BOV NATIONAL CHALLENGE LEAGUE
MD 19 REVIEW
TOP 8
Mgarr United 1-2 Valletta
On Sunday at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Valletta, already crowned champions last week, obtained their ninth consecutive victory with a hard-earned odd goal in three victory over Mgarr United. The Northerners, who are now realistically outside a chance for the second promotion spot, gave the Citizens a good run for their money with fast counterattacks, but Valletta proved the be the better side throughout the ninety minutes.
Within five minutes from kick-off, Mgarr goalkeeper Jonathan Debono was called into action, turning a shot from just outside the box by Keyon Ewurum into a corner. After a cagy first 25 minutes, it was Mgarr’s turn to create some danger when a shot from Samuel Okoh was well saved by stand-in goalkeeper Liam Frendo.
But just before the half hour mark, Valletta scored the opener thanks to a long range shot by Ewurum, the first campaign goal for the nearly 18-year-old. Ten minutes before the break, the Citizens increased their advantage when Paul Lapira slotted home from close-range from an intelligent Andrei Ciolacu assist.
Twelve minutes after the break, Valletta substitute Zak Barbara released a powerful shot from just outside the box which sailed just wide. On 65 minutes, the referee in charge awarded a penalty to Mgarr after a hands-ball incident in the Valleta box. Substitute Christian Saint Ebisindor converted the spot-kick to bring back the interest in the game.
Barely two minutes later however, Valletta were given a penalty as well, again for a handling infringement in the box, but Ciolacu failed to beat Debono from 11-meters as the veteran goalie managed to save in style. Mgarr could have snatched an equaliser when Luka Mijic’ attempt hit the woodwork with ten minutes regular time left.
Tarxien Rainbows 1-1 Swieqi United
Surely the most attractive fixture in the Top 8 last weekend was that one between second-placed Swieqi United and Tarxien Rainbows, who are occupying rank three in the standings. Although the Rainbows created the better opportunities throughout the game, the match on Saturday afternoon at the Centenary Stadium finished in a justified one-all draw, which favoured Swieqi more than Tarxien.
The team of coach Pablo Doffo went into the lead in the 22nd minute thanks to Aleksandar Katanic, who steered his excellent timed shot past Rainbows goalkeeper Andreas Vella, the sixth goal in six games for the Serbian January recruit. Just after the half hour mark, Jurgen Debono’s on-target volley from the edge of the area was blocked by the Swieqi defence while two minutes before half-time, Debono released another first-timer but his attempt sailed high.
Not long after the re-start, Swieqi goalkeeper Jean-Claude Debattista was called back in action again, this time parading a Claudio Murici opportunity. Zachary Brincat tried his luck in the 59th minute, but his half volley was way off. James Brincat brought on a sudden impact, after being on the pitch for only three minutes, when a cross by Zachary Brincat found the nippy midfielder in an excellent position, whose first-timer went past Debattista to bring the score level on the one-hour mark, a deserved equaliser.
The Rainbows missed a golden opportunity to take the lead on 75 minutes when they were rewarded a penalty, but Debattista did well to save Zachary Brincat’s attempt from the spot. Not much later, Swieqi created a fine opportunity when Terence Vella’s cross found Blessing Brafo but his header went slightly off target.
A James Brincat free kick two minutes before the end was read well by Debattista, which was the last opportunity of the game, with indeed Swieqi stepping of the pitch the happier side. With three points ahead of Tarxien and three matches remaining against Mgarr, Pieta’ and Santa Lucia, the young club have a historic Premier Division promotion in their own hands.
Pieta’ Hotspurs 3-3 Santa Lucia
The season of Pieta took a bad turn on Sunday afternoon at the Victor Tedesco Stadium as they, incredibly, threw away a three-goal advantage and the opportunity to go two points behind second placed Swieqi by conceding three the goals in space of seven minutes in the final stages of the game. Up to the 75th minute, the team of Manuel Caruana were actually in full control of the game, looking to cruise comfortably to add another three points to their tally. But the never-say-die attitude of the Saints enabled them to grab a point.
Pieta’ came close after 15 minutes when an angled shot from Daneel Abela from inside the area was turned into a corner by Christopher Farrugia. Towards the end of the first half, the Blues created another great opportunity through youngThomas Melillo, which Farrugia spectacularly fingertipped into a corner. But just before the break, Hidesato Ueda fired home from an ideal position with a grounder through the middle to give the Hotspurs a deserved half-time lead.
