FLORIANA- 1
SLIEMA WANDERERS- 3
Floriana: J. Haber, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, S. Pisani, C. Borg, I. Varela, M. Vella, A. Cini, N. Chiesa, M. Fontanella, R. Camenzuli
Sliema W: G. Zammit, F. Temile, M. Potezika, S. Bianchiardi (W. Salomon), P. Xuereb, G. Aquilina, D. Dos Santos (K. Shaw), R. Spiteri, M. Scerri, A. Muscat, J.P. Farrugia
Referee: C. Pisani
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Francalanza
4th official: M. Apap
Scorers: A. Cini 25 og, J.P. Farrugia 55, M. Fontanella 60 pen, D. Dos Santos 75 pen
Yellow cards: E. Pepe, M. Scerri, F. Temile, S. Pisani, S. Bianchiradi, D. Dos Santos, N. Chiesa
Red card: E. Ruiz
Player of the match: D. Dos Santos (Sliema W)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Dos Santos 2. I. Vella 3. J.P. Farrugia
Attendance: 556
Photos Domenic Aquilina
SILVIO VELLA
Sliema Wanderers ended Floriana’s unbeaten run of 11 matches as they inflicted a rare defeat on their rivals in a tense and entertaining match played with high tempo throughout.
Floriana’s last league defeat was against Sliema way back in October and since then the Greens had been making big strides forward climbing up the table as they strengthened their title challenge. Yesterday their hopes suffered a big blow with Balzan, Hibernians and Valletta all winning at the weekend.
Sliema have badly struggled for consistency lately, having gone three matces without a win, but yesterday they played with great authority, controlling the game for long stretches as they outplayed and outmuscled their opponents.
Their two-goal cushion before the hour had given them a commanding lead. When Floriana threatened briefly, after reducing the arreras from a Fontanella penalty, Sliema summoned enough effort to hit them on the counter and win a penalty for Ruiz’s foul on Farrugia. The Floriana central defender was eventually sent off and the Greens were down to ten men for the last quarter hour.
What Floriana really lacked was penetration in attacking areas although their defence, who had only conceded 16 goals this season, was far from their best yesterday.
Floriana had Amadou Samb suspended after his sending off against Hibernians the previous week. Coach Tedesco replaced him with Mario Fontanella in attack and preferred Ryan Camenzuli to Jurgen Pisani in his starting line-up.
Sliema, who like Floriana advanced to the quarter finals of the FA Trophy in midweek, had John Mintoff suspended, as Gabriel Aquilina was given a start. They had Frank Temile again pushing their attack from midfield, alongside Jean Paul Farrugia, with Denni Dos Santos playing wide, but often cutting through the middle in suppoprt. That kept the Floriana defence on their toes.
Sliema had started the game with an urgency that made it difficult for Floriana to settle.
The Wanderers harrassed their opponents and the Greens were compelled into a plethora of misplaced passes on a slippery surface following a downpour.
For the first 20 minutes both teams looked short of finding the end product until Sliema broke the deadlock themselves midway through the half. Temile crossed towards Denni, whose shot was parried by the Floriana keeper Haber and defender Alex Cini deflected the ball into his own goal when pressed by Scerri.
Sliema maintained their momentum. Past the half hour Temile reached for a long ball from near the corner flag, passed it to Aquilina, whose cross shot went narrowly wide.
Floriana grew menacing towards the end of the half. On 43 minutes, Vella’s long free kick was cleared short by the Sliema defence and Ruiz’s powerful shot was blocked into a corner. From Vella’s corner, the ball seemed to have been handled in the air by the Sliema defenders but Floriana’s claims for a what looked like a legitimate penalty, were turned down by the referee, much to the anger of the animated Floriana bench and coach Giovanni Tedesco.
Sliema were forced to substitute centre back Bianchiardi soon after the restqrt, following a tackle that left him injured. Wisdom Salomon was drafted in with Scerri retreating in defence and Muscat shifted at the centre.
On 55 minutes, Sliema doubled their lead. Denni played a low pass to Jean Paul Farrugia who kept his cool to exploit space inside the Floriana area and beat keeper Haber.
