Following a fine second-half performance in the last outing against FYR Macedonia in a friendly match last month, the national team will be aiming for a good start in Group F of the EURO 2012 qualifying round as Malta takes on Israel at the Ramat Gan Stadium, kick-off at 20:15 CET, just five days before another qualifier against Latvia at home.

Malta ended its commitments in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at the bottom of the table with just one point from ten matches. Since then Malta played four friendly matches – a 1-4 defeat to Bulgaria at the Hibs Stadium in November, a narrow 1-2 defeat to Finland in March and a 0-3 defeat to Germany in Aachen before the 1-1 draw with FYR Macedonia. In this latter game, the performance by the Maltese side after the break stunned the visitors. Malta coach John Buttigieg hopes to build on this fine display as the team plays its first game from this qualifying campaign.
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In front of the biggest crowd yet at the Charles Abela Memorial Stadium, Tarxien Rainbows won the ‘Gammari’ Muscat’ Mosta Tournament as they defeated Pietà Hotspurs 2-0 in the final.

Tarxien were the favourites to lift the trophy and they did not disappoint. Although the Hotspurs played a good match, Tarxien were a superior outfit with their foreign players again taking the limelight. In the end it was men against boys, literally, considering the average age of the Pieta side which surely did not exceed 22 years.
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Andre Schembri scored his first goal for Ferencváros as Fradi defeated Györi ETO 3-0 on Wednesday in a match from the Hungarian first division.

Ferencváros lead the way with 10 points from five matches along with Debrecen, Kaposari Rakoczi, Vasas and MTK.

On Thursday, Etienne Barbara scored one of the goals in Carolina RailHawks’ 2-1 win over Tampa Bay Rowdies away from home. This was Barbara’s seventh goal for RailHawks since moving to the USA last March.
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The quick-Keno Second & Third Division Knock-Out kicked-off on Wednesday with the first two games from the group stage.

In Group 1, Third Division side Ghaxaq held Mellieha in a 2-2 draw while Rabat Ajax defeated Mdina Knights 3-1 in the first-ever derby between the two neighbours.

On Thursday, Gharghur face Sta. Venera Lightnings while Swieqi United meet Senglea Athletic from Group 7.

The 2010 edition of the ‘Gammari’ Muscat’ MOSTA TOURNAMENT comes to an end today when Premier Division side Tarxien Rainbows meet Pieta Hotspurs in the FINAL. Before the final, Lija Athletic and Zurrieq FC meet in the final for 3rd and 4th Place.

There is no doubt that Tarxien have been the outstanding team of the tournament. They start today’s match as hot favourites against a young Pieta side that have done very well considering the very young age of the side. Tarxien introduced several great foreign players during the tournament and in Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues they have one of the best foreigners on the island. But coach Noel Coleiro has many other outstanding players, like new signing Julian Vella and the impish Gianluca Calabretta who had a blinding match in the semi-final.
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