VALLETTA- 2
TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 0
Valletta: H. Bonello, J. Caruana, R. Camilleri, J. Cruz, R. Briffa, R. Ledesma (M. Mifsud), F. Falcone (I. Azzopardi), L. Cremona, U. Uchenna, Jhonnattan, A. Nafti (J. Borg)
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, M. Caruana, T. Tabone Desira, T. Caruana, A. Azzopardi (B. Muscat), L. Montebello, D. Zerafa (M. Tabone), A. Alves, J. Pedro Oliveira, C. Frances (A. Nilsson)
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: A. Camilleri, C. Francalanza
Additional asst.refs: A.M. Sant, P. Farrugia
4th official: R. Vella
Scorers: F. Falcone 48, A. Nafti 50
Yellow cards: T. Caruana, J. Cruz, R. Camilleri, J. Pedro, L. Montebello, J. Caruana, A. Alves
Player of the match: A. Nafti (Valletta)
TMI top 3: 1. A. Nafti 2. L. Cremona 3. E. Baker
Leaders Valletta boosted their title hopes with their 11th consecutive league win, secured at the start of the second half after a barren first.
The last time the leaders dropped points was against same opponents in 1-1 draw at the start of the year. But yesterday Valletta vaulted a tricky hurdle with plenty to spare. In fact the final scoreline may not reflect enough Valletta's dominance for large parts of this encounter.
In the absence of the injured Claudio Pani, Valletta were looking for defensive solidity with the inclusion of Rafael Ledesma, Llywelyn Cremona and the returning Roderick Briffa providing cover to their back four. Their effervescence and combatitive spirit in midfield held sway as the game tilted in their favour.
Tarxien were not going to give up without a fight though and made an assertive start with Montebello finding space inside the Valletta area but his tame effort also lacked precision.
For the first 20 minutes Tarxien's returning wide back Alex Alves was proving a constant menace for the Valletta defence with his deep runs down the right flank.
Jhonnattann was not very much involved and Falcone was being subdued by Baker and Daniel Zerafa, the latter deployed as centre back instead of Bruno De Oliveira.
Midway through the half, Valletta stepped up a gear. Cremona's cross from the right was fisted out by the stretched Tarxien keeper Cassar and Camilleri shot slightly over from outside the area, after Nafti had played the ball in his path.
Five minutes before the break, Jhonnattann lofted the ball inside the Tarxien area but the unmolested Nafti headed over the bar. And another effort by Jhonnattann was blocked by the onrushing Tarxien keeper.
Valletta's best chance of the half came in added time. Jhonnattann's free header from inside the area, with the goalkeeper off his line, was headed out by Zerafa to deny the leaders the lead.
But Valletta did not have to wait much long after the interval. Within five minutes they were two goals up, with the points virtually secured.
On 48 minutes Cremona played the ball wide on the left towards Nafti who crossed for Federico Falcone to beat keeper Cassar after making contact with his outstretched foot.
Hardly two minutes later, Nafti was allowed room on the left and unleashed a powerful left foot shot, beating the keeper at the far top corner.
The goals galvanised the Citizens and unnerved the Rainbows who posed minimal threat to their opponents for the rest of the game.
Valletta squandered further chances to increase their lead when Falcone missed the target on Nafti's inviting pass. They even contrived to miss a penalty on 67 minutes after Jhonnattann was tripped by Zerafa from near the byeline inside the area but Ledesma shot against the foot of the post.
Valletta still finished strongly though. Cremona' shot from a distance was parried by the Tarxien keeper, who also footed out a Jhonnattann close effort.
In the dying minutes, Valletta keeper Bonello was severely tested when forced to turn a Triston Caruana shot into a corner. But that was too little too late for Tarxien.
Pembroke 0
Sliema W. 2
Pembroke Ath.: M. Muscat, Z. Levnaic (T. Agius), O. Bugeja, M. Attard, G. Villalobos, K. O'Brien (S. Arab), M. Micallef, P. Barbetti, G. Nobrega (O. Obiefule), A. Laudisi, A. Cini.
Sliema W. E. Elezaj, A. Muscat, M. Scerri, C. Gatt Baldacchino, M. Potezika, P. Xuereb (A. Friggieri), J.Bezzina (A. Dos Santos Tarlaziz) , D. Rocha Dos Santos (O. Elouni), G. Muir, JP Farrugia, L. Dimech.
Referee: G. Tonna.
Asst refs: J. Spiteri, T. Debono.
4th official: M. Borg.
Scorers: JP Farrugia, D. Rocha dos Santos.
Yellow cards: A. Dos Santos Tarlaziz, G. Muir, JP Farrugia, A. Friggieri,
Player of the match: 1. D. Rocha dos Santos.
TMI Top 3: 1. D. Rocha dos Santos, 2. G. Muir, 3. M. Micallef.
Farrugia, Denni strikes lift Sliema
Henry Brincat
A Jean Paul Farrugia strike after 18 minutes and a second from Dennis Rocha dos Santos two minutes from the end decided this disappointing match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium yesterday afternoon.
The win enabled Sliema to move on to the 21-point mark, four ahead of the same Pembroke.
With nothing at stake, one expected better fare from these two sides who never showed any clear ideas throughout the 90 minutes.
Sliema had to do without Njongo Priso (suspended) goalie Glenn Zammit and Bianchiardi while veteran Luke Dimech was back in the heart of the defence.
