LIJA ATHLETIC 1

HAMRUN  SPARTANS 5

Lija A: L. Bonnici, P. Babic, P. Borg , D. Scerri, L. Muscat,  L. Schembri (N. Spiteri), R. Kooh Sohna, A. Bello Osagie, C. Cassar (A. Galea), E. Beu, D. Leeflang (A. Sammut)

Hamrun S: S. Sultana, D. Zerafa, M. Criaco (T. Caruana), T. Agius, C. Zaccardo, T. Souza, D. Succi, T. Espindola (A. Sicali), L. Micallef,  A. Machado (F. Clavero), L. Sciberras

Referee: E. Grech

Asst.refs: M. Scerri, D. Petrovic

4th official: T. Farrugia Cann

Scorers: M. Criaco 7, 70,  L. Sciberras 15, E. Beu 32, D. Succi 36 pen, C. Zaccardo 78 pen

Yellow cards: P. Babic, C. Zaccardo, L. Micallef, C. Cassar, A. Bello Osagie

Player of the match: D. Criao (Hamrun S)

TMI top 3: 1. L. Sciberras  2. D. Criaco  3. E. Beu

This proved an easy afternoon for Hamrun Spartans who brushed aside Lija’s feeble challenge with their new Italian arrivals immediately leaving their mark on the match. Midfielder Marco Criaco scored a brace and fellow striker Davide Succi a penalty in a 5-1 rout.

This was another humiliating defeat for bottom side Lija, who have now conceded 34 goals already, boasting the worst defence in the Premier League. Without their suspended coach Joe Galea on the bench, this was a reality check for those who believe there has been an improvement following a win against fellow strugglers Tarxien and a draw against St Andrews in the previous two outings.

Once again Lija had little to offer overall, where Kooh Sohna was unconvincing as a spearhead and Schembri provided little support. Most of Beu’s best work was confined to the flanks, from where he managed to send in a couple of decent crosses, even scoring his side’s only goal.

A totally changed Hamrun side took only seven minutes to take the lead through their new Italian midfielder Marco Criaco as he tapped in a good low delivery by Succi from the right across the face of goal which caught the Lija defence out of sorts.

Hamrun, with only five Maltese players in their starting line-up, dropped Dale Camilleri and Triston Caruana, as well as Bokila and Clavero, with midfielder De Castro suspended.

And before Lija could recover from that early shock, Hamrun doubled their lead. Machado was their assist man with his cross from the left for Luke Sciberras to finish off.

Hamrun dominated for long periods after taking a comfortable lead. Criaco provided thrust on the left, Lydon Micallef on the right and Succi’s wily movement in the middle often created embarrassment for the Lija rearguard.

For a while the mood was ugly as the deficit ate away at Lija’s belief but they had enjoyed a couple of promising moments from set pieces before they pulled one back past the half hour.

Kooh Sohna hooked a ball inside the Hamrun area, passed it low past Souza towards Erjon Beu who steered it low past keeper Sultana.

Three minutes later, Kooh Sohna powered himself towards the Hamrun goal, on a Babic pass, but shot against the side rigging.

But Hamrun restored their two-goal lead on 36 minutes, Davide Succi converting a penalty after Lija defnder Babic had handled his shot inside the area.

Lija had another good chance shortly before the break. Hamrun failed to clear their lines on Beu’s free kick from the left but Kooh Sohna hit wastefully over.

Although Hamrun eased down after the interval, they showed no signs of letting up. Lija were allowed more time on the ball, but looked too erratic in their finishing and never really rallied.

In fact the Spartans piled more misery on their opponents when, on 70 minutes, Marco Criaco scored his second, and his side’s fourth goal, with a low rasping strike from the edge of the area.

And eight minutes later, Hamrun were awarded a second penalty, this time after Zaccardo’s cross was handled by a Lija player inside the area and the Italian defender tucked it away himself.

Ten minutes from time, the woodwork denied Micallef as he drove Clavero’s pass against the foot of the post with the goal at his mercy.

Goalkeeping blunder gifts Balzan victory

SENGLEA ATHLETIC 0

BALZAN FC 1

Senglea A: G. Cetrangolo, J. Bondin, R. Vella, J. Leyton, S. Uyi, M. Garzia, I. Paz, N. Virano, R. Dalli, N. Palmieri, T. Vella (P. Smamut)

Balzan FC: I. Janjusevic, S. Bezzina, E. Serrano, M. Johnson, U. Ljubomirac, M. Lepovic, B. Kaljevic (J. Grioli), P. Fenech, A. Alves (A. Effiong), C. Mendes (J. Zerafa), S. Arab

Referee: I. Barbara

Asst.refs: D. Sultana, P. Abela

4th official: S. Pace

Scorers: B. Kaljevic 45+

Yellow cards: E. Serrano, R. Vella

Player of the match: C. Mendes (Balzan FC)

TMI top 3: 1. C. Mendes  2. M. Lepovic  3. M. Garzia

Attendance: 434

Balzan’s march in the BoV Premier League continues as they prolong their unbeaten run to ten matches, with a fifth win on the trot.