With their heads down, Floriana tried to claw their way back into a difficult match.
They were handed a lifeline on the hour when awarded a penalty after Potezika and Scerri challenged varela inside the area. Mario Fontanella tucked it away to reduce the deficit.
Floriana immediately effected a double substitution, sending in Andre Scicluna and Antonio Monticelli as the game burst to life and tension grew.
With Floriana now pressing hard for an equaliser, Sliema tended to retreat deeper and had to absorb some pressure.
But with 15 minutes remaining the Wanderers hit on the counter. Denni put Farrugia clear and after going inside the Floriana area, he was brought down by the chasing Ruiz to concede a penalty. The Floriana defender was sent off as Denni Dos Santos scored with a low rasping shot to secure the points for his side and crown a superlative individual performance.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS - 7
PEMBROKE ATHLETA - 1
Tarxien R: P. Schranz, E. Marcelina, T. Caruana, D. Ponce, A. Nilsson, A. Azzopardi (D. Micallef), S. Prendes, D. Zerafa, A. Alves (C. Frances), K. Zammit (J. Galea), S. Borg
Pembroke: A. Roppas, D. Falzon, A. Dhrami, O. Bugeja, P. Giannopoulos, I. Roppas (M. Attard), D. Jawad, A. Scozzese, S. Racic, A. Borg (B. Farrugia), S. Eboh
Referee: S. Pace
Asst.refs: R. Vella, P. Abela
4th official: A.M. Sant
Scorers: D. Ponce 9, 53, A. Nilsson 11, 70, A. Alves 24,36, D. Jawad 70, C. Frances 90+
Yellow cards: A. Borg
Player of the match: A. Alves (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Alves 2. D. Ponce 3. A. Azzopardi
SILVIO VELLA
With the absolute minimum of fuss, Tarxien Rainbows despatched Pembroke Athleta to further their claim to be one of the most dour outfits in the Premier League and leave their opponents marooned at the bottom of the standings.
Alex Alves, Daniel Ponce and Alex Nilsson each scored a brace for the Rainbows. Alves was not only quick and strong but composed and smart on the wing.
This match was over by halftime. Even without the suspended defender Baker, Tarxien were strong enough to score four times in the first 36 minutes, showing all their ruthlessness in front of goal.
This defeat for Pembroke, who remain winless in eight league matches, was a weak display, with little pace or appetite and a lack of concentration, born of shattered confidence.
They gave a Premier League debut to new Greek goalkeeper Argyrs Roppas, who replaced Matthew Calleja Cremona and also included Moroccan wide player Daniane Jawad as well as Sunday Eboh in midfield.
Still they could not counter Tarxien’s early supremacy, twice falling behind in as many minutes, before the game was even 11 minutes old.
After nine minutes Daniel Ponce beat keeper Roppas with a curling shot from the edge of the area on the left.
Two minutes later, Ponce played a through pass to the advancing Alex Nilsson who scored with a low drive.
With the Pembroke rearguard totally exposed, Tarxien created another good opportunity short of the quarter hour. Alves played the ball square to Azzopardi whose low drive was turned into a corner by the outstretched keeper.
The Rainbows looked menacing again on the counter on 19 minutes. Alves galloped forward, played the ball to Ponce, who let it flow towards Nilsson but keeper Roppas footed out his effort.
Superior Tarxien scored their third midway through the half. The irresistible Ponce set Alex Alves going as he beat the Pembroke offside trap and advanced unhindered before beating Roppas with a low diagonal shot.
Alves had efforts cleared off the line by Pembroke defender Borg twice in succession, before scoring a personal brace on 36 minutes. He picked Azzopardi’s pass, advanced down the right flank and found enough time and space to score with a hard drive.
Exhibiting a lack of concentration, and with frustration creeping in, Pembroke could not find their way back into the match and only threatened on 19 minutes with a powerful free kick from a distance, repelled by keeper Schranz.
The Alves-Ponce combination continued into the second half as Tarxien scored their fifth goal on 53 minutes. Azzopardi played the ball wide to Alves who crossed low from the right for Daniel Ponce to connect to and flick the ball past the helpless Roppas.
