St Andrews-Birkirkara 1-1
St Andrews: J. Galea, E. Beltre, A. Bakmaz, D. Camilleri, B. Che, G. McKay (R. Darmanin), F. Udoh, Z. Kastrevec, K. Nwoko (J. Walker), J. Farrugia (N. Belacevic), K. Kesinovic
Birkirkara: M. Kopric, C. Bubalovic, G. Sciberras, M. Andelkovic, S. Dimitrov (J. Brincat), V. Plut, N. Vukanac, F. Temile, J. Zerafa, C. Attard (M. Desira Buttigieg), S. Bajada (R. Scicluna)
Referee: L. Gwidi (San Marino)
Asst.refs: S. Tuttifrutti, I. Laurenth
4th official: M. Scarpino
Scorers: E. Beltre’ 35, M.Desira Buttigieg 90+
Yellow cards: K. Nwoko, J. Farrugia, A. Bakmaz
Player of the match: E. Beltre’ (St Andrews)
TMI top 3: 1.K. Kesinovic 2. J. Zerafa 3. G. McKay
SILVIO VELLA
St Andrews were unable to hold to their first half lead against a rudderless Birkirkara side and the match ended in frustration for them on a wet afternoon at Ta’Qali.
Birkirkara were heading towards an embarrassing defeat but managed to draw level deep into five minutes of added time, through substitute Desira Buttigieg, to salvage an undeserved point.
The lack of commitment was arguably more worrying than their shortage of ideas. There was not a great deal of creativity from Birkirkara in and around the opposition penalty area.
It was perplexing to see a team look so meek against a side four places and seven points behind them.
The Stripes have now gone three league matches without a win.
St Andrews tried to control the tempo in a first half where they played predominantly on the counterattack.
It was perhaps to be expected that they lacked enough cohesion, although they did try to go out of their defensive shell, Birkirkara permitting.
But the Saints, under new coach Danilo Donic, have made remarkable improvement since their 4-0 defeat by Birkirkara on the first day of the season under former coach Jose Borg. Two wins and a draw from their last four league matches suggest that St Andrews cannot be taken lightly these days.
Birkirkara were made aware of this after 35 minutes of complete dominance, but lack of penetration. They surprisingly fell behind when St Andrews’ wide back Enmy Beltre found space inside the Birkirkara defence and seeing keeper Kopric out of his line, he netted with a delicate chip.
That triggered a reaction from Birkirkara, who until then appeared more comfortable on th ball in midfield, with Mislav Andelkovic back in the side after injury.
But until halftime they only severely tested the Saints’ keeper Jake Galea once, when he turned a fierce drive by Bajada into a corner.
The pattern of the match did not change much in the second period. Birkirkara kept struggling to go past the Saints’ compact defence and were almost caught cold on 50 minutes when Beltre hit first time on an Udoh cross from the left but keeper Kopric could save.
The introduction of Ryan Scicluna for Bajada was meant to give the Stripes some needed impetus in attack, where Temile and Plut looked only peripheral figures yesterday. But there was never any prospect of a Birkirkara comeback as Birkirkara were still too slow and too laboured in their passing for it to make a difference.
St Andrews threatened again eight minutes from normal time as an Nwoko shot from a distance was turned into a corner by Kopric.
Birkirkara were staring defeat in the face when, deep into added time, three players found themselves in front of the St Andrews goal. The flag did not go up and substitute Mateo Desira Buttigieg managed to hit the ball low past keeper Galea to draw level.
It was a deflating moment for plucky St Andrews.
SLIEMA WANDERERS - 1
VALLETTA - 2
Sliema W: G. Zammit, A. Tarlaziz (M. Galin), G. Muir, R. Vilas Boas, S. Biancardi, J. Mintoff, M. Muccardi, M. Scerri, P. Xuereb (M. Sansone), J.P. Farrugia, D. Dos Santos
Valletta: D. Barktus, J. Caruana, L. Aguirre, V. Alhino, C. Pani, Jhonnattann (J. Borg), F. Falcone, R. Camilleri, S. Borg, L. Cremona (R. Fenech), M. Mifsud (S. Malano)
Referee: F. Zammit
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, S. Attard
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: F. Falcone 59, L. Cremona 70, M. Scerri 83
Player of the match: Jhonnattann (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. C. Pani 2. S. Borg 3. M. Muccardi
Attendance: 640
SILVIO VELLA
Sliema Wanderers’ six-match unbeaten run came to an end yesterday as they were defeated by Valletta at the start of the second round.
