Tarrxien-Hibernians 1-2
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, M. Tabone, T. Caruana, K. Zammit (A. Agius), S. Prendes, D. Micallef (E.Nkene), D. Zerafa, A. Alves, S. Borg, C. Frances, J. Galea
Hibernians: A. Hogg, R. Soares, M. Dias, J. Lima, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, J. Mbong (T. Tabone Desira), Jorginho, J. Degabriele (R. Telles), J. Bezzina (A. Cohen), A. Agius
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Francalanza
4th official: E. Mangion
Scorers: J. Lima 39, T. Caruana 50 pen, Jorginho 72
Yellow cards: A. Alves
Player of the match: Jorginho (Hibernains)
TMI top 3: 1. J. Lima 2. Jorginho 3. S. Prendes
SILVIO VELLA
Jackson Lima and Jorginho settled this derby as Hibernains sank their depleted neighbours Tarxien Rainbows at Ta’ Qali National Stadium.
Following six unbeaten matches, Hibernians now move to within a point of leaders Balzan in the standings while Tarxien’s woes are compounded further with their dismal streak of six winless matches.
Suspensions deprived the Rainbows of several key players like Baker, Marcelina, Ponce and Nilsson and their cutting edge suffered miserably, with Julian Galea deployed as the main striker. They only did threaten sporadically and their temporary equaliser came from a penalty after Julian Galea was fouled inside the area.
The Paolites then reaffirmed the order of things. They began to oufight their opponents all over the pitch and then topped it off with Jorginho’s winner 12 minutes from time.
Hibernians made two changes, with Jonathan Bezzina starting in midfield instead of Varea and Joseph Mbong returned from suspension, with Dunstan Vella making way.
Hibernians had a pile of pressure in the first half but little in the way of final product. They held to possession but did not overwork Andrea Cassar in the Tarxien goal. An Agius header after ten minutes forced Cassar into a difficult save to tip into a corner and midway through the half Degabriele had a good effort going narrowly wide.
The only goal came after 39 minutes. Mbong delivered a cross from the byeline that fell to Degabriele, whose shot was blocked by the Tarxien defence, only for Jackson Lima to pick the loose ball and score.
It was no more than Hibernians deserved from a first half during which Tarxien did not manage a single shot at goal.
After a lull in play, the teams went out more fired up in the second period, with Hibernians introducing Andrew Cohen for Bezzina.
Tarxien took only five minutes to level matters when Galea ran for a loose ball, pushed forward by Zammit, and was bundled by Agius inside the area to earn a penalty. Tristion Caruana made no mistake from the spot.
The goal brought an immediate response from Hibernians who threatened again with a Jotginho dipping shot, tipped over the bar by keeper Cassar. From the resultant Failla corner, Cohen again forced the Tarxien shot-stopper into another save with his firm header.
Past the hour, Cassar was caught off his line but Jorginho’s try was deflected into a corner.
With the introduction of Renan Telles for Degabriele, Jorginho took a more central position in attack. The move soon paid divdidends. On 72 minutes Jorginho picked Telles’ short pass, to advance from the left, shrugging off Alves’ challenge to beat keeper Cassar. That was to be Hibernians’ winner that lifts them in second place.
HAMRUN SPARTANS- 0
VALLETTA - 3
Hamrun S: F. Tabone, G. Azzopardi, P. Teixeira, L. Sciberras, L. Rodriguez, S. Nanapere, J. Neto, L. Motta (M. Giusti), J. Grech, S. Raphael, J. P. Mifsud Triganza (R. Refalo)
Valletta: D. Barktus, R. Romao, L. Aguirre, V. Alhino, C. Pani, Jhonnattann, F. Falcone (J. Borg), R. Camilleri, S. Borg, L. Cremona (N. Pulis), M. Mifsud (J. Suda)
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: W. Debattista, M. Borg
4th official: P. Farrugia
Scorers: Jhonnattann 45 pen 90+, L. Aguirre 75
Yellow cards: J. Neto, L. Aguirre, F. Tabone, L. Rodrigues, R. Romao
Red card: J. Neto
Player of the match: Jhonnattann (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. Jhonnattann 2. M. Mifsud 3. P. Texeira
Attendance: 3201
SILVIO VELLA
Some old rivalry was ignited with this clash between two former heavyweights of local football in the eighties and the colourful and noisy atmosphere from both sets of supporters at Ta’ Qali brought some nostalgia.
Not the quality of play though. This was hardly ever a contest as Valletta were the better team throughout. Hamrun’s too laid back approach rendered them inferior, moreso after having a man sent off with a quarter of an hour left.
