Leaders Balzan stay on track
SLIEMA WANDERERS 1
BALZAN FC 2
Photos: James Galea
Report: Silvio Vella
Sliema W: G. Zammit, M. Muchardi, S. Biancardi, F. Temile, N. Milinceanu, M. Sansone, G. Aquilina (F. Qeros), P. Xuereb (K. Shaw), J. Pearson (A. Ni Nortey), J. Mintoff, G. Adamovic.
Balzan FC: S. Mintoff, S. Bezzina, I. Bozovic (J. Grioli), E. Serrano, U. Ljubomirac, A. Effiong (S. Arab), B. Kaljevic, P. Fenech, M. Lepovic, B. De Oliveira, A. Alves (M. Johnson)
Referee: A.M. Sant
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, P. Apap
4th official: D. Agius
Scorers: U. Ljubomirac 67, 89, M. Muchardi 90+
Yellow cards: M. Lepovic, A. Alves
Player of the match: B. Kaljevic (Balzan)
TMI top 3: 1. P. Fenech 2. M. Lepovic 3. P. Xuereb
Attendance: 442
This match between the two sides had ended goalless in the first round.
Yesterday, at the Hibernians Stadium, the match produced three goals although they took a long time in coming.
Balzan eventually broke Sliema's spirited resistance with a brace after 67 minutes and on 89 minutes as Uros Ljubomirac delivered a deserved victory which keeps them at the summit in the BoV Premier League.
Sliema's late goal served only for statistical purpose.
Balzan dominated possession. Paul Fenech and Milos Lepovic worked tirelessly in midfield, in the absence of the injured Ryan Fenech, as Balzan poured menacingly forward raking several crosses inside the Sliema area but for most of the time, their strikers Alves, Effiong and Kaljevic struggled to breach Sliema's compact defence.
Balzan had a new loanee from Serbia, the 27-year-old right back Ivan Bozovic, who started instead of Justin Grioli.
Sliema needed to arrest their recent slump that saw them remain winless in three matches but another defeat has seen them lose their way domestically.
Yesterday they had Ricardo Correa and Mark Scerri suspended, with Qeros exiled to the bench. Gabriel Aquilina and Peter Xuereb started in midfield, with Nikola Milinceanu returning in attack.
Jonathan Pearson's injury on the half hour, forced Sliema coach Buttigieg to introduce new Ghana defender Ashong Ni Nortey on the left, with Bianchardi moving in central defence.
The Wanderers survived early scares as Balzan started brightly. Alves squandered a good chance, miskicking a Ljubomirac cross and Kaljevic then headed over on another Bozovic cross.
Balzan threatened again towards the middle of the half. Kaljevic controlled the ball well inside the area, on a Lepovic cross, but was foiled by Sliema keeper Zammit's smart save as he turned his low goalbound effort into a corner.
Ljubomirac concluded a scramble inside the Sliema area with a rising shot but Balzan carved out the half's best chance five minutes before the break. Effiong's firm header on Bozovic's cross was parried by the Sliema keeper and the ball was cleared off the line by Bianchardi.
The pattern did not change much in the second half although Sliema ventured out of their half with more frequency. Chances remained at a premium though. Alves hit Ljubomirac's cross inches wide and Kaljevic also missed the target with his shot on the turn.
Balzan badly needed a spark and that came on 72 minutes when the leaders finally broke the deadlock. Uros Ljubomirac played one-two with Alves before stroking the ball past keeper Zammit.
With Balzan looking liberated, there was no sign of menace from their opponents who introduced Frenci Qeros for Aquilina for the last 12 minutes.
But Balzan never looked like surrendering their lead, even though Sansone flashed his shot across the Balzan goal with seven minutes remaining.
Ljubomirac in fact added another goal for Balzan in the dying minutes, finishing off Kaljevic's cross.
In added time there was scant consolation for Sliema as Mathias Muchardi pulled one back with his direct free kick.
Valletta win third consecutive game by one goal
Report: Stewart Said
NAXXAR L. 0
VALLETTA 1
Naxxar: C. Nicht, R.G. Cassar (D. Falzon 65'), M. Souza, E. Ndoye (M. Fenech 85'), R. Santos, D. Bonnici, R. Grech, M. Micallef, Y. Messias, M. Casarotto, J. Moser
Valletta: H. Bonello, E. Pena Beltre, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, J. Borg, J. Cruz Gill, M. Alba (K. Nwoko 82'), S. Malano, D. Rocha dos Santos (R. Muscat 64'), M. Mifsud (R. Romao 73'), A. Prosa
Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, William Debattista
Scorer: S. Malano 23' (V)
Yellow Card: R. Grech 56' (N)
BOV Player of the Match: Yuri Messias (Naxxar Lions)
TMI Top 3: 1. R. Grech (N), 2. S. Malano (V), 3. Y. Messias (N)
Attendance: 955
Valletta increased their winning streak to three games as they defeated Naxxar Lions 1-0. They won again with the same score as they did in their previous two games. Despite claiming against maximum points, the performance of Valletta again wasn't spectacular, creating few chances and didn't close the game earlier.
