Match Day 5 of the BOV Challenge League produced some surprises and interesting results.
Tarxien Rainbows 1-0 Valletta
On Saturday at the Centenary Stadium, Tarxien Rainbows recorded a memorable victory when they beat Valletta by a solitary goal scored by Claudio Murici midway through the second half. Thus, Valletta were stopped in their tracks after four consecutive wins and clearly missed the injured Andrei Ciolacu up front, their top striker with seven goals in the first 4 games, as they appeared to be toothless up front.
After five minutes, Valletta came close with a shot by young Nigerian debutant Caleb Akande that was well saved by Andreas Vella. Tarxien coach Jacques Scerri set-up a cautious plan which resulted into very limited goalmouth action during the first 45 minutes.
The second half started on the same note but finally came to life in the 66th minute when Tarxien scored what proved to be the winner. It was Claudio Murici who pounced upon a loose ball just outside the box and let fly a superb effort with a slight deflection that gave Timmy Aquilina no chance.
Valletta took some time to react and had a good chance on 81 minutes when substitute Keyon Ewurum had an excellent shot that was brilliantly blocked by Vella. Tarxien held out till the end to rise fifth place with 10 points along with Marsa and Swieqi United.
Fgura United 1-2 Pieta’ Hotspurs
In the match straight after the Tarxien and Valletta clash, Pieta’ Hotspurs were looking to join Valletta at the top of the table with a win against Fgura United after the slipup of the Lilywhites. Once more, the Blues rose to the occasion, beating Fgura by the odd goal in three and can be labelled as surprise of the season so far in this category.
The Hotspurs did not waste any time and took the lead after 17 minutes when Daneel Abela rifled home a fine effort past Yenz Cini, the brother of Pieta’ keeper Reeves. Fgura had a good chance to equalize on the half hour when Miguel Tabone saw his low shot well saved by Reeves Cini. A minute later another chance went begging for Fgura when former Liberian international Adolphus Marshall saw his effort blocked. Fgura were unlucky a minute before the end of half time when two shots by Tabone and Gianluca Zammit hit the post and were blocked respectively.
Pieta’ could have gone two up four minutes into the second half when Abela sprang the offside trap but his shot was blocked by Yenz Cini. The ball then fell to William Fernandes who shot well wide. Fgura kept pressing forward and were finally rewarded when Heytham Abdelghani managed to conclude from close range after a goalmouth melee on the hour.
However, it was Pieta’ who managed to regain the lead on 73 minutes through a fine effort by Fernandes, a goal which proved to be the winner. The Blues could have put the game to bed on 81 minutes, but substitute Ross McParland could not manage to conclude after some fine work by Fernandes.
Mgarr United 2-2 Marsa
In the first Centenary Stadium kick off on Sunday, Marsa did not manage to join Valletta and Pieta on top of the standings as they failed to beat a never say die Mgarr side in a very entertaining game. Mgarr took twice the advantage and were in for a surprise result but Marsa drew level fifteen minutes before the end of regular time.
Marsa had the first chance 15 minutes when Kyle Azzopardis’ shot was blocked on the goal line by defender Samuel Okoh. Marsa continued to attack but Mgarr were always menacing in their breaks and on 28 minutes, Samuel Boakye beat the Marsa defence on the run but his lob went over the bar. Two minutes later, Mgarr took the lead when Clive Gauci’s through pass was picked by Luka Mijic who beat Marsa goalkeeper Ryan Caruana on the first post. Marsa had a good opportunity for an immediate equaliser but Lydon Micallef’s effort was brilliantly saved by Jonathan Debono.
Debono was again called in action to save an Azzopardi dipper and on the other end Boakye again escaped the Marsa defenders but his effort went well over the bar. Deep in stoppage time Marsa obtained the equaliser when Renan Bigode headed home from close range an Azzopardi freekick.
Eight minutes into the second half Mgarr were awarded a highly disputed penalty and from the spot, Jurgen Suda drove home with a low central drive. Marsa pushed forward for an equaliser but were rather erratic and confusing in their approach. However, on 75 minutes, Renan Bigode passed towards Robinho who beat Debono with a grounder on the far post. Marsa continued to attack in the remaining minutes Mgarr defended well to win a well-deserved point.
Senglea Athletic 0-2 Swieqi United
On Friday night, Swieqi recorded a much deserved victory over Senglea Athletic, as the team of Pablo Doffo showed to friend and foe that this team can be ranked as one of the best in the second tier of Maltese football. Senglea, surely no push-overs themselves, tried hard and had their moments in the game, but over-all the Swieqi victory cannot be disputed who scored twice in the opening 45 minutes to decide the game.
Senglea had a slight upper-hand in the opening phase but it was Swieqi who took the lead on 21 minutes thanks to Blessing Brafo, who rounded off a neat attack on the right wing by blasting the ball home in the roof of the net. On 32 minutes, Alan Schembri-Wismayer was sent through, serving Brafo who scored his second of the night with an accurate grounder.
