Valletta 3      

St. Andrews      0

Valletta: H. Bonello, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, S. Malano (M. Mifsud), M. Picciollo, K. Nwoko, J. Borg, U. Uchenna, R. Saleh (R. Muscat), D. Dos Santos (C. Pani)

St Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, E. Beltre', A. Borg (M. Grima),  A. Friggieri, J. Farrugia, K. Atkinson, M. Gauci, M. Davis, T. Grant (L. Grech), R. Martin, K. Butler (J. Walker)

Referee: P. Farrugia

Asst.refs: J. Spiteri, D.Petrovic

4th official: J. Utulu

Scorers: D. Dos Santos 6, J. Borg 22, M. Piciollo 33

Yellow cards: E. Beltre', J. Borg, A. Borg, J. Farrugia, M. Gauci

Player of the match: M. Piciollo (Valletta)

TMI top 3: 1. M. Piciollo   2. S. Malano  3. M. Calleja Cremona

Valletta swatted away St Andrews' feeble challenge with contemptuous ease, thanks to goals by Denni Dos Santos, Jean Borg and Matteo Piciollo that take them alone at the top of the BoV Premier League.

St Andrews were not given much chance yesterday, following two consecutive defeats against Mosta and Naxxar Lions, though it was clear from an early stage Valletta were not going to find their opponents quite as accomodating as Tarxien in last week's 6-0 romp.

Still, the Citizens tore into St Andrews from the off and stormed into a sixth-minute lead. Piciollo sent a low cross inside the Saints' area from the left for Denni Dos Santos to control, turn and shoot low past keeper Calleja Cremona.

The Saints' keeper brilliant save on a Malano first timer, after Denni played a low free kick from the right, denied Valletta a second past the quarter hour.

That came on 22 minutes though. As  Calleja Cremona rushed off his line to cut Saleh's high cross, he was anticipated by Jean Borg who rose high to head into an unattended goal.

The Saints' flimsy defence was again caught cold shortly after the half hour. Saleh played a through ball for Nwoko to advance inside area on the right and send a low inviting cross for Matteo Piciollo to apply the finishing touch from close range.

There could have been more. Denni missed the target and Nwoko was denied by another elastic save from keeper Calleja Cremona. Uchenna ran straight at goal after exchanging passes with Saleh, but was blocked by the alert keeper as St Andrews were in danger of being swept away.

But the scoreline was already emphatic enough by halftime.

St Andrews were involved in a damage-limitation exercise in the second half, as they introduced Liam Grech and later Jacob Walker. They had a tame effort by Friggieri neutralised by Valletta keeper Bonello.

Otherwise the Saints displayed no belief in terms of hauling themselves back into the game.

Valletta showed some mercy and kept playing the ball neatly between themselves, dominating possession, but rarely working the Saints' keeper. They even withdrew Denni, Malano and Saleh, with Michael Mifsud making a return from injury for the last 22 minutes but the score remained unchanged.

Stripes revival goes on

Birkirkara             3      

Tarxien                 1

Birkirkara: D. Cassar, N. Vukanac, L. Maia, M. Andelkovic, Fabiano De Oliveira, C. Goncalves Junior (L. Cremona), C. Attard, K. Zammit, M. Guillaumier, R. Scicluna (J. Grech), L. Montebello (E. Herrera)

Tarxien R: C. Cassar, E. Baker, G. McKay, A. Azzopardi ( A. Cilia Mumford), J. Brincat, A. Agius, L. Grech (M. Desira Buttigieg), R. Darmanin, M. Spiteri (M. Traore), R. Faria, S. Cipriott

Referee: S. Spiteri

Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Abela

4th official: M. Apap

Scorers: C. Goncalves Junior 44, Fabiano De Oliveira 47, M. Desira Buttigieg 63, N. Vukanac 80

Yellow cards: N. Vukanac, S. Cipriott, R. Scicluna, M. Desira Buttigieg, E.

Player of the match: Fabiano De Oliveira (Birkirkara)

TMI top 3: 1.M. Andelkovic  2. F. De Oliveira  3. E. Baker

Attendance: 724

Languishing at the bottom half of the table, this win over strugglers Tarxien Rainbows served good tonic for Birkirkara to lift themselves two places and catch up with Hamrun Spartans on the 16-point mark.

Birkirkara were physically too strong, technically superior and simply too clever on and off the ball to be resisted yesterday. The pattern of the game was set early although the Stripes took some time to turn their superiority into goals, but goals at the end of the first half through Goncalves Junior and at the start of the second through Fabiano, esnured Birkirkara maintained control, with Vukanac adding a third goal in the late stages.

Montebello had a close shot repelled by Tarxien keeper Christian Cassar after eight minutes but the first decent chance of the game arrived three minutes later. On an Andelkovic free kick, Fabiano's firm header was held out smartly by the Tarxien shot stopper.

Fabiano missed a good opportunity on 22 minutes as he headed a Guillaumier cross tamely and wide, when standing unmolested in front of the Tarxien goal.

