Birkirkara: H. Bonello, C. Bubalovic, G. Sciberras, S. Dimitrov, M. Andelkovic, M. Guillaumier, N. Vukanac (S. Bonnici), M. Alba (E. Agius), C. Attard, G. Malan, J. Brincat (E. Herrera)
Mosta: Y. Cini, F. Onwudinjo (Z. Brincat), K. Magro, M. Toth, D. Fenech, K. Frendo, N. Priso, A. Caruana, E. Vella (H. Miranda), T. Farrugia (D. Xuereb), J.P. Mifsud Triganza
Referee: S. Pace
Asst.refs: M. Borg, R. Aquilina
4th official: A. M. Sant
Scorers: T. Farrugia 7 og, A. Alba 34, S. Dimitrov 76
Yellow cards: N. Vukanac
Player of the match: S. Dimitrov (Birkirkara)
TMI top 3: 1. S. Dimitrov 2. M. Alba 3. G. Malan
Attendance: 419
SILVIO VELLA
With a greater sense of cohesion, Birkirkara found little difficulty to beat troubled Mosta and keep up the fight for European qualification.
Besides the three goals, Birkirkara were twice denied by the woodwork.
No doubt, Birkirkara had been the superior side for the entire game on yet another frustrating afternoon for lowly Mosta, who struggled to bring a save from Birkirkara keeper Henry Bonello.
This victory was the Stripes' third in five unbeaten league games since February and lifts them two points above Floriana in fourth place, with an extra match.
Mosta meanwhile, who conceded 22 goals in their last five matches, remain in danger, only two points above bottom side Pembroke.
With Hornyak handing in his resigantion and his assistant Johann Scicluna suspended, youths' mentor David Vella assumed coaching duties on the Mosta bench yesterday.
Birkirkara, displaying a three-man defence, had James Brincat starting on the left flank instead of the absent Joseph Zerafa. Miguel Alba was deployed wide on the right instead of Edward Herrera while Mathew Guillaumier started in midfield as Edmond Agius was named among the substitutes.
Helped by an early own goal, Birkirkara, as expected, never looked like losing this match.
They forged ahead after only seven minutes play when Mosta's central defender Tyrone Farrugia tried to clear Brincat's free kick but ended up heading the ball into his own net.
It was clear from the outset that Mosta were having difficulty having to deal with the pace and invention of Srdan Dimitrov and Gonzalo Malan.
Starting with some assurance, Birkirkara had Alba causing regular trouble down the right with his speed and trickery.
Sciberras tested goalkeeper Cini again with his shot from outside the area.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Mosta, who struggled to create clear chances in the first half, were forced to make two substitutions within seven minutes. Farrugia limped off midway through the half and Emerson Vella was also injured and replaced by Heron Miranda past the half hour.
On 28 minutes Malan persisted inside the Mosta area, was blocked by the Mosta defenders but the loose ball was picked up by Dimitrov, whose shot was well saved by Cini.
The superior Stripes doubled their lead on 34 minutes. Angel Alba went down the right, got the better of his opponent before beating the Mosta custodian with a low diagonal strike.
Four minutes later, Cini saved Bubalovic's firm header on a Malan cross from the left. Five minutes before halftime, Dimitrov hit the foot of the post with a low drive, saving Mosta from further derision.
The interval came at an opportune time for Mosta, who tried to rally after the resumption but their attack looked so frail that they failed to trouble the Birkirkara keeper at all.
Birkirkara also showed some mercy and slowed down a gear, rarely working keeper Cini again although they still held to possession.
On 73 minutes Malan drilled his shot from the edge of the area against the bar.
Mosta fell further behind three minutes later though. Sciberras, wide on the right, caught the Mosta defence wide open, played a square ball to Srdan Dimitrov, who went past Toth and directed a curling shot past Cini at the far post.
Mosta had been long dead and buried.
TARXIEN RAINBOWS- 1
HAMRUN SPARTANS- 1
Tarxien R: A. Cassar, E. Baker, E. Marcelina, T. Caruana, A. Nilsson, A. Agius (M. Brincat), D. Micallef (D. Ponce), A. Alves, J. Galea (S. Prendes), M. Tabone, S. Borg
Hamrun S: D. Cassar, J. Neto, M. Micallef, S. Arab (M. Giusti), L. Grech, I. Misan, L. Motta (M. Manset), J. Grech, S. Raphael, L. Sciberras
Referee: M. Spiteri
Asst.refs: E. Spiteri, S. Attard
4th official: S. Spiteri
Scorers: A. Nilssson 30, J. Grech 35
Yellow cards: L. Grech
Player of the match: M. Micallef (Hamrun S)
TMI top 3: 1. M. Micallef 2. E. Marcelina 3. L. Motta
SILVIO VELLA
Despite this draw, Hamrun Spartans and Tarxien Rainbows remain winless in eight league matches since January.