Valletta were enjoying a narrow advantage but two late goals, when in numerical superiority, wrapped up the points they richly deserved.
A penalty on the stroke of halftime gave Valletta a deserved lead in a half they completely dominated but lacked the required penetration.
Hamrun were pushed back inside their own half against an attack-oriented Valletta, with Federico Falcone, Michael Mifsud and Jhonnattan as their fulcrum, and huffed and puffed, chasing their opponents.
Valletta, who had central defender Jonathan Caruana missing, made most of the running, created some anxious moments to the Spartans’ rearguard, especially when Jhonnattan’s free kick was cleared frenetically off the line by Raphael on 22 minutes.
The penalty incident came after Jhonnattann was felled by the Hamrun keeper as he darted inside the area on a Falcone pass and the same Valletta forward tucked it away.
Hamrun began with more energy after the interval. On 54 minutes Texeira’s cross shot after going through on the right, took a wicked deflection off Camilleri but found keeper Barktus alert enough to block into a corner.
Despite regaining a measure of control, Hamrun’s defence repeatedly struggled against Valletta’s fast-moving forward line.
Hamrun put in Massimiliano Giusti and Valletta introduced Jean Borg for Falcone.
Photos above Domenic Aquilina
The momentum kept building with every tackle from steel in midfield.
There was a twist to the match on 74 minutes. Hamrun’s central defender Neto received his marching orders for a second caution and hardly a minute later, Valletta doubled their lead. Wide back Leandro Aguirre ran down the left and beat keeper Tabone with a low diagonal shot.
With Valletta all over their opponents Hamrun lacked composure and a growing frustration crept in. Substitutes Pulis and Suda crafted a good move that shoukd have ended with another goal for the Citizens as the former’s cross beat the keeper but Pulis shot against the foot of the post with a gaping goal at his mercy.
There was still time for Valletta to make them three however. Jhonnattann finished off the move at the end of a game that they dominated, both in terms of possession and chances.
Hamrun were left feeling the chill.
Mosta 0
Pembroke 3
Mosta: Y. Cini, E. Vella, L. Martinelli (A. Caruana), RA Martin (M. Vlcek), T. Grant, G. Bezak (K. Frendo), K. Magro, B. Meledje, D. Xuereb, D. Djoufack, N Priso.
Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, Z. Levnaic, A. Djeljilj, M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, S. Arab, S. Haruna Shodiya, M.Bernardo, M. Borche, A. Scozzese, A. Borg.
Referee: M. Apap.
Asst refs: P. Apap, P. Abela.
4th official: S. Pace.
Scorers: E. Vella own goal, L. Martinelli own goal, M. Micallef,
Yellow cards: D. Djoufack, TA Grant.v
Player of the match: M. Micallef.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Micallef, 2. M. Borche, 3. D. Djoufack.
Attendance: 265
Henry Brincat
Pembroke played their best match so far this season to finish the first round on a positive note, winning their second match of the season and moving close to leaving bottom place.
Three strikes in the first half – the first two from own goals and another from Mano Micallef – stunned Mosta, who are now only one point ahead of the same Pembroke. Mosta are on eight points, while Pembroke remain bottom but with seven points.
Pembroke were coming from a defeat against Hamrun in their previous match, while Mosta had drawn against Sliema.
It was a very entertaining match as the ball went from one side to another in quick succession with scoring chances galore at both ends.
Bottom-placed Pembroke showed much more determination than usual as they appeared anxious to obtain their second win of the season in an effort to get moving away from the bottom of the standings.
In the first half they were a superior outfit, even if they had to rely on two own goals to take full control before adding a third for good measure before the end of the first half.
Mosta were found wanting at the back, although I would be the first to say that they were very unlucky to have suffered those two own goals which gave Pembroke the confidence to take control of the match.
Up front, Priso and newcomer Bradley Meledje tried hard to get their team back in contention, but the Pembroke defence never yielded an inch.
In the second half, Mosta were in difficulty as Pembroke remained on top. The Blues, in fact, never managed a serious effort towards the Pembroke goal.
At the end, Pembroke were worthy winners and they now look forward with optimism towards a better future.
Pembroke started the match on attack and in the first minute Manevski Borche sped past goalie Calleja Cremona in the area, but his final effort was blocked to a corner by a Mosta defender.
In the 6th minute, Barbetti set Shodiya on the edge of the area, but the latter’s effort went just over.