Past the half hour, the Stripes had a penalty appeal turned down when Traxien defender Grech looked to have controlled the ball with his arm, on an Andalkovic long pass forward, when pressed by Goncalves Junior inside the area.

Montebello went past the Tarxien keeper but his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Baker.

A Zammit deep cross from the left, fell to Guillaumier who played the ball low to Fabiano, hitting straight at keeper Cassar.

But just as the Stripes looked like being betrayed by a lack of precision in attack, they were rewarded a minute before the break, although the goal was sloppy for the Rainbows to concede. Goncalves Junior's deep free kick from the left, sailed across the face of the Tarxien goal and the ball landed at the far corner.

Things got worse for Tarxien soon after the restart. Their lack of concentration brought about Birkirkara's second goal as Fabiano De Oliveira went inside the area, floored Grech with his body feint before shooting low past keeper Cassar. Tarxien protested for Birkirkara's lack of fair play when Tarxien's player James Brincat lay injured on the ground.

The Rainbows needed more aggression and a greater goal threat to stand a chance as Birkirkara threatened to increase their lead through Montebello. The striker had an effort deflected into a corner by the Tarxien defence and an overhead kick smartly saved by keeper Cassar.

Tarxien briefly got themselves into the game as they hit a goal back past the hour through their substitute Matteo Desira Buttigieg, picking out an Attard's headed clearance to beat the otherwise inoperative Birkirkara keeper David Cassar.

Suddenly the Rainbows jerked into shape. Birkirkara were back pedalling and with weariness creeping into legs, fatigue into minds and sluggishness into approach play, the Stripes looked in danger for the first time in the match.

A  Cipriott shot from a distance was held out by the Birkirkara keeper.

But the Stripes sealed  victory with ten minutes remaining, as Nikola Vukanac headed in substitute Jake Grech's free kick from the left.

In added time, Darmanin was also denied some consolation by David's Cassar save from close range.

Floriana beat Naxxar with last gasp penalty

Naxxar L       1

Floriana        2

Naxxar L.: C. Nicht, SJ Fenwick, R. Grech, M. Micallef (M. Fenech), D. Bonnici, RG Cassar, D. Bustos, EO Ndoye, A, Cascaval, A. Mendy, Y. Messias.

Floriana: IE Akpan, J. Baldacchino, E. Pepe, E. Ruiz, C. Borg, I. Varela (D. Grima), M. Vella, J. Cabral, A. Cini, N. Chiesa (L. Grech), M. Fontanella.

Referee: AM Sant.

Asst refs: R. Vella, P. Apap.

4th official: M. Spiteri.

Scorers: I. Varela, A. Cascaval,

Yellow cards: SJ Fenwick, M. Vella, D. Grima,

Player of the match: I. Varela.

TMI Top 3: 1. EO Ndoye, 2. M. Vella, 3. C. Nicht.

Floriana registered a dramatic victory yesterday against Naxxar scoring an added time penalty to beat their opponents 2-1.

The Greens had taken the lead before the end of the first half through Ignacio Varela, but Adrian Cascaval earned a merited equaliser for the Lions. Floriana seemed to have missed a chance to secure the three points when Fontanella failed to score a penalty a few minutes from the end. But they had a second opportunity, or rather a second penalty in added time. This time, Fontanella made no mistake to send his team's supporters into raptures.

The victory enabled the Greens to move onto the 14-point mark and therefore they remain close to the leaders.

In the first half, Floriana saw more of the ball, but Naxxar also had their good moments and never showed any inferiority.

It was an entertaining first half in which both sides created a good number of scoring chances before it was eventually Floriana - through Varela - who took the lead with a splendid goal.

The Greens were once again well served by Chiesa and Vella in midfield while Varela and Ruiz were always in the thick of the action.

The Lions would have done better had they taken the chances which came their way, but all in all, theirs was a very encouraging performance.

In the second half, Naxxar ventured forward more frequently and kept Floriana in their half for long stretches, but they rarely proved to be dangerous before they eventually equalised on 76 minutes. They were simply unlucky to lose all the three points in such a dramatic way - those two penalties one of which was converted near the end.

On their part, the Greens slowed down the rhythm having lost two key players - midfielder Chiesa and striker Varela - through injury. It was the absence of these two players which made all the difference in the Floriana side which even risked losing all near the end.

Naxxar went close to scoring on the 7th minute, when Micallef crossed over for the unmarked Fenwick who should have done better than hitting wide from two metres.

Soon after, at the other end, first it was Varela who had a shot blocked by a Naxxar defender and later, Fontanella hit well over the bar when well placed.

In the 22nd minute, it was Floriana goalie Akpan who denied Naxxar a goal as he dived sideways to turn to corner a Cascaval header off a Messias corner.

At the other end, Naxxar goalie Nicht saved a Chiesa grounder before palming out a Ruiz header.

Naxxar were closest to scoring in the 30th minute when a Messias header had Akpan beaten, but the ball just missed the target.