Naxxar had a very positive game as they practically played at the same level of their opponents, fighting for every ball, winning possession and leaving their opponents away from the penalty area. Their only negative aspect was that they didn't create enough danger to maybe take something away from the game. Both coaches made three changes from their previous game.
Yuri Messias had the first of the game with a free-kick after six minutes that was saved well by Henry Bonello. Valletta took the lead in the middle of the first half as Enmy Pena Beltre crossed from the right side to Santiago Malano who entered the penalty area unmarked and slotted past Christopher Nicht with a low shot.
Valletta had control of the game having possession but failing to create any danger. Naxxar had some half chances. The first occasion came on Rafael Santos' feet on the 33rd minute, but his effort finished over the bar. Later a shot by Yuri Messias finished off target and a minute before the end of the first half, Jean Moser tried to catch off guard Henry Bonello with a shot from the distance, but Bonello saved in two attempts.
Danilo Doncic's team kept controlling the game in the second half, but the game was being played at a low rhythm.
Naxxar were doing their utmost in controlling their opponents with a collective effort and Ryan Grech's and Mano Micallef's pressing in midfield.
Naxxar almost equalised on the 66th minute with a header by Jean Moser that was saved by Henry Bonello with the help of the post. They also appealed for a penalty on the 72nd minute for a foul on Yuri Messias but referee Philip Farrugia waved play on.
Three minutes later Valletta could have closed the game, with a cross from the right by Pena Beltre in the penalty area, but Albert Prosa's header finished inches over the bar. With a one goal difference, Naxxar tried to pressure the Valletta defence but had no success, as Valletta controlled till the final whistle.
Samb keeps Gzira in the race
Photos: James Galea
Report: Silvio Vella
GZIRA UNITED 3
TARXIEN RAINBOWS 1
Gzira U: J. Haber, R. Briffa, A. Cohen (S. Borg), C. Gatt Baldacchino (N. Muscat), A. Macedo Neto, K. Pulo, M. Avila Perez, J. Corbolan, E. Zarate, A. Samb, H. Garba (L. Brincat)
Tarxien R: A. Chetcuti, S. Radovanovic, A. Agius, M. Spiteri (M. Traore), M. Dieye, A. Azzopardi (J. Brincat), L. Grech, A. Scicluna, E. Calin, R. Faria (A. Cilia Mumford), A. Mitrev
Referee: E. Grech
Asst.refs: D. Sultana, D. Petrovic
4th official: I. Barbara
Scorers: R. Faria 30, A. Samb 45+pen, 72, N. Muscat 82
Yellow cards: A. Mitrev, E. Calin, A. Macedo Neto, M. Spiteri, R. Faria, A. Samb, R. Briffa
Red card: A. Mitrev
Player of the match: R. Faria (Tarxien R)
TMI top 3: 1. R. Faria 2. A. Cohen 3. A. Azzopardi
Gzira United are back in the groove but this was no stroll against resolute Tarxien Rainbows. The Maroons had to work tremendously hard for the points, that put them back on track and kept them in the race with the top two.
Tarxien put up a fight and were somewhat unlucky to end up with nothing to show for all their efforts. They certainly deserved the ovation they received at the end, even if Mitrev's dismissal soured the mood.
In an even first half full of intensity but little incident, Tarxien managed to take the lead on the half hour through their Brazilian forward Ricardo Faria but Gzira equalised in added time with an Amadou Samb penalty.
The second half was equally devoid of goalmouth action but Gzira capitalised from some sloppy Tarxien defending on set pieces and scored two late goals to win without really impressing.
Each team introduced a new player. Among their many changes, following defeat against Birkirkara, Gzira gave a start to Edison Zarate, who joined them from Mosta but is no new face to Maltese football.
Roderick Briffa and Amadou Samb returned from suspension, but Zach Scerri and Ndubisi Okoye were both missing for the same reason.
Tarxien meanwhile had Serbian defender, the 20-year-old Stefan Radovanovic making his debut for them as left back. They had Sean Cipriott and Ebiabowe Baker missing through suspension.
Gzira only threatened through set piece in the first half, with Cohen's free kicks that failed to be productive.
After four minutes, he clipped the Tarxien bar with his inswinging free kick from the left, before going close with another floating kick on 20 minutes. Macedo Neto failed to put his header on target from another Cohen delivery seven minutes later.
