NAXXAR LIONS- 0
HIBERNIANS - 8
Naxxar L: A. Gallinetta, A. Hungaria, A. Scicluna, A. Casado, D. Falzon (A. Azzopardi) , D. Bonnici (A. Pace), J. Debono, I. Grech, D. Fenech, J. Ellul (G. Grima), N. Tasic
Hibernians: J. Haber, J. Lima (D. Vella), R. Soares (D. Mbele), M. Dias, A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, A. Agius, J. Degabriele, J. Mbong (C. Failla), Jorginho, G. Ribeiro
Referee: M. Borg
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, T. Debono
4th official: S. Pace
Scorers: A. Scicluna 15 og, J. Degabriele 23,24, 65, Jorginho 33, 80, G. Ribeiro 63 pen, A. Cohen 70
Yellow cards: A. Scicluna, N. Tasic
Player of the match: G. Ribeiro (Hibernians)
TMI top 3: 1. G. Ribeiro 2. J. Degabriele 3. Jorginho
SILVIO VELLA
Beating a dispirited side like Naxxar Lions, winless and goalless in four matches, nailed to the lower end of the table, is no guarantee that the title will be heading their way, but, after their slip against Sliema Wanderers in midweek, Hibernians needed to keep the pressure on leaders Valletta.
Their three most effective attackers combined in unanswerable fashion, scoring six between them in a comfortable goalfest against stricken opponents.
Hibernians demonstrated their attacking credentials from the start, despite leaving Luis Edison on the bench and starting with Jurgen Degabriele instead.
Facing opponents of such limited ambition and content to play almost all of the game in their own half, it might have looked difficult for the champions to find a way past Clive Mizzi’s defensive plan with seven or eight players behind the ball
The Paolites tried to stretch them wide, operating with the incursions of Dias from the right and Mbong from the left flanks.
Naxxar were on the back foot on the quarter hour as Kristensen played the ball from the right to the advancing Jorginho who tried to finish off after outplaying keeper Gallinetta. The chasing Scicluna, in a bid to clear the ball before crossing the line, shot against the innerside of the post and the ball rebounded into the net.
From then on, Hibernians always threatened to soar way before the Lions.
If there was a touch of good fortune in Hibernians’ opener, the second, on 23 minutes, was executed in more elegant fashion. Ribeiro, their most in-form player at the moment, intelligently backheeled the ball inisde the area to Jurgen Degabriele, who obliged, putting his curling shot beyond the keeper’s reach.
Hibernians were already home and dry one minute later. Jorginho played the ball forward and Jurgen Degabriele robbed Grech of possession to score with relative ease.
Hibernians kept up the pressure and threatened again when Cohen hit the bar, on a Dias cross from the right, and Naxxar keeper Gallinetta made a good stop off Ribeiro’s shot.
Past the half hour, Hibernians made it four. Jorginho played one-two with Ribeiro on the edge of the area before outstripping Hungria to shoot low past keeper Gallinetta.
The second half was like a training ground exercise, and about as much fun to watch, with Hibernians adding four more goals, despite withdrawing Lima, Soares and Mbong early, against a flimsy Naxxar rearguard.
On 63 minutes Hibernians were awarded a penalty after Dias’ cross shot was blocked by Fenech’s stretched arm inside the area, and Gilmar Ribeiro tucked it away.
Two minutes later, Cohen unselfishly played the ball square to the unmarked Jurgen Degabriele, who mishit but the ball looped into an unattended net.
The favour was returned on 70 minutes. Degabriele had rounded the keeper near the goal line but played the ball short to Andrew Cohen who only had to toe poke it over the line.
There was still time for Hibernians to complete the romp, their eighth goal coming on 80 minutes from Jorginho, who lobbed the ball over the stranded Naxxar keeper on a Degabriele pass.
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 0
VALLETTA – 3
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Muscat, B. Essel (S. Pedromo), A. Friggieri, M. Scerri (P. Xuereb), N. Priso, M. Potezica, J. Bezzina (K. Hendry), J.P. Farrugia, S. Bianciardi, L. Dimech
Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Cruz, R. Camilleri, C. Pani, F. Falcone, Jhonnattann (J. Suda), R. Briffa, A. Nafti (M. Mifsud), U. Uchenna, J. Caruana, L. Cremona (R. Ledesma)
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst.refs: R. Vella, L. Portelli
4th official: E. Azzopardi
Scorers: U. Uchenna 17, Jhonnattan 64, A. Nafti 74
Yellow cards: S. Bianciardi, U. Uchenna, Jhonnattan
Player of the match: Jhonnattan (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. Jhonnattan 2. R. Briffa 3. M. Potzica
Attendance: 1,701
SILVIO VELLA
This was supposed to be a difficult test for leaders Valletta, with their opponents Sliema Wanderers going into the match in vein of some good form.