Past the hour Daniane Jawad pulled one back for Pembroke for some scant consolation, exploiting Tarxien’s hesitancy in defence to shoot in from close range.
Tarxien continued to play the ball between themselves but there was still time for them to score two more goals. On 70 minutes. Alex Nilsson beat keeper Roppas with a clinical strike from inside the area for a personal brace. Deep into two minutes of added time, substitute Caludio Frances ran clear down the left and beat the keeper from a tight angle to complete the route.
Hamrun S. 3
Mosta 0
Hamrun S.: D. Cassar, PJ Teixeira, K. Micallef, L. Sciberras, L. Grech, J. Grech, I. Misan, B. Paiber (S. Arab), N. Saturday (M. Micallef), MN Jorge, S. Dos Anjos.
Mosta: Y. Cini, MP Toth, F. Onwudinjo, D. Fenech, P. Dos Santos Calcado, K. Magro, C. Hengbart, L. Oseghale, N. Frendo (K. Frendo), K. Reid (K. Gatt), J. Repa.
Referee: F. Zammit.
Asst refs: E. Spiteri, L. Portelli.
4th official: M. Degabriele.
Scorers: J. Grech 2, B. Paiber,
Yellow cards: PJ Teixeira, P. Calcado, D. Fenech,
Red card: D. Fenech
Player of the match: J. Grech.
TMI Top 3: 1. J. Grech; 2. B. Paiber, 3. C. Hengbart.
Attendance: 535
Henry Brincat
Two first half strikes by Jake Grech and Brandon Paiber gave Hamrun a comfortable 3-0 win against a 10-man Mosta side which remains struggling at the bottom end of the standings.
It was a second League victory for Hamrun’s new coach Jacques Scerri as his team has now moved into a completely safe placing - eighth on 26 points - a full 16 points away from the relegation zone.
The first half was boring and play did not reach an acceptable level.
There was a lot of midfield play and neither goalkeeper was active till the Spartans finally took the lead through a splendid Jake Grech goal.
Then came another good goal, this time by newcomer Brandon Paiber, who showed some good flashes when in possession. And the Spartans were now sitting pretty and firmly in command.
The above were the two most notable actions during a whole 45 minutes which seemed never ending.
Play improved considerably in the second half which was much more interesting than the first.
Mosta showed great determination in their efforts to get back in contention, but they found it difficult to penetrate Hamrun’s tactically perfect defence.
The Spartans elected to defend their two goal lead and operated in counter breaks which, on some occasions, provided the Mosta defence with a lot of food for thought.
In fact, it was from one of these breaks that just before the end of the match Jake Grech scored again for the Spartans to make it even more a resounding win.
Mosta made the early running as they went out in search of goal, but Onwudinjo’s shot from the edge of the area went wide.
Mosta remained the most enterprising side and a Calcado good effort went just wide.
In the 22nd minute, Hamrun responded with a good move involving Paiber and Jake Grech which brought about the first goal. The former set Grech on the edge of the area, and the latter’s shot was deviated past the helpless Cini by a Mosta defender into the roof of the net.
The Spartans doubled their lead on the 36th minute when Nanapere Saturday set Brandon Paiber on the left flank and the latter went past two defenders before hitting low past Cini.
Mosta showed more determination at the start of the second half. In the 48th minute, it was Calcado who set Kemar Reid, but the latter’s effort from the edge of the area, was a little too high.
Mosta again went close in the 56th minute. First a Hengbart header was deviated to a corner, which was taken by Calcado. The ball was cleared to Oseghale whose low shot finished inches wide of the right upright.
On 59 minutes, it was Hamrun who threatened to score a third goal through Luke Grech who had a fine effort going just wide.
Four minutes later, as Mosta returned on the offensive, it was Calcado who had a distant shot going just wide.
Mosta ended up in 10 men in the 76th minute when David Fenech was shown a second yellow card which, quite obviously, was immediately followed by a red card.
In the 90th minute, from a Kyle Gatt cross, Nicholas Farrugia hit well over the bar from an ideal position.