With Gzira United losing to Sliema Wanderers yesterday and Valletta playing today, Balzan went top of the standings overnight.

Balzan’s  winning goal owed everything to a goalkeeping blunder by Senglea’s Gulio Cetrangolo, exploited by their striker Bojan Kaljevic, just before halftime as Balzan got slightly the better of a tight first 45 minutes.

The most striking thing in the second half was Senglea’s inability to summon any kind of proper response. Janjusevic, in the Balzan goal, had just one, comfortable save to make.

It is hard to establish how new coach Paolo Favaretto might engineer a turnaround as Senglea’s slump continues, with only one point gained from their last seven matches, as they remain two points off the relegation zone.

Apart from the return of Ivan Janjusevic in goal, Balzan also had  defenders Elkin Serrano and Steve Bezzina, as well as midfielder Paul Fenech, making starts after missing the previous match against Tarxien Rainbows.

There was much to admire in the approach play of Lepovic, Mendes and Alves but once again there wasn’t much cutting edge to Balzan when they got into the penalty area.

Although without the suspended Antonio Terracciano and Hubert Vella, Senglea were very much holding their own for almost the entire first half hour as Balzan weren’t exactly banging the door down and were only restricted to shots from some distance by Mendes, Alves and Lepovic which Senglea keeper Cetrangolo made light work of.

Shortly before the break, Cetrangolo made a good save, turning Mendes’ free kick into a corner.

It all hinted that the match was to remain goalless by halftime, until a blunder by the Senglea keeper gifted Balzan a goal in added time.

Cetrangolo missed the ball on a Mendes’ free kick from the right and Bojan Kaljevic was quick to head Balzan in front.

Balzan needed to up the tempo after the interval and pressed their opponents inside their own half.

Short of the hour, Alves advanced from the left, his low drive was parried by keeper Cetrangolo, the ball deflected against the bar before Bondin cleared the danger.

Balzan even introduced Alfred Effiong for Alves in search of the second assuring goal. By the end they were betrayed by lack of enough fire power that could have seen them score more goals in a match they really dominated.

Senglea went closest of drawing level 12 minutes from the end when Vella put Dalli through but the Senglea winger was blocked by defender Johnson and, in added time, substitute Peter Sammut missed the target from a promising position.

Luckily Balzan were still winning thanks to that Kaljevic header.

Fenwick and Bonnici help Naxxar overcome rivals Mosta

Naxxar L. 2

Mosta 0

Naxxar L.: O. Borg, S. Fenwick (D. Bonnici), R. Grech, M. Micallef, D. Falzon (M. Fenech), RG Cassar, D. Bustos (J. Debono), A. Buhagiar, E. Ndoye, A. Cascaval, Y. Messias

Mosta: A. Vella, L. Ferreira, Z. Brincat, T. Veronese, K. Magro, D. Mansi, T. Farrugia, D. Nworah (C. Camilleri), D. Zarate, I. Maric, JR Ekani

Referee: AM Sant

Asst refs: J. Spiteri, P. Apap

4^th official: D. Agius

Scorers: D. Fenwick, D. Bonnici

Yellow cards: D. Falzon, RG Cassar, K. Magro, T. Veronese, D. Bustos

Red card: JR Ekani

Player of the match: D. Falzon

TMI Top 3: 1. S. Fenwick; T. Veronese; 3. E. Ndoye

Attendance: 810

Naxxar Lions were back to life yesterday as they beat their neighbouring rivals Mosta 2-0 thanks to second half goals from Scott Fenwick and Duane Bonnici.

It was an important win for the Lions who now move on to the nine-point mark. Mosta remain on 14 points.

Naxxar were playing for the first time under the charge of new coach Oliver Spiteri, formerly of Balzan. His presence certainly helped the Lions who, after a defensive first half, showed great determination and verve in the second half to emerge clear winners, even if their second goal arrived with the final shot of the match.

The first half was mainly played in the Lions half of the pitch as Mosta attacked for long stretches, keeping Naxxar in their area for most of the time.

The Lions rarely got near the Mosta area, but when they did, they found a tough obstacle in the form of the whole Mosta defence, especially Farrugia and Mansi who dominated the central approaches.

In fact, Messias and Bustos could make no headway and Mosta goalie Vella did not have a single decent shot to save except in the final moment when Falzon hit the post with the only effort.

In the second half, it was a completely different story as Naxxar were more determined and even took the initiative keeping the Mosta defence under pressure until they finally took the lead.

Mosta seemed to be like a tired side in the second 45 minutes. As Naxxar took over, they failed to make a decent reaction, especially after Naxxar took the lead.

Mosta threatened first through a Ferreira effort in the ninth minute which went wide.

In the 24^th minute, Zarate set Brincat on the edge of the area, but the latter’s low shot was saved by goalie Omar Borg.

As Mosta insisted, it was Zarate who tried his luck from the distance, but the ball went wide.

In the 37^th minute, the very active Veronese had a fine effort just missing the target.

In added time came Naxxar’s first effort on the Mosta goal – a fine shot from Yuri Messias which hit the upright.

Early in the second half, from a Bustos freekick, it was Cascaval who headed wide.