Tarxien managed to end their goal drought, having gone scoreless in their previous five defeats, but even Alex Nilsson's opener on the half hour yesterday was not enough to give his side a win.
Hamrun put a hint of revival into better perspective than their opponents, with a competent enough display, but failed to make the better of their chances after quickly cancelling Tarxien's lead through their captain Jake Grech.
Tarxien coach Jesmond Zerafa was absent from the bench, with his assistant, Brian Testaferrata, taking over.
Andrea Cassar was back in goal following Philip Schranz's injury while on national duty. Other changes in the Rainbows' side were the relegation of Daniel Ponce and Sergio Prendes to the bench, as well as the omission of Daniel Zerafa. Julian Galea was given a rare start, together with Dylan Micallef and Andrew Agius.
Hamrun also had Massimiliano Giusti and Mathieu Manset named among the substitutes, but Jake Grech started the match.
For a dead-rubber fixture between two teams sitting comfortably in the safety zone, the first half was open and entertaining, although bereft of many goalmouth action.
The Spartans started promisingly enough, forcing several corners, with Manolito Micallef highly involved.
Tarxien were holding their own in midfield without managing to set Nilssson free up front.
The Hamrun defence was coping well enough with Tarxien's limited attacking threat until the Rainbows opened the scoring with a goal out of nothing on the half hour. A low cross by Dylan Micallef from the left fell to Alex Nilsson who turned and shot low from the edge of the area to beat keeper David Cassar.
Tarxien's lead lasted only five minutes though when Hamrun restored equilibrium with Jake Grech's low diagonal shot from inside the Tarxien area.
Hamrun ended the half strongly as they had started it. An Arab shot from the right took a wicked deflection into a corner and when Manolito Micallef cut towards the middle, his long range rising shot ended narrowly over.
Photos Domenic Aquilina
Micallef retried his luck soon after the restart with another close shot that carried the same fate.
On the other end, an Andrew Agius low drive on 54 minutes, was deflected into a corner.
Hamrun looked menacing short of the hour, courtesy of some neat footwork by Jake Grech who made progress inside the Tarxien half. He played a through ball to Arab, who was blcoked by keeper Andrea Cassar.
Arab made way for Giusti after that as Tarxien also introduced Ponce for Micallef.
On 74 minutes, Hamrun should have gone in front. Giusti found space to shoot but his effort was blocked into a corner and the chance went begging.
But with both sides looking pleased with the resul, the rest of the game passed off relatively peacefully.
It might have been different had the bar not denied a Ponce effort for Tarxien in added time, but a defeat would have been harsh on Hamrun yesterday.
Gzira U. 5
Pembroke Ath. 1
Pembroke: M. Calleja Cremona, D. Falzon (Z. Grech), M.Attard, S. Racic, R. K. Sohna, D. Jawad, T. Radovnikovic, A. Scozzese, S. Eboh (B. Farrugia), P. Barbetti, I. Roppas.
Gzira U.: Jur. Borg, Jacob Borg (J. Bondin), A. Machedo Neto, S. Diamoutene, I. Azzopardi (K. Pulo), JC Corbalan (D. Falzon), I. Adeshina, M. Avila Perez, C. Reyna, A. Cohen, G. Conti.
Referee: T. Farrugia Cann
Asst refs: W. Debattista, C. Azzopardi.
4th official: G. Tonna.
Scorers: G. Conti, A. Cohen pen., Racic 66, Reyna, 70, 72, 80
Yellow cards: S. Eboh, S. Diamoutene, A. Machedo Neto, A. Cohen, M. Attard,
Player of the match: A. Cohen.
TMI Top 3: 1. A. Cohen, 2. G. Conti, 3. P. Barbetti.
Henry Brincat
Gzira United added a further three points to their total as they completely demolished a poor Pembroke side yesterday.
It was an easy win for the Maroons who have now moved to 8th place on the 31-point mark. Pembroke remain firmly anchored to the bottom of the standings with just 14 points from 27 matches.
It was a match which was dominated by the Maroons from start to finish.
They took control from the first whistle and after scoring an early goal, they never looked back, pushing their opponents into their area for long stretches.
Veteran Andrew Cohen as well as Italian midfielder Gianmarco Conti were the Maroon's schemers and they continuously sprayed good passes to their strikers.
On their part, Pembroke appeared to be living in a completely different street.
They were forced to defend for long stretches and had goalie Calleja Cremona to thank for keeping them in contention with some good saves.
When Racic scored a goal to make it 2-1, one expected Pembroke to make a strong effort to save the match, but Gzira hit back strongly to kill all their hopes.