While Valletta had all the momentum and most of the possession it was not a hugely convincing performance by the champions but enough to overcome a stubborn Sliema side with two second half goals.
The match only got going in the second half.
A couple of sudden darts or close shaves offered rare moments of excitement, apart from the three goals.
Valletta won by boasting energy and class in central midfield and climbing their collective qualities in a side not over-reliant on one or two classy players these days. Falcone and Cremona were their scorers yesterday.
They had centre back Jonathan Caruana back after missing the clash against Hamrun Spartans, with Romao making room.
Sliema were not allowed to express their usual fluent attacking play yesterday, notably because they were stifled in midfield.
Notable absentees for Sliema were the not fully fit Alex Muscat and the suspended Solamon Wisdom.
Both sides started with an offensive set-up. Federico Falcone and Micaheal Mifsud started in Valletta’s forward line. Jean Paul Farrugia was flanked by Denni Dos Santos in the Sliema side.
Sliema opened nervously but improved as the game wore on. The contest was bereft of precision. Valletta had some half chances in the first half but Mifsud and Falcone failed to put them on target.
Sliema, solid at the back but hardly adventurous, were restricted to shoot from outside the penalty area but that did hardly trouble Bartkus in the Valletta goal.
No wonder the match remained scoreless by halftime.
Photos Birkirkara-St Andrews and Valletta-Sliema - Domenic Aquilina
The second half began with a sharper-looking Valletta in search of a lead. Jhonnattann’s effort narrowly missed the target after being teed up by Mifsud. Then Alinho had a shot from outside the area skimming the bar.
On the other end Sliema threatened when Muccardi swept the ball wide off a corner from the left.
Valletta did break the deadlock towards the hour though. On Aguirre’s cross from the left, Federico Falcone rose to head past the helpless keeper Zammit.
Sliema looked shellshocked. Valletta were once again finding gaps to exploit in the Wanderers’ rearguard and doubled their lead on 70 minutes. Llywelyn Cremona advanced on the right, created space for himself and beat keeper Zammit.
Valletta were almost sleepwalking towards a comfortable win when Sliema pulled one back through their capatin Mark Scerri as he finished off from close range on 83 minutes.
The final seven minutes turned out to be quite hectic with Valletta desperately trying to hold to their lead and Sliema struggling to up the tempo but the scoreline did not change till the end.
Tarxien R. -Gzira U. 1-0
Tarxien R.: A. Cassar, D. Zerafa, M. Tabone, S. Borg, D. Ponce, T. Caruana, A. Da Paixao, S. Fernandez, J. Galea, D. Micallef (A. Agius), C. Frances.
Gzira U.: M. Boerchio, R. Ledesma, G. Conti, A. Machedo Neto, JC Corbalan, C. Gatt Baldacchino (Y. Tonna), J. Momodou Salieu, J. Bondin, Z. Scerri (J. Nwoba), S. Diamoutene, K. Pulo (J. Borg).
Referee: P. Farrugia.
Asst refs: M. Scerri, C. Francalanza.
4th official: M. Spiteri.
Scorers: J. Galea,
Yellow cards: S. Borg, J. Momodou, D. Ponce, Y. Tonna, J. Nwoba,
Player of the match: C. Frances.
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Ponce, 2. C. Frances, 3. G. Conti.
Henry Brincat
An early second half strike by Julian Galea gave Tarxien Rainbows a precious three points from their direct relegation clash against Gzira United.
Despite their win, the Rainbows remain in ninth place, but they now have 13 points, one point behind Hamrun. Gzira remain in 10th place on nine points.
The Rainbows played without a coach as Kevin Vella resigned his post just one day after his appointment in lieu of Jacques Scerri. Assistant coach Ryan Pulis took charge of the team for this match.
