A. Alves 3. R. Cardozo
Tarxien run riot after Godar Pereira’s dismissal
SILVIO VELLA
Naxxar’s winless streak was extended to six matches after succumbing to their fourth league defeat on the trot yesterday to remain dangerously in penultimate spot in the League standings, and the rot is unlikely to halt soon. Playing with ten men for the last half hour, they collapsed to concede four goals after holding to a goalless draw until then.
Tarxien had more tenacious and hard-working midfielders in the likes of Carlos Menendez and Ayrton Azzopardi and won this match on their merits. But the dismissal of Jose Angel Godar past the hour was harsh on Naxxar.
The upset of a narrow league defeat by Floriana, was compounded by elimination from the FA Trophy by Lija Athletic in midweek for Naxxar, who were without their suspended Angus Buhagiar and Daren Falzon, with Emiliano Lattes not included in the squad and the unfit regular goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi sitting on the bench yesterday. Their coach Clive Mizzi was also banned from the touchline and watched his side from the VIP area.
After also suffering defeat against champions Hibernians the previous week, Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri tinkered with his line-up, with the return of Bruno De Oliveira and Brandon Muscat in defence, as well as Carlos Menendez all given a start.
Naxxar had set up to frustarte the Rainbows, to limit their space and punch on the counter. But Demba Toure and Jurgen Debono could see little of the ball, as the Lions struggled to go over the halfway line.
As expected, Tarxien kept the initiative for most of the first half, but rarely worked Luke Pecorella in the Naxxar goal.
Pecorella responded well after ten minutes, to deny Montebello, turning his shot from inside the area into a corner with a reflex save.
It took almost another quarter hour before Tarxien tested the Naxxar keeper again, through Anderson’s low drive from the right.
Then, on 36 minutes, a Toure’ inswinging powerful free kick from the left, after himself being fouled by Menendez, was held out by Tarxien keeper Cassar, with the Naxxar players claiming the ball had crossed the line.
Tarxien introduced Lucky Omeruo for Anderson after the break as they tried to show more urgency. An Azzopardi shot from the edge of the area was turned into a corner by keeper Pecorella.
The game’s turning point came just past the hour. The witty Alex Alves fell theatrically, holding his face, after making slight contact with Godar Pereira. Having already been booked, the Naxxar player was shown a second yellow card and received his marching orders.
To add insult to injury, from the resultant Azzopardi free kick, defender Bruno De Oliveira rose high to beat keeper Pecorella with a tame glancing header and put Tarxien in front. It was a soft goal to concede.
Down to ten men, Naxxar were made to struggle further to get going, as Tarxien pushed incessantly to secure the points. An Alves low diagonal shot narrowly missed the target and when the irrepresssible Alves lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper toarsd the middle, the unmarked Menendez failed to conclude.
But Tarxien’s goal deluge soon followed as they hit three more goals in the space of 11 minutes.
On 70 minutes Ayrton Azzopardi lobbed the ball perfectly with his left foot from the edge of the area as the Naxxar keeper was caught off his line.
Six minutes later, Montebello provided the cross from the byeline on the left to cut the entire defence and Alex Alves applied the final touch with a tap in.
The fourth goal did not take long in coming. With nine minutes remaining, Luke Montebello beat keeper Pecorella with a defiant strike from inside the area, after beating Scicluna’s challenge, to complete the rout.
After the final whistle, Naxxar defender Blazo Rajovic was also shown the red card, probably for dissent.
MOSTA- 0
BIRKIRKARA - 3
Mosta: Y. Cini, R. Ekani, H. Yau, T. Farrugia, M. Micallef, I. Zammit (J. Brincat), E. Micheletti, D. Okonkwo, O. Guobadia (K. Frendo), E. Murga, G. DePaulo (A. Borg)
Birkirkara: I. Akpan, Z. Muscat, N. Vukanac, M. Mazzetti, J. Zerafa, R. Muscat (R. Scicluna), E. Agius, E. Marcelina, R. Camenzuli, V. Plut. E. Liliu (J. Barroso)
Referee: L. Silagava
Asst.refs: Z. Pipia, G. Egikashvili
4th official: G. Kikacheishvili
Scorers: E. Agius 5, J. Barroso 83, R. Camenzuli 90+
Yellow cards: E. Micheletti, M. Mazzetti, D. Okonkwo, R. Muscat, R. Ekani, E. Liliu, I. Akpan
Red card: D. Okonkwo
Player of the match: R. Camenzuli (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. R. Camenzuli 2. R. Muscat 3. M. Micallef
Attendance: 632
Birkirkara go past ten-man Mosta in bruising encounter
SILVIO VELLA
Birkirkara registered their second consecutive league win without coach Tedesco, beating resilient Mosta to keep the pace with the leading pack in the BoV Premier League.