But the goal came on the other end when, on the half hour, Ricardo Faria caught Gzira's defence napping as he raced towards goal. His pass towards Dieye was cleared short by Gatt Baldacchino, steering the ball in the path of Faria, who was quick to hit past keeper Haber and give Tarxien the lead.
Gzira looked frustrated and also had a Moises Perez goal disallowed for a foul on the Traxien keeper, following another Cohen free kick.
With halftime looming and Tarxien showing more confidence, Faria again forced keeper Haber to save his shot into a corner.
Cohen was also involved when Gzira wiped out Tarxien's lead in the half's added time, when awarded a penalty, after Spiteri had felled the midfielder inside the Tarxien area. Amadou Samb restored equilibrium depite keeper Chetcuti had almost held out his effort from the spot.
Tarxien kept up their fighting spirit even in the second half. Staying composed they loked menacing in flashes, with Gzira keeper Haber rushing off his line to block at Dieye's feet. Azzopardi's shot on the turn, past the hour, narrowly missed the target.
With Gzira looking hardly dangerous, it was quite surprising that they went ahead on 72 minutes. Some slack defending by the Rainbows, following a corner from the left, allwed Amadou Samb to head in from close range.
And there was to be only one outcome when ten minutes later, substitute Nikolai Muscat made it 3-1 for the Maroons, with a direct free kick from the edge of the area, after Tarxien defender Mitrev was also sent off for his second bookable offence.
Ħamrun, St. Andrews take point in fair draw
Report: Stewart Said
HAMRUN S. 1
St ANDREW'S 1
Ħamrun: Ja. Galea, D. Camilleri, K. Micallef, D. Zerafa, G. de Castro, T. Agius (A. Nilsson 71'), T. de Paula, L. Micallef (J. Busuttil 86'), Ju. Galea, M. Criaco, D. Succi
St. Andrews: M. Calleja Cremona, A. Borg, T. Blagrove, T. Grant, M. Gauci, J. Farrugia, M. Grima, J. Walker (R. Martin 73'), M. Miranda Gomez, K. Reid, T. Azian (A. Satariano 93')
Yellow Cards: M. Miranda Gomez 70', T. Grant 76', R. Martin 82', M. Calleja Cremona 84', A. Borg 94' (S), G. de Castro 79', J. Galea 84' (Ħ)
Scorers: D. Succi 10' (Ħ), K. Reid 57'
Referee: Etienne Mangion
Assistant Referees: Chris Francalanza, Sammy Attard
TMI Top 3: 1. M. Miranda Gomez (S), 2. M. Criaco (Ħ), 3. K. Reid (S)
BOV Player of the Match: Kemar Reid (St. Andrews)
Ħamrun Spartans and St. Andrews had to be content with a point each after both teams couldn't find a way past each other for the winning goal, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
It was a fair result as they both had their moments in the game, with St. Andrews enjoying most of the possession in the first half, while Ħamrun pressed for the win in the last quarter of the second half.
This result proved to be important for St. Andrews as they managed to climb out of the relegation zone, a point above Tarxien Rainbows, while Ħamrun stay in the middle of the table.
Ħamrun broke the deadlock after just ten minutes. Julian Galea made a good run down the right and crossed from the by-line to Davide Succi who had no problem scoring with a first-time shot from an ideal position to score his second goal of the league.
Excluding the goal, St. Andrews had a positive half an hour as they held the initiative, but their first danger arrived only on the 33rd minute with a dangerous shot by Kemar Reid that only gave the illusion of the goal as his effort finished a bit wide.
Three minutes later, Michael Woods' team had another chance, this time from a free-kick by Joseph Farrugia, that finished over the bar.
Jacques Scerri started the second half with a different approach as they were pressing the St. Andrews defence high.
This pressure resulted in more possession for the Spartans. They almost doubled ten minutes into the second half with a good effort by Terence Agius outside the penalty area, but Calleja Cremona made a fantastic save to deny the midfielder.
Similar to what happened in the first half, the opposing team scored against the run of play two minutes later. Kemar Reid received a pass in the penalty area, managed to control the ball, dribbled past several defenders and fired past Jake Galea.
Ħamrun went close to regain the lead in the middle of the second half, with a free-kick by Guilherme de Castro that was first blocked by the wall, but his second effort was dangerous, with the low shot by the left-foot finishing centimetres wide.
St. Andrews were controlling their opponents but also were finding spaces to counter. Fifteen minutes from time, Miranda Gomez almost shocked Ħamrun with a shot from a central position but his effort was blocked to a corner.
Ħamrun were pushing more for the win in the last part, as St. Andrews tried to contain their opponents. But despite this, they couldn't find a way their opponents to create danger.