On the other hand, Gzira had Darren Abdilla in charge following the resignation of Branko Nisevic. The Maroons had goalie Mauro Boerchio and striker Jallow Momodou making their debut.
The first half, which was played under a continuous downpour, saw Gzira enjoying territorial superiority and were also unlucky not to have taken the lead midway through as a Diamoutene header hit the post.
Tarxien showed greater determination than usual and despite seeing less of the ball, they also had their good moments and on two occasions it was Tarxien’s debutant goalie Mauro Boerchio who denied them with excellent saves.
In the second half, the match had a dramatic start as Tarxien took the lead.
From then on, the Rainbows appeared to be the best side and even if Gzira launched several attacks in search of an equaliser. Tarxien were so well organised at the back that the Maroons never really went close to levelling the score.
The match was only two minutes old when Gzira’s Conti fired a great shot which did not go far away off target.
Tarxien threatened seriously on six minutes when Daniel Ponce was set by Dylan Micallef, but his rising shot was brilliantly turned to corner by goalie Boerchio.
In the 20th minute, it was Frances who advanced on the left flank but his low cross had Julian Galea arriving a second too late in front of goal.
Two minutes later, from a Ledesma corner, it was Diamoutene who saw his header hitting the post. From the rebound, a shot by Momodou was blocked by the Tarxien defence.
At the other end, soon after, it was Gzira goalie Mauro Boerchio who was outstanding with a superb save off a Daniel Zerafa freekick.
Soon after the start of the second half, Tarxien took the lead when a Ponce shot from the angle was only partially parried by Boerchio and Julian Galea was on hand to tap the ball home into the empty net.
Tarxien were now playing much better and on the 62nd minute a Ponce shot just wide.
Tarxien scored another goal on the 76th minute, but Ponce was rightly flagged offside.
In the 85th minute, Gzira tried with a Conti header but it was too weak to trouble goalie Cassar.
The nearest Gzira came to levelling the score was in added time when they appealed for a penalty when a Yanis Tonna had a shot blocked by a Tarxien defender. The Maroons protested hotly for a penalty but the official ignored all and allowed play to go ahead.
Mosta 0
Balzan 1
Mosta: E. Bartolo, F Onwudinjo, KD Jackson, A. Caruana, TA Grant, C. McLaren, K. Magro, K. Atkinson, D. Xuereb, L. Oseghale, N. Priso Doding.
Balzan: I. Janjusevic, C. Brincat, S. Arab, B. Kaljevic, B. Giglio de Oliveira, S. Bezzina, A. De Barros, A. Nafti, M. Piciollo, D. Grima, A. da Silva Souza.
Referee: E. Grech.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, P. Apap.
4th official: T. Farrugia Cann.
Scorer: B. Kaljevic
Balzan beat lowly Mosta yesterday to remain sole leaders at the top of the Premier League standings.
They were considered as firm favourites to win the three points, but they were made to fight hard by the Blues who offered stiff resistance.
Mosta were a totally different outfit from the one which had gone down 3-0 to bottom club Pembroke in their previous match.
It was Kaljevic’s excellent goal in the first half that separated the two teams at the end.
Balzan took to the field without Paul Fenech, Lydon Micallef, Alfred Effiong and Elkin Serrano.
Mosta were the first to go on the offensive with a McClaren low shot finishing just wide.
Balzan also went close through a de Barros low strike which shaved the foot of the post.
That proved to be the prelude to Balzan’s opener. Wearing a protective mask after recovering from a broken nose, Abdelkarim Nafti started a fine move which involved Matteo Piciollo and Alan Silva de Souza before the ball was passed to Bojan Kaljevic who shot low past Bartolo.
Seven minutes from half-time, Emanuel Bartolo thwarted Balzan from a second goal as he effected a first class save off a da Silva swerving shot that seemed destined for the back of the net.
On 63 minutes, Ryan Fenech made a long-awaited comeback from a one-year lay-off when he substituted de Barro.
In their first real attack in the second half, Mosta almost obtained an equaliser. From a short corner, Njongo Priso crossed into the Balzan area where Tristan Grant rose to head towards goal but the ball finished just over.
Despite their territorial superiority, Balzan failed to create any good chances, even if Kaljevic provided the Mosta defence with some anxious moments.