The Maroons started the match on attack and on the third minute, Conti had an effort from the edge of the area which went just over. Two minutes later, the same Conti had better luck as he put his side ahead, heading the ball home following a Cohen cornerkick.
Pembroke replied in the 8th minute with a Sohna shot which was blocked to a corner.
At the other end, it was Reyna who tested goalie Calleja Cremona who punched the ball away.
In a fast breakaway on the 13th minute, Conti set Reyna perfectly to advance unhindered only to see Calleja Cremona saving his somewhat central shot.
On the 19th minute, the score became 2-0 as Gzira were awarded a penalty when Scozzese upended Ige Adeshina in the area. From the spotkick, veteran Andrew Cohen made no mistake, sending the goalie the wrong way.
Reyna had another good opportunity to score on 34 minutes, but after receiving a perfect pass from Conti, he again saw his effort being brilliantly turned to corner by Calleja Cremona.
At the other end, Sohna received the ball on the edge of the area following a bad defensive clearance by Gzira, but he hit wide.
Just before the interval whistle, Barbetti went close for Pembroke with a freekick that went just wide.
At the start of the second half, Pembroke appealed in vain for a penalty when Racic appeared to have been pulled down in a confused action in the area. But the official, close to the action, waved play on.
In the 53rd minute, Reyna went round goalie Calleja Cremona, but his cross-shot was cleared into the empty goal was cleared from over the line by Scozzese.
In the 57th minute Cohen also missed a sitter as he skied the ball from a good position after a fine Gzira move.
Pembroke were back in contention in the 66th minute as they pulled one back. It was Racic who scored direct from a freekick with goalie Jurgen Borg helpless.
But their joy was shortlived as Gzira scored a third goal in the 70th minute. Cohen saw his freekick hitting the upright but there was Reyna to slam the ball into the empty net from close in.
And two minutes later, the same Reyna added a fourth goal to assure victory.
S Gzira continued to dominate, in the 75th minute, it was Corbalan who had a freekick just missing the post.
But it was 5-1 five minutes later. A Conti shot was partially saved by Calleja Cremona and Reyna was on hand to score easily and get his hat-trick.
ST ANDREWS 1
SLIEMA WANDERERS 4
St Andrews
J. Galea-5, M. Johnson-6, K. Kesinovic-5.5, B. Bong Won-, D. Camilleri-5, E. Pena Beltre-5, J. Farrugia-4.5, F. Udoh-6 (67 K. Nwoko), A. Friggieri-5 (58 J. Walker-), Z. Kastrevec-6 (81 G. McKay), I. Paz-5.
Sliema Wanderers
G. Sarao-6, A. Muscat-7.5, R. Spiteri-5.5 (76 W. Salomon), Denni-6.5, M. Scerri-6, M. Muchardi-6.5, S. Bianciardi-6, R. Correa-6, JP. Farrugia-7, L. Incorvaia-6 (77 J. Mintoff), G. Aquilina-5 (64 P. Xuereb-5).
Referee: Matthew Degabriele
Yellow Cards: Farrugia, Denni, Scerri, Paz, Farrugia, McKay,
Red Card: Che (SA) 52
BoV player of the match: Alex Muscat (Sliema Wanderers)
Attendance 273
Jean Paul Farrugia scored a late brace to help Sliema earned a hard-fought win over St Andrews.
St Andrews defender Bong Won Che early in the second half after tugging Sliema striker Denni back before he could reach the box, and was handed a straight red. His dismissal complicated matters for the St Andrews coach Danilo Doncic as Sliema raised their game by a few notches to score three times within 25 minutes and gain a deserved victory.
Very little was seen in the opening minutes with both sides looking to set up an opening. That came on the half hour mark and what a goal was that!
Felix Udoh floated the ball into the path of Karlo Kesinovic who planted the ball beyond Giuseppe Sarao's reach with an exquisite first-timer.
Six minutes later, however, Sliema equalised. Muchardi delivered the ball towards the unmarked Alex Muscat on the right flank whose low swerving shot beat Galea all the way.
Sliema had 28 minutes left to exploit their numerical advantage.
Midway through the second period, Jean Paul Farrugia, fresh from his debut goal against Slovakia, managed to breach St Andrews rearguard, courtesy of Muscat. A pin-pointed cross from the right flank seared across goal and onto the head of the Malta striker. In no time the ball was in the net. The Blues supporters were overjoyed.
Muchiardi nearly put his clan's minds at rest, but Galea turned his scorcher to corner. From the ensuing corner, Farrugia put the issue beyond doubt by hammering a shot home via the underside of the bar after Galea block Mark Scerri's effort. Muchiardi hit in a fourth with a great shot after Galea rushed off his lines to deny Farrugia a hat-trick.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2ooAtF8
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment