Post by Inhobb ilfutbol Malti on Jan 5, 2006 18:14:28 GMT 1
Birkirkara clinch victory to re-open title race
Marsaxlokk destroy Valletta
Tuesday, 3rd January 2006
Valletta FC 0 Marsaxlokk FC 4
Sliema Wanderers FC 1 Birkirkara FC 2
Birkirkara demonstrated that they are truly in the running for the top spot when they beat Sliema in a pulsating encounter by the odd goal in three in a pulsating match on a cold January night. ADRIAN CIANTAR scored a brace to cancel out DANILO DONCIC's first half strike for the Blues.
In the earlier match, Marsaxlokk demolished Valletta by four goals to nil. FRENDO, MAMO, SCHEMBRI and MAMO scored for the impressive Southseasiders.
In the first encounter of the new year, Valletta were looking to put their disastrous start to the season behind them and demonstrate they were still Championship Pool mettle on a chilly night against Marsaxlokk. On their part, the Southseasiders were hoping for three easy points to continue re-igniting their forlorn championship challenge.
The opening minutes saw both sides appearing pretty much well balanced in midfield on a gloriously smooth pitch. Gilbert Agius swung a well-placed free kick on 4 minutes but Gauci was well placed to catch the ball. On 13 minutes the match threatened to turn ugly as Agius was involved in a scuffle with the Marsaxlokk players but eventually the referee calmed down the situation.
Marsaxlokk were pretty bleak in their invention upfront with only a high free kick by Wellman on 24 minutes by way of chances until then. The match continued in a boorish manner with no side venturing to take risks in any manner. Cleaven Frendo attempted a cheeky lob on 36 minutes but Sullivan managed to tip the ball over the bar.
The opening goal was not long in coming as it arrived on 43 minutes. Soares Gomes managed to break away on the left crossing to an unmarked FRENDO in the box who tapped in from close range giving Marsaxlokk an important lead just before half time.
Marsaxlokk began where they left off with Gomes shooting just wide from a good position after 47 minutes. The second goal came minutes later when CARLO MAMO blasted a gorgeous shot from 30 yards past a hapless Sullivan who could only stare as the ball blasted into the back of the net.
The Valletta defence had now collapsed and Marsaxlokk could have added a third on 55 minutes but Gomes' shot went just over the bar. Valletta attempted a reaction on 68 minutes with a fine solo effort by Gilbert Agius but the City captain's shot ended up wide.
The rest of the match was a pretty one-sided affair with Marsaxlokk adding up a third goal two minutes from time with ANDRE' SCHEMBRI(Roma Club Malta's member) and a fourth on the 90th minute with KEVIN MAMO to make the score embarrassing for Valletta. The end result demonstrated that Marsaxlokk are well and truly making progress towards the top spot.
VALLETTA FC: Sullivan, Cassar, Nisevic, Grima (Chukunyere), Pace, Zammit, Bondin, Fenech, Debono (Zarb), Agius, Galea (Magro)
MARSAXLOKK FC: Gauci, Magro, Dos Santos Gomes, Wellman, Sammut, Templeman (Mamo), Mamo, Frendo (Sciberras), Schembri, Soares Gomes (Bajada), Pace
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi. Asst Referees: Ian Spiteri, Alex Arena. 4th Official: Alan Mario Sant
Sliema were looking to re-assert themselves at the top of the table against their eternal rivals Birkirkara in what promised to be a fine encounter. The Blues had Anonam back in the starting line up whilst Birkirkara were missing a number of regulars with Mifsud Triganza and Nwoko starting on the subs bench.
The match was being held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of UNESCO with both clubs wearing specially prepared jerseys for the occasion. These were also auctioned before the match with the proceeds going to the Community Chest Fund.
The opening minutes saw Sliema on the offensive but Birkirkara came dangerously close to scoring on 5 minutes when Kenneth Scicluna escaped down the right with his cross agonizingly traversing the face of the box and no one to connect to it. The Stripes continued operating on fast breakaways with Barbara dominant that were rattling the stiff Sliema defence.