The match rarely enthused the sparse crowd present as play was mostly restricted in midfield for most of the time.
Sliema enjoyed more possession, perhaps, and even created the better chances. In midfield, they were well served by Denni Rocha dos Santos and Gary Muir. These two players never stopped running and distributing the ball to their team-mates.
On the other hand, Pembroke were certainly a shadow of the team that we had witnessed in recent matches. They left gaps at the back which Sliema failed to exploit. They had to surrender midfield to their opponents. In attack, their most dangerous player, Ariel Laudisi, was well under the control of the Sliema defenders.
The match had a quiet start but on the 16th minute, from a Barbetti cross, Mano Micallef headed just wide.
But it was Sliema who took the lead in the 18th minute when following a good move between Rocha dos Santos and Muir, the latter crossed low into the area where Jean Paul Farrugia was on hand to flick the ball home.
Pembroke were never in the match, but in the 36th minute, from another Barbetti cross, it was Owen Bugeja who headed into the side rigging.
In the 42nd minute, Rocha dos Santos, who seems to be returning to his old self, set Peter Xuereb beautifully in the Pembroke area, but the latter failed to control the ball, and a good chance went abegging.
Moments later, it was Dos Santos who tried his luck from the edge of the area, but Pembroke goalie Muscat turned to corner.
Soon after the start of the second half, Pembroke's Mano Micallef could have done better than landing a cross right into the hands of Sliema's Albanian goalie Elezaj.
In the 66th minute, Sliema had a good chance to add another goal to their lead. It was Rocha dos Santos who set Farrugia in the area, but the latter's two attempts were saved by goalie Muscat.
In the 80th minute, Pembroke had a chance to equalise but from a Barbetti cornerkick, substitute Siraj Arab headed well over the bar when well placed.
Four minutes from the end, Denni Rocha dos Santos also missed a good chance for Sliema, hitting straight into the goalie's hands, following a good pass from Friggieri.
But in the 89th minute, the same Denni Rocha dos Santos sealed the issue for the Wanderers with the second goal, after receiving from Farrugia.
NAXXAR LIONS- 2
MOSTA – 1
Naxxar L: A. Gallinetta, A. Scicluna, R. Grech, E. Casado, D. Falzon (D. Toure'), J. Godar Pereira, D. Fenech (J. Debono), A. Buhagiar, E. Hamutenya, M. Fenech (A.Hungria), N. Tasic
Mosta: O. Borg, F. Alabi (L. Micallef), E. Micheletti, J. Brincat, O. Guobadia, K. Frendo (G. Zenke), R. Ekani, G. Mensha, T. Farrugia, D. Okonkwo (Z. Brincat), A. Borg
Referee: M. Degabriele
Asst.refs: M. Scerri, M. Borg
4th official: C. Pisani
Scorers: E. Casado 40, D. Fenech 66, Z. Brincat 87
Yellow cards: K. Frendo
Player of the match: D. Fenech (Naxxar L)
TMI top 3: 1. D. Fenech 2. D. Falzon 3. R. Ekani
Attendance: 1,346
Fighting Naxxar earn derby spoils
SILVIO VELLA
Naxxar Lions took a bold step towards Premier League safety as they beat neighbours Mosta in a noisy and colourful derby.
Showing more spirit and determination, the Lions weathered their opponents' early pressure and after taking the lead through Casado before the break, David Fenech scored a second to win three precdious points although Mosta reduced the deficit in the late stages.
Naxxar were bereft of their not fully fit striker Demba Toure', named among the substitutes, but otherwise both coaches fielded a full strength team, with six foreigners for Mosta and five for Naxxar.
Mosta had lost their previous two matches against Hibernians and Valletta and were looking to return to winning ways against neighbours Naxxar, four places below them and themselves trying to halt a dismal run of six consecutive defeats.
Mosta were the better side during the opening half and were un lucky when twice denied by the woodwork as they were all over their opponents. Mensha had already ran clear inside the Naxxar area but was blocked by Hamutenya's timely tackle before Micheletti's cross from the right fell to Okonkwo, who hit the post with his overhead kick.
Past the half hour, the ball bounced freely inside the Naxxar area. Frendo pounced on it but thumped his shot against the bar.
The goal came on the other end, five minutes before the break though, much against the run of play. Some erratic defending by Mosta on a Falzon corner from the left allowed the ball to fall freely to Eduardo Casado to turn and hit in past keeper Borg.
There was little indication that the pattern of the game would change after the interval.
Naxxar played with more self belief and tried to move out of their defensive shell, threading more passes together. Short of the hour, David Fenech tested keeper Borg with a low drive, saved into a corner.
Mosta were looking less convinvincing and struggled to make much of a response. Their frustration appeared evident when Mensha hit James Brincat's inviting pass from the right off target.
On a Godar cross, Falzon's firm header was tipped over the bar by the Mosta keeper as the Lions grew more menacing.
And on 66 minutes they even doubled their lead. Falzon sent a low cross from the byeline on the right which was met by David Fenech to slot the ball in at the far end.
Naxxar even introduced Toure' for the last quarter hour.
Mosta desperately sought to pull themselves into the game and managed to score a consolation goal in the final minutes through substitute Zachary Brincat from inside the area but fell short of avoiding defeat.
The Naxxar rearguard, inspired by Hamuteny and Scicluna, defended their slim lead well into four minutes of added time to earn the derby spoils after all.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/230Hniq
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