Close to the hour, the Hotspurs increased their margin with a well-timed header by Sheldon Borg following an excellent Emmanuel Bio cross and adding a third on 74 minutes when Kian Leonardi knocked in from a fast counter attack.
On 78 minutes, the comeback of the Lucians started when Abela committed a foul in his own box, with Emmanuel Asante coolly kicking home his 9th goal of the season from the spot-kick. The Yellows kept on pushing by putting the pressure on the Pieta defence and incredibly equalised with two goals on 83 and 85 minutes. The first of the two was an unfortunate own goal by Gabriel Mannino and in the attack that followed, flank defender Bahri Hanan, ironically a player from the Pieta’ youth academy, brought the house down by heading home from a corner.
Marsa 0-2 Zurrieq
On Sunday afternoon at the Centenary Stadium, Marsa missed a golden opportunity to rekindle their faint hopes for a possible promotion spot, losing 2-0 against Zurrieq. Another huge setback for the ambitious but plagued club, who had to swallow their third consecutive defeat, remaining winless in their last five games with just one point won, in a 1-1 draw with Mgarr half February. With six points behind Swieqi and just three matches left, including one against Valletta, we can slowly conclude that Marsa will remain a Challenge League club.
Zurrieq took a surprise lead after 17 minutes when American Challenge League Top Scorer Mamadu Bah smashed home after a goalmouth melee’. Matters turned worse for Marsa on 21 minutes when nippy Brazilian midfielder Ewertton was sent off for retaliation as the match turned rather fractious. Marsa came close to an equalizer on 24 minutes with a header by Renan Bigode going just over the bar. Zurrieq were operating on breakaways and also had a good opportunity on 33 minutes with a header by Precious Tenebe that also went just over the bar.
Zurrieq had an excellent chance to double on 53 minutes but Larens Vella saw his effort from point blank range blocked by goalkeeper Ryan Caruana. Although Marsa did put some pressure on the Zurrieq goal, they did not look like scoring with the Redss coming close several times on the break. Deep in stoppage time, Zurrieq did finally make it 2-0 from a counter with Bah concluding easily much to the delight of the considerable Zurrieq support.
Having a quick look at the standings, the race for the runners-up spot looks to be a battle between Swieqi, Tarxien and Pieta’. On April 5, Swieqi and Pieta’ will cross swords in what could be possibly a decisive match, while Tarxien looks to have the smoothest route with matches against Zurrieq, Marsa and Mgarr United. Apart from the match against each other, Swieqi play Mgarr and close with a clash versus Santa Lucia, while the Hotspurs have a game against Valletta up next while closing with a Zurrieq encounter. However, for the next two weekends there are no games due to the upcoming international break.
PLAY OUT
Fgura United 2-0 Senglea Athletic
On Sunday night at the Centenary Stadium, Fgura United added to Senglea’s relegation worries with a five-star performance and an easy victory in which the score could have been much bigger. Another setback for the troubled Cottonera side, who saw their biggest competitors bagging important victories.
The team of Kevin Vella looked the better side from the initial whistle and it was no surprise that they took the lead on 18 minutes when Michael Gatt fired a low shot that finished at the back of the net. Four minutes later, a Donys Quintero shot destined for the back of the net was blocked on the goal line by Alexander Cini.
Senglea’s first effort arrived on 25 minutes with a Benjamin Tweneboa effort going over the bar. On 34 minutes Senglea had another lucky escape when Michael Gatt’s point blank effort was blocked on the goal line by Mouhamadou Lamine and just before the break a Quintero effort skimmed the crossbar.
Ten minutes into the second half, Senglea striker George Tetteh-Attram received a second booking and Senglea were down to ten and ten minutes later Fgura put the game to bed when substitute John Awori scored with a low drive after a fine solo move.
Fgura continued to dictate but were unlucky on 72 minutes when Karl Formosa’s effort finished against the base of the upright and minutes later an Awori drive had the same fate with the ball stopped by the upright.
St Andrews 2-1 Sirens
In the late Centenary Stadium kick-off on Saturday, St Andrews managed to win their fourth consecutive game and are now just one victory away from spending another season in the 2nd tier of Maltese football. An incredible story for the Saints, who got strengthened during the January transfer window with a few important acquisitions, including nearly 40-year-old Marcelo Dias from Gzira, changed coach last month and winning 12 points in the process.
