GZIRA 1 BIRKIRKARA 7
Birkirkara scored seven times to condemn Gzira United to a second damaging defeat in seven days – their third in four matches.
Gzira, for all their will to limit the damage in the first half, ended the afternoon well outclassed, as they could not match the vibrancy or potency of Srna Dimitrov or the intensity of Birkirkara’s overall performance. The final score reflected the gulf between the two sides.
Gzira, who let go their two Brazilians Roberto and Joceano during the week, had Moises Avila Perez and Juan Corbolan playing in attack. But it was always going to be laborious for them to breach the best defence in the Premier League. When Avila Perez did, it served only for statistical purposes.
Birkirkara opened the scoring after nine minutes. Dimitrov was the architect, provding a through pass to Temile who resisted the urge to shoot when faced by the onrushing goalkeeper and slided the ball instead to the unmarked Vito Plut to finish off with a routine tap in.
Keeper Azzopardi had to be treated for an eyebrow cut in the process and play was stopped for about four minutes.
Temile and Plut had already fluffed a couple of good chances as Gzira were giving away possession too cheaply, when the Gzira keeper rushed off his line to fist away a Dimitrov cross from the left, the ball fell to Vukanac who headed against the upright.
Gzira’s best move came into the half’s added time. Avila Perez advanced inside the Birkirkara area on a Conti pass, but shot over.
Whatever talk by coach Branco Nisevic at halftime, Gzira were briskly dismantled by three Birkirkara goals in as many minutes soon after the interval.
On 52 minutes right back Attard foraged down the flank. His cross was headed by Andelkovic towards Srdan Dimitrov who volleyed the ball past keeper Azzopardi.
Hardly a minute later, Ryan Scicluna took the ball in his stride and seeing the goalkeeper out of his line, beat him with a delicate lob from some 35 metres out.
Only two minutes later, Birkirkara scored their fourth. This time Plut played a short pass to captain Gareth Sciberras to finish off from close range.
Gzira looked demoralised. They effected all three substitutions but still collapsed to concede two more goals in a two-minute spell. On 73 minutes Temile had his effort turned into a corner by the Gzira keeper. From the resultant Bajada corner, Frank Temile headed in.
Two minutes later it was 6-0. Srdan Dimitrov picked Muscat’s low cross, turned away from his two opponents and scored with a drilling shot from outside the area.
Gzira at least got a consolation goal on 77 minutes. Susbtitute Nwoba advanced but was blocked inside the area. The short clearance fell to Moises Avila Perez who shot past keeper Kopric.
But Birkirkara were not finished yet. They even scored their seventh with six minutes remaining. Substitute Mathew Guillaumier’s cross shot from the right, beat keeper Azzopardi at the far post.
The Gzira keeper was harshly sent off in added time as the referee adjudged him to have handled the ball, after Dimitrov tried to lob it over, outside the penalty area, but television replays suggested it was inside.
Gzira U: J. Azzopardi, R. Ledesma (J. Nwoba), G. Conti, A. Machedo Neto, J. Corbolan, J. Bondin (C. Gatt Baldacchino), M. Avila Perez, J. Borg, Z. Scerri, S. Diamoutene, Y. Tonna (D. Falzon)
Birkirkara: M. Kopric, C. Bubalovic, G. Sciberras (M. Guillaumier) , M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov, V. Plut, N. Vukanac, F. Temile, J. Zerafa (S. Bajada), C. Attard (R. Muscat), R. Scicluna
Referee: G. Tonna
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, P. Abela
4th official: E. Mangion
Scorers: V. Plut 9, S. Dimitrov 52, 75, R. Scicluna 53, G. Sciberras 55, F. Temile 73, M. Avila Perez 77, M. Guillaumier 84
Yellow cards: G. Sciberras
Red card: J. Azzopardi
Player of the match: S. Dimitrov (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. S. Dimitrov 2. G. Sciberras 3. R. Scicluna
VALLETTA 1 TARXIEN RAINBOWS 0
Michael Mifsud came off the bench to score Valletta’s winner late in the game, in a hard fought victory against Tarxien Rainbows to keep up the pace with leaders Balzan.
It was a narrow win for the champions through a combination of their own bluntness and a display from Tarxien that brimmed with energy and organisation.
Valletta were unconvincing but somehow did enough to build on last weekend’s restorative victory over Gzira United.
For the Rainbows, it was a case of what might have been, after two successive games without defeat, but they can nevertheless take great encouragement from their display yesterday.
Some notable absentees for Valletta were Juan Cruz, Umeh Uchenna and Romao. Dziugas Bartkus from Lithuania played in goal instead of the suspended Henry Bonello.
Besides Ayrton Azzopardi, Tarxien, who failed to win in their previous three league matches, also had Luke Montebello out injured, as they tried to stifle their opponents in midfield. In fact Marcelina, Triston Caruana, Ponce and Kurt Zammit, often had the better of Jean Borg, Alihno, Santiago Malano and Claudio Pani in that area of the field.
Still Valletta had a Jean Borg shot from a distance, narrowly missing the target and towards the half hour Falcone had his shot blocked but Jhonnattann shot the rebound well over.