In the 59^th minute, Mosta also had a chance when a Veronese freekick went to Farrugia who headed well over the bar from a central position.

On the hour, Veronese had a fine inswinger turned to corner by the diving Borg. At the other end, Falzon sent in a perfect cross to Bustos, but his fine overhead kick landed on the roof of the net. Soon after, it was goalie Vella who denied Messias with a fine save to corner.

Naxxar took the lead in the 65^th minute. They were awarded a freekick following which an Ndoye header and a close range shot were partially saved by goalie Vella, but Fenwick was on the exact spot to score at the third attempt.

In the 73^rd minute, it was Vella who again saved Mosta’s fort as he turned to corner a Falzon cross-shot.

With six minutes to go, Mosta’s chances were reduced when Ekani was shown a second yellow card and was therefore dismissed.

And in the 90^th minute, Naxxar almost added a second goal when a Messias fine rising shot hit the crossbar with Vella beaten.

But this was a prelude to the second goal as in a fast counter-attack, Messias played the ball to substitute Duane Bonnici who overcame a tackle from a Mosta defender and advanced unhindered to beat the onrushing Vella with the last shot of the match.

Milincenau late strike sinks Maroons

Sliema W. 2

Gzira U. 1

Sliema W.: G. Zammit, N. Gavric, M. Muchardi, F. Temile (R. Spiteri), N. Milincenau, P. Xuereb, M. Sansone (G. Aquilina), E. Agius (F. Qeros), R. Correa, J. Mintoff, G. Adamovic.

Gzira U.: A. Curmi, G. Muir, A. Macedo, C. Gatt Baldacchino, S. Borg, M. Avila Perez, R. Briffa, A. Cohen (Z. Scerri), J. Corbolan (S. Tounkara), N. Okoye, A. Samb.

Referee: G. Tonna.

Asst refs: E. Spiteri, R. Aquilina.

4^th official: J.A. Utulu.

Scorers: N. Okoye, J. Mintoff,

Yellow cards: A.Cohen, R. Correa, A. Samb, C. Gatt Baldacchino, N. Gavric, F. Temile,

Player of the match: M. Muchardi.

TMI Top 3: 1. F. Temile, 2. M. Avila Perez, 3. M. Muchardi.

A late strike from Nikolae Milincenau sank the Maroons yesterday as the Wanderers returned to winning form after their defeat against Floriana last week.

The Maroons took an early lead through Okoye, but Sliema equalised near the end of the first half through John Mintoff. Milincenau became the Sliema hero as he scored in the 90^th minute to give the Wanderers all the three points.

Sliema have now moved onto the 23-point mark, the same as Floriana, temporarily in joint 4^th place. Gzira remain on 24 points.

The Maroons enjoyed slightly more possession in the first half.

Encouraged by an early goal, the Maroons pushed forward and also went close to add a second goal as Sliema appeared unsettled at the back.

The Wanderers rarely looked dangerous in their fewer attacks, but eventually they started playing much better with Temile proving to be a constant headache to the Gzira defence.

They finally managed to score an equaliser four minutes from the half time whistle in a most unexpected way – a long distance cross missed by everyone, including goalie Curmi, with the ball ending at the back of the net.

In the second half, Gzira again enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, but they never tested goalie Zammit as strikers Okoye and Samb well under the control of the Sliema defence.

Neither Sliema proved to be dangerous except in the last 10 minutes or so before eventually Milincenau sealed the issue in their favour with that late strike.

The match was not even two minutes old when Sliema threatened through Temile who had a shot hitting the side netting, after a good pass from Milincenau.

Gzira hit back through a Samb low shot saved by Zammit on deck. And moments later, the same Zammit was called upon to turn to corner a Cohen freekick.

But Gzira were not to be denied and they opened the scoring on the 9^th minute. From a Cohen corner, Okoye saw his header hitting the crossbar but he was prompt to head in the rebound past Zammit.

On 33 minutes, from another Cohen cornerkick, it was Machedo Neto who missed a good chance heading wide from a favourable position. And moments later, from a Samb cross, a Sliema defender might have handled the ball in the area, but the official just ignored the Maroons’ protests.

Sliema should have equalised on 39 minutes when Temile, after a solo move on the left, passed perfectly to the unmarked Muchardi who hit centrally and Curmi could save with no difficulty.

The Blues equalised two minutes later. Michele Sansone sent in a cross not far away from midfield. As Gzira goalie Curmi ran out of his charge, it was Mintoff who deceived him with a simple touch and the ball ended at the back of the net.

On 54 minutes, Sliema had an opportunity to take the lead when Temile crossed low for Muchardi to control the ball badly and then shot wide.

Gzira replied with a good move on 65 minutes. It was Muir who advanced on the right into the Sliema area to cross low for Okoye who, however, skied the ball from a good position.

In the 79^th minute, it was Curmi who saved the Gzira fort punching out a hard shot from substitute Qeros.

Everything was pointing towards the sharing of the spoils, but in the 90^th minute, it was Nikolae Milincenau who beat goalkeeper Curmi with a low shot to the delight of his team-mates and the Blues’ fans as well as the despair of the Gzira clan.