It was Floriana who eventually took the lead in the 41st minute when Ignacio Varela received the ball on the edge of the area and his fine inswinger beat Nicht all ends up.

On 50 minutes, Naxxar tried through Bonnici, but his 20-metre shot went over the bar. Soon after, at the other end, it was Cabral who tested goalie Nicht, but the latter saved on deck.

Naxxar got their equaliser in the 76th minute. From a Messias cornerkick, it was defender Cascaval who made the most of a bad Akpan sortie out of goal to hit home.

In the 85th minute, Floriana were rightly awarded a penalty when Duane Bonnici floored Mauricio Vella in the area, but the Greens missed the opportunity as Fontanella saw his shot brilliantly saved by goalie Nicht.

In added time, Floriana were awarded a second penalty when Bonnici was deemed to have floored Fontanella. After several protests during which Floriana coach Giovanni Tedesco was also sent off, Fontanella converted to spotkick to assure his side of the three points.

Hibs make sure of points in second half

Lija A                   0

Hibernians          3

Lija A.: J. Martinelli, P. Babic, C. McAllister (A. Sammut), P. Borg, E. Beu, LJ Schembri, R. Kooh Sohna, A. Bello Osagie, C. Cassar (A. Galea), O. Sidibe, D. Leeflang.

Hibernians: A. Hogg, B. Kristensen, J. Degabriele, D. Vella, R. Soares (Kreuzriegler), M. Dias, C. Failla, L. Da Silva (J. Lima), J dos Santos (J. Bezzina), A. Agius, M. Sahanek.

Referee: M. Degabriele.

Asst refs: D. Sultana, M. Scerri.

4th official: F. Zammit.

Scorers: M. Sahanek, J. Degabriele, Babic og,

Yellow cards: C. Mcallister, B. Kristensen, R. Soares, P. Borg, C. Failla,

Player of the match: J. Degabriele.

TMI Top 3: 1. J. Degabriele, 2, B. Kristensen, 3. O. Sidibe.

Strikes by Marco Sahanek, Jurgen Degabriele and a Babic own goal enabled Hibernians to maintain the pace at the top after defeating bottom placed Lija 3-0.

The victory pushed Hibs onto the 17-point mark, but Lija remain anchored to the bottom of the table with just one point from nine matches.

It was a richly deserved win for the champions even if they were made to feel uneasy by a stubborn Lija side. In fact, the three points were only assured with two goals near the end of the match.

The Athletic were rarely given the opportunity to move forward, as Kooh Sohna was too isolated up front and could never leave his mark, so much so that Hibs goalie Hogg really tested only twice.

As was widely expected, Hibernians dominated this match from start to finish, taking control of midfield pushing Lija into their own half for most of the time.

The Paolites, however, found it really difficult to penetrate the massed Lija defence in which Babic, Borg and Sidibe were supreme - inspired by an excellent performance by goalkeeper Jonathan Martinelli.

But when they finally took the lead before the end of the first half, there was absolutely no doubt as to where the points were going, even if the second and third goals arrived in the late stages of the game.

After just two minutes, Hibs had already gone close through a Da Silva header off a Sahanek cross. But the ball just missed the target.

In the 18th minute, a Failla freekick was deviated to a corner with Da Silva arriving a fraction of a second too late to connect with the ball.

Lija's first reaction arrived on 22 minutes when Kooh Sohna advanced, but his final effort was weak and wide.

Two minutes later, Hibs were given a gift by Bello Osagie when the latter passed the ball badly to Degabriele who quickly transferred it to Da Silva, but goalie Martinelli, replacing the suspended Bonnici, rushed out of his charge to block the shot of the advancing Hibs striker.

Hibernians were getting frustrated as they could not find a gap past a well organised Lija defence, but they finally managed to break the ice on 41 minutes. It was Jurgen Degabriele who set Marco Sahanek on the right flank. The latter advanced to hit home a fine shot past a helpless Martinelli.

Just before the interval whistle, Lija threatened through a Babic freekick which, however, went wide.

Six minutes into the second half, it was Beu who tested Hogg seriously from a freekick, but the Hibs goalie managed to turn to corner with some difficulty.

Soon after, at the other end, Dunstan Vella crossed for Degabriele to control well, only for his conclusion to go wide.

On the hour, a defensive lapse by Borg provided Da Silva with a gilt edged scoring opportunity, but goalie Martinelli saved excellently.

On 66 minutes, substitute Bezzina missed with an unopposed header off a Kristensen perfect cross.

Ten minutes later, a fine move involving Bezzina, Failla and Degabriele ended with the latter's full blooded effort being well saved by Martinelli.

On 81 minutes, Kooh Sohna had his first chance, but his effort was excellently saved by Hogg. At the other end, first it was Da Silva missed with a lob over the onrushing Martinelli, but soon after, it was Degabriele who rounded the Lija goalie and score his side's second goal.

In the 89th minute it was 3-0 with Degabriele setting Da Silva and the latter's shot hit Babic and ended behind Martinelli.