That did not prevent Tarxien from pressing aggressively high up the pitch and passing the ball with intent and zip, as Valletta struggled to build momentum in the first half. On 34 minutes Marcelina headed Triston Caruana’s corner over the bar.
Valletta were soon dominating possession and territory at the start of the second half, forcing Tarxien back and Nilsson’s presence as the Rainbow’s lone striker, to become increasingly isolated. At times there were eight men in blue stationed in and around their penalty area in order to fend off attacks from their opponents. On 54 minutes, Tarxien introduced their seventh foreigner – Claudio Frances – for Kurt Zammit, to give more support in attack.
Minutes later, Jhonnattann forced keeper Cassar to repel his hard drive. On the other end a Prendez squeezed shot fell to Nilsson, whose volley was tipped around the post by keeper Bartkus.
The latter again saved Nilsson’s shot on the turn into another corner past the hour.
At this juncture, it was still anybody’s game. Jean Borg limped off on 70 minutes to be replaced by Michael Mifsud.
The latter had been hardly four minutes on the field when he took possession of Aguirre’s cross, advanced inside area on teh right and let fly a fierce shot to beat keeper Cassar and put Valletta in front.
That was a hard blow for Tarxien to fathom but Valletta showed all their expertice to preserve a precious win and only their second clean sheet of the season.
Valletta: D. Bartkus, J. Caruana, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, S. Malano (L. Cremona), J. Borg (M. Mifsud), F. Falcone, C. Pani, L. Aguirre, Jhonnattan (I. Azzopardi), V. Alihno
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, T. Caruana (J. Galea), D. Pnce, A. Nilsson, E. Marcelina, S. Prendes, D. Zerafa, A. Alves, K. Zammit (C. Frances), S. Borg (D. Micallef)
Referee: M. Apap
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, C. Francalanza
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: M. Mifsud 74
Player of the match: C. Pani (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Pani 2. S. Prendes 3. Jhonnattann
Attendance: 943
BALZAN 3 HAMRUN S. 1
Henry Brincat
Balzan yesterday defeated Hamrun Spartans comfortably to remain Premier League leaders, three points ahead of second placed Birkirkara.
Goals from Alan Da Silva Souza and Bojan Kaljevic gave them a perfect start, but despite their domination, Teixeira Maia pulled one back for the Spartans before the interval. A strike by Alfred Effiong midway through the second half confirmed the leaders’ superiority.
Hamrun coach Steve D’ Amato had to do without Jorge Pereira, ruled out through suspension, while goalie Cassar was out injured. Also missing was striker Garba, who is now playing abroad. Moreover, Luke Grech and Christian Maldini started the match on the bench. Back in the starting line-up were Samir Arab, Alan da Silva Souza and Dylan Micallef.
On his part, Balzan mentor Oliver Spiteri left Matteo Piciollo and Abdelkarim Nafti on the bench (both made an appearance as substitutes) while Serrano Valero was not even included in the squad.
In the first half, Balzan had the match well in hand till the 40th minute. Until then, they were leading 2-0 and cruising towards a comfortable victory, but Hamrun got back in contention three minutes from the interval.
Balzan were simply the best team during the first 45 minutes, but the Spartans fought back bravely, though with great difficulty, to get back in the match.
In fact, they came out fighting in the second half, but they could not pierce the Balzan rearguard as Janjusevic seemed unbeatable.
When the goal arrived at the other end, following a lapse by the Hamrun defence, it was all over and Balzan could coast home to a comfortable win.
The match was not even one minute old and Balzan were already in the lead. It was Alan Da Silva Souza who went round a defender and beat Farrugia with a fine grounder from the edge of the area.
In the next minute the same Da Silva Souza saw his effort being deviated against the upright. From the rebound, the ball went just wide even if the official whistled for an infringement.
On 18 minutes, Kaljevic set Effiong who advanced unhindered in the Hamrun area only to be thwarted by the onrushing Matthew Farrugia who blocked his effort.
At the other end, on 24 minutes, Jake Grech was close to scoring an equaliser for the Spartans. From a Dos Anjos cornerkick, Grech’s first effort was blocked by a Balzan defender. The rebound then passed inches wide of the upright.
It became 2-0 in the 26th minute. From a Da Silva Souza perfect pass, Kaljevic beat the Hamrun offside trap, advanced and beat Farrugia with a good, low shot.
The Spartans missed a great opportunity to reduce the gap on 37 minutes when off a perfect cross by Nanapere Saturday, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza hit over the bar from three metres.
In the 41st minute, it was Dylan Grima who thwarted Mifsud Triganza, clearing to corner in extremis. From the cornerkick, taken by Motta dos Santos, Teixeira Maia had a header hitting the underpart of the crossbar, but he was on the right spot to kick home from close in.
The Spartans threatened to equalise in the 52nd minute, when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza had a good effort turned to corner by Janjusevic.
Hamrun insisted and after a good Saturday pass, it was Motta who tested Janjusevic seriously, but the Balzan goalie dived sideways to turn to corner in style.
The goal, however, arrived soon after, but at the other end. A Paul Fenech low cross was palmed out by Farrugia and Alfred Effiong had no difficulty in planting the ball into the net.
On 70 minutes, substitute Nafti had a fine effort just missing the target.
Till the end, Balzan administered play with Fenech and Nafti in control of midfield as the Spartans failed to threaten again.
Balzan: I. Janjusevic, S. Arab, B. Kaljevic (M. Piciollo), B. Gilio de Oliveira, S. Bezzina, P. Fenech, A. Effiong (A. Nafti), D. Grima, T. Agius (S. Cipriott), A. Da Silva Souza, L. Micallef.
Hamrun S.: M. Farrugia, P. Chircop, PJ Teixeira Maia (M. Giusti), MA Borg, LM Vergara Rodrigues, N. Saturday, L. Sciberras, LW Motta dos Santos, J. Grech, SR Dos Anjos, JP Mifsud Triganza (D. Falzon).
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: L. Portelli, S. Attard.
4th official: M. Degabriele.
Scorers: A. Da Silva Souza, B. Kaljevic, P. J. Teixeira Maia, A. Effiong,
Yellow cards: D. Grima, S. Bezzina, N. Saturday, L. Micallef.
Player of the match: A. Da Silva Souza.
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Da Silva Souza, 2. P. Fenech, 3. N. Saturday.
MOSTA 0 FLORIANA 1
Henry Brincat
A 39th minute strike by Nicholas Chiesa was enough yesterday for Floriana to beat a stubborn Mosta side.
Apart from returning to winning form, the victory enabled the Greens to join Hibernians on the 14-point mark, ahead of today’s clash between the same Hibernians and St Andrews.
The Greens dominated for most of the time, but with Mosta adopting defensive tactics, they found it difficult to penetrate and Mosta could therefore remain in contention till the end.
In fact, they almost surprised the Greens near the end as they nearly obtained an equaliser.
The first half was mostly uneventful with Floriana dominating from start to finish. Goalmouth actions were few and far between and the sparse crowd had little to shout about except on that occasion when their side took the lead.
It was a one-sided affair with Floriana launching one attack after another and with Mosta concentrating mainly on defence.
In fact, Ivan Zammit’s boys rarely, if ever, reached the edge of the Floriana area and did not even bother Greens goalie Matthew Grech at least on one occasion.
Floriana found it difficult to penetrate the 10-man Mosta defence, but when they scored, it immediately became an uphill task for Zammit’s boys.
In the second half, the match followed the same pattern with the Greens on attack and with Mosta trying their utmost to move forward in search of an equaliser.
But once again they failed to provide one anxious moment for Floriana goalie Matthew Grech until the final moments when they threatened seriously to equalise.
Floriana took the initiative from the start and on six minutes, an Amadio header was well saved by goalie Cini.
In the 17th minute, Steve Pisani crossed perfectly into the Mosta area, but Ignacio Varela’s header went straight into the waiting hands of goalie Cini.
In the 25th minute, off an Amadio freekick, it was Pepe who headed just wide, although the official had whistled for an infringement.
Floriana continued to dominate and four minutes later, Steve Pisani set Nicholas Chiesa outside the area, but the latter’s shot went wide.
Floriana finally opened the scoring on the 39th minute. From a long throw-in into the Mosta area, the ball was cleared by a Mosta defender and it hit Nicholas Chiesa with the ball ending at the back of the net.
Just before the interval whistle, from an Alex Cini cross, it was Varela who headed weakly into Cini’s hands.
At the start of the second half, Floriana were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area, but Ruiz shot wide.
In the 56th minute, Mosta goalie Yenz Cini risked a lot when he rushed out of his charge and lost control of the ball, but somehow, it ended in a throw-in for the Greens.
Soon after, following a S. Pisani cornerkick, Varela’s header was turned to corner in style by Cini.
In the 63rd minute, Steve Pisani’s 30-metre effort went over the bar.
In the 68th minute, Samb headed weakly from an ideal position and the ball was easily saved by Cini.
Near the end, Mosta almost equalised in their only real scoring chance during the 90 minutes. From a cross from the right it was Oseghale who headed goalwards, but the Greens goalie Matthew Grech saved with difficulty in two attempts.
The final whistle saw the Greens celebrating their return to winning form.
Mosta: Y. Cini, G. Bezak, E. Vella, D. Djoufack, K. Magro, D. Xuereb, J. Repa (A. Caruana), E. Murga (L. Martinelli), LV Oseghale, K. Jackson, K. Atkinson.
Floriana: M. Grech, A. Monticelli, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, I. Varela, J. Pisani, G. Amadio (R. Camenzuli), A.Cini, A. Samb, N.Chiesa (C. Borg).
Referee: M. Spiteri.
Asst refs: R. Vella, C. Azzopardi.
4th official: S. Pace.
Scorers: N. Chiesa,
Yellow cards: G. Bezak, E. Pepe, A. Samb, A. Monticelli, D. Djoufack, K. Magro.
Player of the match: I. Varela.
TMI Top 3: 1. N. Chiesa, 2. I. Varela, 3. LV Oseghale.
Attendance: 823