Five minutes after the re-start, Jonathan Grech denied Brafo a third goal with a splendid save on his excellent volley. On 57 minutes, Jean-Claude Debattista performed a great save himself on a Terrence Vella free-kick from just outside the area. On 70 minutes, both George Tetteh-Attram and Tyrone Fenech incredibly missed for the Cottonera side from practically the goal-line from a Jerry Alex cross.
Senglea completely dominated towards the end but failed the find a way through the tight Swieqi defence. In two fast stoppage time counter-attacks, Swieqi should have added a third but Brafo and substitute Collins Gyamfi missed two incredible sitters.
Zurrieq 1-0 Zebbug Rangers
In the late Victor Tedesco Stadium kick off on Saturday, Zurrieq registered back-to-back wins by beating Zebbug Rangers with the minimum margin of 1-0. A much welcome for the team of coaching tandem Frans Cassar and Mark Miller, who can look up now and further work on their ultimate goal, which is a Top 8 finish. On the other hand, with this defeat, Rodney Bugeja’s Rangers still lie in dangerous waters with only four points, obtained from four draws.
The decisive goal of the match arrived early in the game, thanks to Sebastian Grech who beat Jamie Azzopardi with a well-timed shot after just 12 minutes playing time. Zebbug replied with an angled shot from the left by Jamie Carbone which deflected into a corner by Jurgen Borg.
In the second half Zurrieq kept pressuring and on 50 minutes Grech should have doubled but headed the ball over the bar. Play remained cagey but on 81 minutes on the other side, young Nigerian substitute Ayinde Adeyemi came inches close to equalize in dramatic fashion but his header hit the post, much to the delight of the Zurrieq clan who now obtain a handsome sixth place with nine points.
Sirens 3-1 Mtarfa
In the late Sunday night match at the Centenary Stadium, Sirens returned to winning form beating Mtarfa in a very tight and balanced encounter, with Mtarfa deserving at least a point. It would have been their first point this season but once again they left the pitch empty handed as they suffered their fifth consecutive defeat of the season.
Mtarfa had a very good start and took the lead on eleven minutes when former Hamrun Spartans striker Hamza Sani fired home with a low shot after a fast break. Sirens held the initiative for long stretches after suffering the goal but were not very dangerous in front of goal. The seasiders had a couple of close shaves but had to wait till stoppage time of the first half to obtain an equaliser when Hafiz Akadom passed towards Leonardo De Bortoli who shot home from close range.
In the second half, Sirens saw more of the ball and took the lead on 71 minutes when Ryan Mercieca headed home from a corner action. Mtarfa had an Eric Mensah goal disallowed for a foul on goalkeeper Andrea Cassar and Sirens missed a sitter when Akadom failed to score with an open goal at his mercy.
Deep in stoppage time Sirens sealed the issue when Jean Borg fired home with the ball hitting the crossbar before finishing at the back of the net.
Santa Lucia 0-0 Gudja United
On Saturday afternoon at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Santa Lucia earned their first point of the campaign with goalless draw against neighbours Gudja United in a low-key encounter. Orosco Anonam’s side were unlucky not to bag the maximum points as they hit the woodwork on two occasions.
The first shot on target was recorded after 15 minutes as long-range attempt by Jamie Cutajar resulted into a routine save by Saints custodian Christopher Farrugia. Gudja remained in control and put the pressure up, with Willian coming close to score the opener just before the break as the Brazilian headed against the crossbar.
After the re-start, the match remained in a total deadlock with neither side managing to create much danger in the box. Ten minutes from time, Diego Silva blasted his shot against the crossbar, letting the Lucians escape for a second time.
Lija Athletic 1-0 St Andrews
In the early Victor Tedesco Stadium kick off on Sunday, Lija registered their first win of the campaign by beating St Andrews thanks to a stoppage time penalty. It was a hard-earned victory for the team of Joseph Galea, one certainly not justified as Luxol most definitely showed the better football and created more chances.
Luxol opened aggressively and on 19 minutes, Zak Muscat tried his luck from outside the box with an angled shot that just sailed inches wide. Moments later, in a period that St Andrews were all over Lija, wing back Clay Paul Tanti should have broken the deadlock from close-range but incredibly missed target.
Also after the break, St Andrews remained in control, creating numerous goalscoring opportunities, mainly through Omar Elouni and Ricardo Correa Duarte but failed to capitalize. With ten minutes left to play, the unmarked Uruguayan winger Correa wasted another great opportunity but blasted high with only Lija custodian Luke Bonnici to beat. With the match heading towards a goalless draw, there was late drama when Tanti felled Venezuelan livewire Aron Hernandez in the box, with Erjon Beu kicking home the spot-kick in style.
Lija have now collected four points, just one behind St Andrews, leaving only Santa Lucia and Mtarfa behind them in the ranking. After their draw with Sirens last weekend, St Andrews were severely disappointed with the outcome of this match and, with just five points from five games, are situated in the lower part of the standings as well.