Barbara should have scored on 23 minutes but he let fly with a central shot that was saved in two attempts by Akanji s the match began opening up slightly. Sliema were restricting themselves to shots from outside the box but these were well off target.
However the Blues took the lead on the half hour. A pass by Darren Debono to Brincat ended up in the feet of DONCIC who sprang the offside trap and managed to slide the ball past Simon. Minutes later Bogdanovic saw his curling shot go just over the bar as Sliema continued with the wind in their sails.
Still, the Stripes equalized ten minutes later. A pass by Barbara found CIANTAR alone with the latter lobbing over Akanji to return parity to the encounter. All was set up for an interesting and exciting second half.
William Camenzuli forced an excellent save out of Akanji on 46 minutes as the match resumed with rain pouring down. Minutes later, Michael Galea(Roma Club Malta's member) tested Akanji with another low shot as the Stripes continued looking dangerous.
Birkirkara were now coning forward in greater numbers with Sliema operating on the counter. Bogdanovic had a fine angled shot that was well saved by Simon on 67 minutes as Birkirkara continued wasting their openings. Michael Galea lobbed the ball over the bar after having received from Briffa who put him in the clear.
Anonam had a shot that went just over the bar on 77 minutes as the match quietened down a little. But it was Birkirkara who eventually took the lead on 81 minutes when Barbara squared to a free CIANTAR who made no mistake blasting past Akanji. That goal killed off Sliema's challenge with Birkirkara coasting to a comfortable and well deserved victory.
BIRKIRKARA FC: Simon, Galea, Monye, Sammut (Yanchev), Camenzuli, Barbara, Galea, Ciantar, Scicluna, Briffa, Mallia
SLIEMA WANDERERS FC: Akanji, Dilello, Said, Debono, Turner, Doncic (Farrugia), Chetcuti (Carabott), Woods, Brincat, Anonam, Bogdanovic
Referee: Joe Attard. Asst Referees: Philip Agius, Alan Camilleri 4th Official: Anton Zammit
Marsaxlokk destroy Valletta
Tuesday, 3rd January 2006
Valletta FC 0 Marsaxlokk FC 4
Sliema Wanderers FC 1 Birkirkara FC 2
Birkirkara demonstrated that they are truly in the running for the top spot when they beat Sliema in a pulsating encounter by the odd goal in three in a pulsating match on a cold January night. ADRIAN CIANTAR scored a brace to cancel out DANILO DONCIC's first half strike for the Blues.
In the earlier match, Marsaxlokk demolished Valletta by four goals to nil. FRENDO, MAMO, SCHEMBRI and MAMO scored for the impressive Southseasiders.
In the first encounter of the new year, Valletta were looking to put their disastrous start to the season behind them and demonstrate they were still Championship Pool mettle on a chilly night against Marsaxlokk. On their part, the Southseasiders were hoping for three easy points to continue re-igniting their forlorn championship challenge.
The opening minutes saw both sides appearing pretty much well balanced in midfield on a gloriously smooth pitch. Gilbert Agius swung a well-placed free kick on 4 minutes but Gauci was well placed to catch the ball. On 13 minutes the match threatened to turn ugly as Agius was involved in a scuffle with the Marsaxlokk players but eventually the referee calmed down the situation.
Marsaxlokk were pretty bleak in their invention upfront with only a high free kick by Wellman on 24 minutes by way of chances until then. The match continued in a boorish manner with no side venturing to take risks in any manner. Cleaven Frendo attempted a cheeky lob on 36 minutes but Sullivan managed to tip the ball over the bar.
The opening goal was not long in coming as it arrived on 43 minutes. Soares Gomes managed to break away on the left crossing to an unmarked FRENDO in the box who tapped in from close range giving Marsaxlokk an important lead just before half time.
Marsaxlokk began where they left off with Gomes shooting just wide from a good position after 47 minutes. The second goal came minutes later when CARLO MAMO blasted a gorgeous shot from 30 yards past a hapless Sullivan who could only stare as the ball blasted into the back of the net.