But Valletta showed superiority throughout and won with plenty to spare.
This impressive victory was accomplished with the tenacity, skill and nous of a side that senses it has the stuff of champions. This is a side emboldened by the opportunity before them as they maintain a four-point advantage over nearest rivals Hibernians, with seven matches remaining.
Alfonso Greco’s Sliema were jittery at the back while in attack their play was sluggish and lacking in penetration. That can partly be put down to the absence of key players through suspensions, most notably Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Tarlaziz, Gary Muir and Denni Dos Santos.
Their makeshift defence included Luke Dimech and Benjamin Essel, with Potezica in front of them. Sliema were always reliant on the latter to cut Valletta’s supply to their forwards and as their main source of creativity. Mark Scerri played in a retreated position, but was forced to leave the pitch shortly before the break with some muscle problem after a clearance. Priso tried unsuccessfully to make up for Denni’s absence in attack. Aiden Friggieri and Johann Bezzina looked under-achievers, losing possession cheaply and never really made an impact on the match.
But all in all this was a display that served as a reminder that despite the recovery the Wanderers have made of late, this is a club still struggling to recapture former glories.
Valletta zipped forward from the start. They put Sliema under pressure and, when in possession, looked to dominate play with their desire to earn their eighth win in succession.
The tricky interplay between Nafti and Jhonnattan, as well as the marauding runs of midfielder Roderick Briffa, preferred to Ledesma, caused their opponents many anxious moments.
The Citizens tilted the contest in their favour as early as the 17th minute. Essel stopped a Valletta attack but did not control the ball well and Jhonnattann was quick to play it wide on the right to the advancing Umeh Uchenna to beat keeper Zammit with a low diagonal drive.
Although failing to add more goals, Valletta always looked comfortable with their one-goal advantage at halftime.
Although still in the game, Sliema remained flacid in the second period, with Farrugia shooting over on a Priso cross that Valletta failed to clear.
Valletta doubled their lead on 64 minutes. Jhonnattan twisted and turned past Essel inside the Sliema area and loobed the ball at the far corner. There was nothing for keeper Zammit to do other than admire the sheer class of it.
On 70 minutes, the irresistible Jhonnattan sent a low inv iting cross for the unmarked Falcone who shot over the bar when it was easier to shoot beneath it. And after Zammit footed out another Jhonnattan effort, the Sliema custodian was caught off his line by Karim Nafti’s dipping ball from a distance on 74 minutes.
With the points safe, Valletta could have added further goals as Sliema were reeling. Muscat cleared Jhonnattan’s cross towards Falcone who again missed the target.
And in the dying minutes an effort from substitute Mifsud, was footed out by keeper Zammit to spare his side from further derision.
Qormi-Mosta 0-1
Stewart Said
Mosta defeated Qormi by a solitary goal yesterday to send the Yellow Blacks to the bottom of the standings.
This happened after St Andrews beat Pembroke 3-1 in the match played earlier. Qormi remain on five points, while St Andrews have joined Naxxar L. on seven points each.
For this match, Mosta had to do without central defender Tyrone Farrugia who was ruled out through suspension.
It should have been an easy victory for Mosta against the beleaguered Qormi, but in actual fact, the Blues just squeezed through.
Qormi missed a chance to start winning precious points in their battle against relegation. In fact, this was their 11th consecutive defeat which has sent them to the bottom of the Premier League standings.
Mosta were the better team in the opening stages of the match as they sought to get an early goal.
Godwin Mensah had a shot partially cleared and James Brincat’s grounder was easily blocked by Andreas Vella. The Blues’ were rewarded for their efforts in the 18th minute when Edile Micheletti advanced before setting Mensah who controlled the ball before placing his shot beyond Vella’s reach.
Qormi tried to retaliate and showed improvement despite suffering that setback. But they failed to trouble the Mosta defence which proved to be superior.
Mosta insisted on attack and almost added a second on the 28th minute but Gwar’s effort just missed the target.
A few minutes later, Lydon Micallef set Brincat, but the latter’s shot was well saved by Vella.
In added first half time, Micallef should have done better than hitting wide when in an ideal position. In the second half, Mosta remained the better team and early on, a Micallef shot went over.
At the other end, in the 57th minute, Ojuola went close to a leveller for Qormi and as the latter insisted in search of an equaliser, it was again Ojuola who saw his header being saved by Omar Borg.
In added time, Micallef again missed a good chance to add to Mosta’s solitary tally when in front of Vella, he hit wide.
St Andrews 3
Pembroke 1
St Andrews: J. Galea, E. Pena Beltre, D. Camilleri, BW Che, J. Perez Cuestra, VL Oseghale (M. Desira Buttigieg), S. Wisdom, J. Farrugia, F. Onwudinjo, M. Johnson (K. Nwoko), E. Nkene.
Pembroke: M. Muscat, Z. Levniac, A. Cini (G. Nobrega), R. Tanti (O. Obiefule), O. Bugeja, M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, S. Arab (T. Agius), A. Laudisi, G. Villalobos, K. O’Brien.
Referee: M. Apap.
Asst refs: M. Scerri, M. Borg.
4th official: P. Farrugia.
Scorers: J. Perez Cuestra, A. Laudisi pen, K. Nwoko,
Yellow cards: P. Barbetti, O. Bugeja, F. Onwudinjo,
Player of the match: E. Pena Beltre.
TMI Top 3: 1. E. Pena Beltre; 2. P. Barbetti; 3. J. Perez Cuestra.
Henry Brincat
St Andrew's - Pembroke 3-1
St Andrews continued with their second phase revival yesterday as they beat rival neighbours Pembroke in a derby match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.
After the Saints had taken an early lead through Perez Cuestra and Laudisi equalised from a penalty for Pembroke, the match appeared heading for a draw. But near the end, substitute Kyrian Nwoko scored three minutes from the end and another substitute, Matteo Desira Buttigieg, netted with the final shot of the match to give their side an important win.
That victory enabled the side to move away from bottom place for the very first time this season. They now have seven points, the same as Naxxar and two ahead of the new occupiers of the bottom place Qormi.
The first half of this Premier derby was equally balanced. Both sides appeared to be giving their all with the Saints, perhaps, showing themselves more adventurous in front of goal.
After taking the lead early, one thought that the Saints would be growing in stature, but Pembroke hit back after just a few minutes to equalise. From then on the match became interesting with the ball moving from one side to the other of the pitch frequently with both goalies being kept active on several occasions. But not further goals were registered till the interval.
In the second half, it was again quite balanced but this time, neither goalkeeper was so much in action as the two defences were superior to their respective opponents.
Play was restricted mainly to the midfield sector as the two outfits seemed determined not to leave the field empty handed.
At the end, St Andrews squeezed home thanks to two goals from their substitutes Nwoko and Desira Buttigieg to take home three important points.
The Saints took the lead on the sixth minute and what a goal it was! Oseghale beautifully set Pena Beltre in the Pembroke area. The latter crossed low for Perez Cuestra to hit home first time past a helpless Muscat.
But Pembroke did not take long to get back on level terms. They were awarded a penalty in the 15th minute after Johnson was deemed to have pulled down Mano Micallef in the area. Ariel Laudisi made no mistake from the spotkick to level matters.
St Andrews risked giving away another penalty in the 18th minute when Che was seen pushing Micallef in the area, but the official, close to the action, saw nothing untoward and waved play on.
Immediately afterwards, at the other end, it was Muscat who denied the Saints the lead once again as he turned to corner in style a humdinger from Farrugia who had received a good ball from Pena Beltre.
St Andrews went close to scoring again on the 27th minute. It was Oseghale, again, who set Dale Camilleri beautifully, but the latter’s shot went a few centimetres wide.
In the 33rd minute, it was Beltre who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but Muscat neutralised the ball easily. And soon after, it was Oseghale had a shot blocked by a defender to a corner.
St Andrews appealed for a penalty in the 57th minute when Beltre bustled his way into the Pembroke area and appeared to have been pushed by a Pembroke defender, but Mr Apap, again close to the action, ignored their appeals.
St Andrews stunned their opponents three minutes from the end, when Oseghale hit the upright with a good effort from outside the area, but substitute Kyrian Nwoko was on hand to plant the ball into the net.
And soon after, it was Muscat who denied the Saints a third goal when Perez Cuestra advanced into the area only to see his final effort blocked by the onrushing Pembroke goalie.
Pembroke had a shot by Laudisi well saved by Galea, but at the other end, the Saints scored their third goal through substitute Matteo Desira Buttigieg who had received a good ball from Perez Cuestra.