It was not yet over as just before the final whistle, it was Jake Grech who lifted the ball over the onrushing goalie Cini to score a third goal.
Gzira U. 0
Hibernians 3
Gzira U. M. Boerchio, C. Gatt Baldacchino, I. Azzopardi (K. Pulo), S. Diamoutene, J. Bondin (A.White), JC Corbalan (J. Borg), M. Avila Perez, LR Zome, Z. Scerri, G. Conti, I. A. Adeshina.
Hibernians: A. Hogg, J. Mbong, J. Pearson, J. De Lima Siqueira, B. Kristensen, C. Failla, J. Bezzina (J. Degabriele), J. Da Silva Pereira (D. Vella), M. Jallow, A. Cohen (M. Moore), A. Agius.
Referee: P. Farrugia.
Asst refs: D. Sultana, W. Debattista.
4th official: M. Spiteri.
Scorers: J. Pereira, M. Jallow 2,
Yellow cards: S. Diamoutene, A.Cohen, J. Bezzina, A. White,
Player of the match: M. Jallow, 2. C. Failla, 3. C. Gatt Baldacchino.
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Jallow, 2. C. Failla, 3. C. Gatt Baldacchino.
Henry Brincat
Hibs maintained the pace with league leaders Balzan when yesterday they beat lowly Gzira United by three goals to nil.
Jorge Pereira had given the Paolites the lead in the first half while Momodou Jallow scored a brace in the second half to seal the Paolites’ win.
The victory saw the Paolites moving once again to within one point of Balzan, while Gzira remain in 10th place on 13 points.
Hibernians were a superior outfit in the first half, but they were made to fight harder than expected by a determined Gzira side which concentrated mainly in defence.
In fact, the Paolites had to wait till the 43rd minute to score the goal that gave them a narrow half time cushion.
Gzira also had their good moments, albeit few. The closest they went to scoring was through an Avila Perez shot from outside the area which rattled the crossbar.
The match followed the same pattern in the second half as the Paolites continued to dominate with Gzira operating on counter-breaks which, however, failed to produce the desired results.
After the Paolites scored their second goal, the match was won and lost as Gzira again failed to react seriously, testing goalkeeper Andrew Hogg only once.
Under the rain, the match had a rather quiet start but on the 11th minute, Gzira were unlucky not to score when Moises Avila Perez had a 20-metre rising shot hitting the crossbar with Hogg beaten.
In the 17th minute, Hibernians threatened seriously to take the lead. A Cohen freekick was well saved by Gzira goalie Boerchio. The ball somehow ran out to Failla whose fine effort just missed the target.
In the 24th minute, it was goalie Hogg who had to rush out of his lines to clear on the advancing Adeshina.
On the 30th minute, Jallow advanced into the Gzira area, but Clifford Gatt Baldacchino cleared in extremis. The Hibs man followed the action but his resultant shot was weak and easily saved by goalie Boerchio.
In the 35th minute, following a Lima cornerkick, a Pereira header saw Jallow heading the ball into the net, but the official, close to the action, whistled for a foul on the Gzira goalie.
The Maroons replied with a Diamoutene header off a Conti cornerkick, which went over the bar.
Hibs took the lead on the 43rd minute. It was Cohen who sent a long ball forward to Pereira. The latter headed the ball over the advancing Boerchio and into the net.
In the 58th minute, Hibs had a Kristensen low shot blocked by Gatt Baldacchino.
Four minutes later, Hibs scored a second goal. A Failla freekick surprised friend and foe and hit the Gzira upright, but there was Momodou Jallow who headed into an empty net.
On 76 minutes, a Failla freekick passed across goal. In the 85th minute, an indecision by Gzira goalie Boerchio led to Hibs’ third goal as the ball went straight to Jallow who found the net with a splendid first timer.
In the 90th minute, Hibs goalie Hogg denied Gzira a consolation goal as he turned to corner a good effort by Zachary Scerri.
Soon after, at the other end, Kristensen missed a good opportunity to put his name on the scorer’s list, hitting well over the bar from an ideal position.