The Valletta defence had now collapsed and Marsaxlokk could have added a third on 55 minutes but Gomes' shot went just over the bar. Valletta attempted a reaction on 68 minutes with a fine solo effort by Gilbert Agius but the City captain's shot ended up wide.
The rest of the match was a pretty one-sided affair with Marsaxlokk adding up a third goal two minutes from time with ANDRE' SCHEMBRI(Roma Club Malta's member) and a fourth on the 90th minute with KEVIN MAMO to make the score embarrassing for Valletta. The end result demonstrated that Marsaxlokk are well and truly making progress towards the top spot.
VALLETTA FC: Sullivan, Cassar, Nisevic, Grima (Chukunyere), Pace, Zammit, Bondin, Fenech, Debono (Zarb), Agius, Galea (Magro)
MARSAXLOKK FC: Gauci, Magro, Dos Santos Gomes, Wellman, Sammut, Templeman (Mamo), Mamo, Frendo (Sciberras), Schembri, Soares Gomes (Bajada), Pace
Referee: Adrian Azzopardi. Asst Referees: Ian Spiteri, Alex Arena. 4th Official: Alan Mario Sant
Sliema were looking to re-assert themselves at the top of the table against their eternal rivals Birkirkara in what promised to be a fine encounter. The Blues had Anonam back in the starting line up whilst Birkirkara were missing a number of regulars with Mifsud Triganza and Nwoko starting on the subs bench.
The match was being held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of UNESCO with both clubs wearing specially prepared jerseys for the occasion. These were also auctioned before the match with the proceeds going to the Community Chest Fund.
The opening minutes saw Sliema on the offensive but Birkirkara came dangerously close to scoring on 5 minutes when Kenneth Scicluna escaped down the right with his cross agonizingly traversing the face of the box and no one to connect to it. The Stripes continued operating on fast breakaways with Barbara dominant that were rattling the stiff Sliema defence.
Barbara should have scored on 23 minutes but he let fly with a central shot that was saved in two attempts by Akanji s the match began opening up slightly. Sliema were restricting themselves to shots from outside the box but these were well off target.
However the Blues took the lead on the half hour. A pass by Darren Debono to Brincat ended up in the feet of DONCIC who sprang the offside trap and managed to slide the ball past Simon. Minutes later Bogdanovic saw his curling shot go just over the bar as Sliema continued with the wind in their sails.
Still, the Stripes equalized ten minutes later. A pass by Barbara found CIANTAR alone with the latter lobbing over Akanji to return parity to the encounter. All was set up for an interesting and exciting second half.
William Camenzuli forced an excellent save out of Akanji on 46 minutes as the match resumed with rain pouring down. Minutes later, Michael Galea(Roma Club Malta's member) tested Akanji with another low shot as the Stripes continued looking dangerous.
Birkirkara were now coning forward in greater numbers with Sliema operating on the counter. Bogdanovic had a fine angled shot that was well saved by Simon on 67 minutes as Birkirkara continued wasting their openings. Michael Galea lobbed the ball over the bar after having received from Briffa who put him in the clear.
Anonam had a shot that went just over the bar on 77 minutes as the match quietened down a little. But it was Birkirkara who eventually took the lead on 81 minutes when Barbara squared to a free CIANTAR who made no mistake blasting past Akanji. That goal killed off Sliema's challenge with Birkirkara coasting to a comfortable and well deserved victory.
BIRKIRKARA FC: Simon, Galea, Monye, Sammut (Yanchev), Camenzuli, Barbara, Galea, Ciantar, Scicluna, Briffa, Mallia
SLIEMA WANDERERS FC: Akanji, Dilello, Said, Debono, Turner, Doncic (Farrugia), Chetcuti (Carabott), Woods, Brincat, Anonam, Bogdanovic
Referee: Joe Attard. Asst Referees: Philip Agius, Alan Camilleri 4th Official: Anton Zammit