Mosta replied with a fine move in the 7th minute. From a Bezak cross, goalie Calleja Cremona punched out, but Dexter Xuereb’s goalbound effort was cleared from near the goalline by Mano Micallef.
In the 11th minute, Martin set Priso on the left. The latter advanced into the Pembroke area, but his shot passed across goal.
Pembroke took the lead on the 14th minute. Shodiya set Bernardo who passed the ball to Manevski Borche. The latter’s cross hit Emerson Vella and ended at the back of the net.
In the 27th minute, Barbetti set Mariano Bernardo whose effort was kicked out by goalie Yenz Cini.
In the 35th minute, Pembroke added a second goal – another own goal. From a Bernardo cross, it was Luca Martinelli who lobbed over his own goalkeeper and into the net.
Mosta retaliated, but a Priso shot was well saved by Calleja Cremona.
But they were shocked again in the 42nd minute as Pembroke added a third goal. It was Shodiya who set Mano Micallef for the latter to beat goalie Cini with a grounder.
In the 61st minute, Asani Djeljilj set Siraj Arab in the Mosta area, but goalie Cini saved his weak effort in two attempts.
In the 71st minute, Mano Micallef saved the Pembroke fort as he cleared from over the line a Priso effort.
In the 75th minute, substitute Vlcek also tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area, but his effort went over.
Siraj Arab missed a glorious chance to add another for Pembroke on the 82nd minute as he advanced unhindered from midfield only to see his lob being saved by Cini.
St Andrews 1
Gzira U. 0
St Andrews: J. Galea, M. Johnson, K. Kesinovic, BW Che, F. Udoh, E. Pena Beltre, G. McKay (J. Walker), J. Farrugia, D. Camilleri, I. Paz (K. Nwoko), Z. Kastrevec (N. Belacevic).
Gzira U.: Jurgen Borg, R. Ledesma, M. Conti, A. Machedo Neto, JC Corbalan, C. Gatt Baldacchino (Jacob Borg), M. Avila Perez, J. Bondin, Z. Scerri (K. Pulo), S. Diamoutene, Y. Tonna (J. Nwoba).
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, C. Azzopardi.
4th official: F. Zammit.
Scorer: G. McKay
Yellow cards: M. Johnson, D. Camilleri, J. Galea,
Player of the match: D. Camilleri
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Camilleri, 2. Diamoutene, 3. J . Farrugia.
Henry Brincat
St Andrews remained in eighth place in the standings yesterday despite a narrow 1-0 win against relegation-haunted fellows Gzira United.
But the three points served them in good stead as they now have 13 points and are certainly in a healthier position. On the other hand, Gzira remain on nine points.
St Andrews were definitely the better team in the first half and they deserved their slender 1-0 lead.
The Saints were more determined than their opponents and created the best of the very few chances during a rather boring opening 45 minutes.
Actions in front of goal were few and far between and Gzira were restricted to just two efforts, one of which went well over the post.
The Maroons were lacking in ideas and they never really troubled goalie Galea except on one occasion, soon after the start.
It was only in the final ten minutes of the second half, that they pressed hard in search of an equaliser, but it never materialised as they found a resolute Saints’ defence facing them.
Gzira had a good chance to take the lead on the 8th minute when off a Ledesma cross, it was Machedo Neto who tested goalie Jake Galea with a good header, but the Saints goalie dived sideways to save.
In the 19th minute, from another Ledesma freekick, first Diamoutene and then Machedo Neto failed to make contact in front of goalie Jake Galea.
St Andrews took the lead in their first real foray in the 21st minute. From a cross by Zika Kastrevec, it was Godwin McKay who flicked the ball past Jurgen Borg.
St Andrews remained in control of midfield and in the 37th minute, it was Dale Camilleri who tested Borg, but the Gzira goalie saved on deck.
Early in the second half, Jurgen Borg was called upon to save a dangerous 20-metre drive from Godwin McKay.
The Saints almost added a second goal on the hour when a Farrugia fine freekick just missed the far post with goalie Borg beaten.
On the 68th minute, Gzira goalie Borg rushed out of his charge and dived at the feet of Nwoko to avoid an awkward situation.
In the 77th minute, Gzira threatened through a Moises Avila Perez header, but goalie Galea was well positioned to save.
Soon after, at the other end, newcomer Nenad Belacevic fired a hard shot from 20 metres, but Borg saved well.
In added time, as Gzira went all out in search of an equaliser, Jacob Borg headed over the bar following a Ledesma cross.
And just before the final whistle, Gzira were awarded a freekick outside the area, but Ledesma’s effort went just wide.