It was never quite comfortable as the scoreline suggests, with Mosta continuing to make life awkward for the Stripes, even after they were reduced to 10 men in the 65th minute, when Okonkwo collected a second caution.
Mosta continue to find momentum elusive, with only three wins in their last eight league matches. They had drawn their previous league match against Sliema Wanderers and fell to Hibernians in the FA Trophy in midweek, but fought bravely, only to wilt in the dying minutes, despite going behind early.
Birkirkara’s interim coach Josef Mansueto made a couple of changes to his side yesterday, after the win against Pembroke, as Emerson Marcelina started instead of the suspended Frank Temile and Edmond Agius wasa given the nod ahead of Gareth Sciberras, named among the substitutes.
An early goal after only five minutes play put the Stripes in the driving seat. Liliu took possession inside the Mosta area and played the ball wide on the left to the advancing Edmond Agius to beat keeper Cini with a low drive.
Earlier, Mosta had a good chance themselves but Ekani headed Murga’s cross from the left over the bar.
Birkirkara continued to look the more dangerous side with their subtle movement and short of the quarter hour Camenzuli put Plut clear inside the area but the forward was blocked by the alert Cini.
Some steely tackles from both sides interrupted the flow of play. On 37 minutes Camenzuli went past two opponents inside the Mosta area. His shot took a deflection into a corner.
Shortly after, Mazzetti was lucky to stay on the pitch, following a crude tackle on Micallef which merited a punishment, when the Birkirkara defender had been already booked.
Birkirkara went close to double their lead but Plut again failed to find the target, when set by Zach Muscat, as Cini closed the angle. The mosta keeper held out an acrobatic effort by Zach Muscat.
On the other end, Mosta almost drew level. On a Zammit free kick, Birkirkara keeper Akpan had to stretch himself to tip Yau’s firm header over the bar.
Birkirkara tried to exert pressure at the start of the second half, with keeper Cini holding out a Liliu effort, but a clash of heads between Liliu and Micallef interrupted play further.
And play became so sluggish with a litany of niggling fouls, that, not surprisingly, Mosta were the first to have a player, Okonkwo, sent off on 65 minutes for a second caution.
A minute earlier, Birkirkara threatened when Rowen Muscat played one-two with Plut inside teh Mosta area but keeper Cini footed out his low shot.
Even with an extra man, Birkirkara failed to trouble keeper Cini, until seven minutes from the end, the Mosta custodian was beaten again by a long range drive from the right by substitute Juan Barroso.
Mosta were unlucky not to get a consolation goal after substitute James Brincat advanced from the left and thumped his shot against the upright.
And in added time, man of the match Ryan Camenzuli added a third for the Stripes, again with a low drive, after advancing through the middle, with Birkirkara keeper Akpan making cartwheels in the air.
That seemed a suitable ending to a scruffy game.
Greens crush St Andrews
Floriana 5 St Andrews 0
Gerald Fenech
Floriana made it two wins on the trot against the bottom two sides when they crushed St Andrews by five goals to nil in a one sided encounter at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
Floriana FC were looking for nothing less than the three points against St Andrews who were firmly mired at the bottom of the table with absolutely no points. The Greens were without Monticelli but were otherwise at full strength while St Andrews were without Luke Desira Buttigieg, Chris Calleja and Michael Johnson, the latter suspended.
Floriana were coming from a slender 2-1 victory over Naxxar while St Andrews last week succumbed to a heavy defeat against Qormi by four goals to nil.
After a sustained period of pressure, Floriana took the lead on 32 minutes. Piciollo released Fontanella who in turn crossed towards Villa who smashed the ball in from close range.
Floriana were again close on 36 minutes when a fine shot by Piciollo was saved by Bugeja for a corner. The half then petered out with the Greens in complete control of the game and St Andrews quite resigned to their fate.
The second half began with a cross by Fontanella arriving to Piciollo who shot wide from a good position. The second goal for Floriana came on 53 minutes when a cross by Steve Pisani ended up in the net after a deviation by Christopher Edafe Uzeh for an own goal.
The Greens made it three on 56 minutes when Villa released Piciollo who concluded with a low angled shot. The fourth goal came on 58 minutes when Fontanella released Villa who beat Bugeja for the second time in the game with a fine drive.