The Saints took the lead on 24 minutes when captain Michael Johnson rose above the entire Sirens defence to head home, leaving Miguel Spiteri with no chance to save. Nathan Sultana tried his luck in the 35th minute with a beauty but his effort went just over the bar. Two minutes later however ‘Luxol’ doubled their lead when Uruguayan veteran winger Riccardo Correa beat Spiteri with a great direct free-kick. Just before half-time, the team of coach Mauro Delceppo could have added a third but Mattia Galliano’s powerful effort ended just wide.
With Sirens home and dry in the standings, the match lost initially some interest after the change of ends. However, when Thiago Nonato got his side back into the game in the 56th minute from another free-kick action, the St Paul’s Bay based side went all for the equaliser with Thiago Nonato coming again close on the hour mark. The experienced Saints defence however, managed to keep the Sirens attacks at bay, with perhaps Trezeguet Zammit’s effort with five minutes spare as best opportunity, but the striker aimed his kick too high.
Next up for the Saints are Mtarfa, a real challenge as the latter need the points desperately to escape relegation, being still in the red zone.
Gudja United 0-1 Lija Athletic
On Saturday afternoon in the first match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, lowly Lija Athletic registered a dramatic last second win with club icon Erjon Beu finding the net in stoppage time, giving his side a priceless three points in their quest for salvation. A huge relief for the team of coach Joseph Galea as, after five consecutive defeats, Lija have now considerably boosted their chances to play Challenge league football next season. Their win was a deserved one, creating various goalscoring opportunities as Gudja, despite the loss, secured their status in second tier already last week.
As was to be expected, Lija started aggressively venturing forward from the very beginning and after just six minutes, Degran Jackson failed to score with a simple tap in unmarked from an ideal position but his effort was kicked from the line by defender Eman Micallef. Lija kept pushing in search for the opener and came again close in the 25th minute through a free kick from the edge of the area by Beu, but his shot was turned into a corner by custodian James Pisani. Lija kept pushing the Gudjans into their own half till end of half time but somehow all their attacks were neutralised by the Blues defence.
At the start of the second half, Gudja staged a reaction and came close to open the scoring with a header from close range by Willian Henrique which sailed inches wide. Ten minutes from time Gudja had their best opportunity to score when Luke Bonnici did well to parade a shot from inside the area by substitute Matthias Conti. In the remaining minutes, Lija went full on attack in surge for a winner and were rewarded in stoppage time with Beu hitting home a great free-kick, much to the delight of the Lija clan.
Zebbug Rangers 0-2 Mtarfa
Following last week’s defeat in the hands of Fgura, Zebbug succumbed to another setback against Mtarfa, who beat the Rangers 2-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday and have lifted themselves up from the bottom place.
The victory was well deserved, with the team of Rodney Bugeja being the better side, creating most goal scoring opportunities throughout the match. With these important three points, Mtarfa responded to the win by Lija, overtaking Senglea in the ranking and thus throwing the relegation issue wide open.
The poor form of the Rangers, who just obtained two points from their last six league matches, have dragged them into the relegation battle as well, as the team of coach Kevin Ellul are just three points above Lija and four above the red zone.
In the opening half hour, defences stood out with both sides evenly balanced and creating very few goalscoring opportunities. The first real chance arrived just after the half-hour mark for Zebbug with an excellent free kick just outside the box by Ayrton Mizzi, with his curling attempt being turned into a corner by Frederick Tabone.
Just after the hour, Mtarfa took the lead courtesy of a solo effort by Jamiu Hassan who rounded off a fine individual move. Ayrton Azzopardi released an excellent strike on 65 minutes which custodian Jake Scicluna turned into a corner. On the 83rd minute, Mtarfa striker Joseph Agbakwuru was fouled inside the area which resulted into a penalty, with a substitute Daren Falzon converting the spot kick.
Mtarfa play St Andrews, Gudja United and Fgura United respectively in an attempt to save their season, a tough but not impossible task knowing Lija and Senglea will also face each other on the penultimate match day of the campaign.
TOP SCORERS
18 – Mamadu Bah (Zurrieq)
15 – Duvan Mosquera (Zebbug Rangers) & Andrei Ciolacu (Valletta)