Floriana could have made it five on 76 minutes when Fontanella weaved his way through the box but could not manoeuvre past Dorian Bugeja.
However three minutes later, the fifth goal came when Fontanella coolly converted a penalty after having been felled in the box by Bugeja.
On 87 minutes, a beautiful shot by Clyde Borg was excellently parried by Bugeja for a corner.
Floriana FC: M Calleja Cremona, E Pepe, S Pisani (J Cabral 59’), M Villa (A Scicluna 68’), C Borg, Andrea Scozzese, M Piciollo, S Bonnici, E Briffa, N Chiesa (F Aboulezz 63’), M Fontanella
St Andrews FC: D Bugeja, N Ghio, E Nkene (Sehitaj M 85’), C Uzeh, W Moodley, D Camilleri, M Guillaimier, M Grima (R Sammut 68’), J Farrugia, K Nwoko, J Walker (J Williams 34’)
Referee: Esther Azzzopardi
Asst Referees: Luke Portelli, Sammy Attard
4th Official: Marco Borg
Goals: Mauricio Villa 32’, 58’ Christopher Edafe Uzeh 53’ (og), Matteo Piciollo 56, M Fontanella 79’ (penalty)
Yellow cards: M Fontanella (F), D Bugeja (SA)
Player of the match: M. Piciollo.
TMI Top 3: M Villa, M Picciollo, M Fontanella (Floriana).
Balzan and Pembroke in drab draw
Gerald Fenech
Balzan 0
Pembroke Athleta 0
Balzan and Pembroke Athleta played out a drab goalless darw in a boring match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium in Hamrun.
Balzan Youths were looking for no less than the three points against Pembroke Athleta to keep up their fading challenge to the BOV Premier League title. Pembroke started with Mario Muscat again in goal while Austin Martz was relegated to the substitutes bench. Balzan again started without Bojan Kaljevic but were otherwise more or less at full strength with Godwin Mensha and Alfred Effiong up front.
Balzan came close after 10 minutes when an excellent shot by Godwin Mensha was brilliantly saved for a corner by Mario Muscat. Pembroke had a free kick on 15 minutes with Barbetti firing a central shot that was easily saved by Cassar in the Balzan goal.
On 28 minutes, Balzan had a good chance when Mensha released Zarate whose low shot was saved by Muscat. Two minutes later, Dylan Grima had a fine shot from outside the box that was easily saved by Muscat.
Balzan began the second half with a fine shot by Zarate that ended up just over the bar on 46 minutes.
Pembroke had their first real chance when Barbetti whipped a fine cross into the box with Shereni heading onto the side netting. Two minutes later Villalobos had an excellent shot that crashed againt the post with Cassar beaten.
Balzan replied with a Ryan Fenech cross that saw Dylan Grima force a save out of Muscat from a central header.
As the match started to become more interesting, Pembroke had another chance on 64 minutes when an interchange between Lydon Micallef and Mensha ended in a clearnce from the Balzan defence.
On 75 minutes a cross by Justin Grioli found Mensha whose header ended up just wide. Balzan had a golden chance to take the lead on 80 minutes when Lydon Micallef squared to Mensha but the latter miscued his shot well wide from an excellent position.
On 84 minutes, Ryan Darmanin had a fine header that ended up wide after a cross by Godwin Mensha.
Balzan were unlucky not to take the lead on 89 minutes when Mensha’s shot ended up saved by Muscat with the ball squirming onto the post and ending up wide.
Pembroke Ath: M Muscat, A Cini, R Tanti, O Bugeja, P Barbetti, Z Levniac, K O’Brien, S E Arab (J Martz 72’), A Laudisi, S Patmore, G Villa Lobos
Balzan FC: C Cassar, M Focsa (L Micallef 45’), J Grioli, G Mensha, C Brincat, A Effiong, L Sciberras, S Amir, D Grima (R Darmanin 77’), E D Bilbao Zarate (R Fenech 60’), E Orlando Serrano Valero
Referee: Glenn Tonna
Asst Referees: Duncan Sultana, Thomas Debono, Mario Apap, Etienne Mangion
Fourth Official: Jurgen Spiteri
Yellow cards: Clive Brincat, Bilbao Zarate, Siraj Arab, Luke Sciberras
BOV Player of the Match: E Zarate (Balzan)
TMI Top 3 E Zarate, G Mensha, P Shereni (P)