Vittoriosa earn first point — Valletta extend the lead

Vittoriosa Stars earned their first point in the BOV Premier League after holding Floriana in a goalless draw.

The Greens once again failed to impress, disappointing their supporters who were expecting their team to take sole leadership in the BOV Premier League.

Floriana lacked Owen Bugeja and Bulgarian midfielder Kiril Dzhorov while Duncan Pisani was back after missing the last game. The Greens had in fact three changes from the team which defeated Hamrun as Ivailo Sokolov started the game on the bench.

Vittoriosa, on the other hand, had Clayton Micallef replacing the injured Pierre Aquilina. Edison Luis Dos Santos was missing once again for Winston Muscat’s side.

After having a goal disallowed for an offside, Floriana went close to taking the lead on the 10th when off a Christian Cassar corner, Christian Caruana headed just wide. Two minutes earlier, Leighton Grech had tested Saidi with a powerful shot from inside the area. A cross shot from the right by Christian Caruana was not held by Simon Agius and Clayton Micallef turned the ball into a corner.

Floriana went close once again on the half hour when Michael Mecerod managed to go past Simon Agius but his angled shoot missed the target. Five minutes from the end of the first half, Carlos Emanuel Campagnoli had a long distance shot from the left ending just wide.

Three minutes in added time, Simon Agius performed a good save on a Michael Mecerod effort from the right.

On 62 minutes, Ivan Woods, served by Christian Caruana had a close-range effort turned into a corner by the Vittioriosa custodian. Ten minutes later, off a cross by Manolito Micallef from the left, Ryan Darmanin was unlucky to hit the crossbar with a header.

Simon Agius was voted BOV Player of the Match.

FLORIANA Lofti Saidi, Brian Said, Pablo Doffo, Manolito Micallef, Christian Caruana, Michael Mecerod (77’ Luke Agius), Ivan Woods, Duncan Pisani, Joseph Borg (59’ Ryan Darmanin), Tyrone Farrugia, Christian Cassar (64’ Clyde Borg).
Subs not used: John Agius, Ivailo Sokolov, Mark Gauci, Sacha Borg.
Coach: Michael Woods
Assistant Coach: Todor Raykov

VITTORIOSA Simon Agius, Clayton Micallef, Sharlon Pace, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Carlos Campagnoli, Dino Cachia (69’ Mauro Brincat), Kevin Mifsud, Jorge Santos Silva (85’ Carl Sammut), Anthony Ewurum, Steve Wellman, Leighton Grech.
Subs not used: Jean Matthias Vella, Johann Spiteri, Jonathan Xerri, Larry Lagana, Ryan Sell
Coach: Winston Muscat
Assistant Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Malcolm Mercieca
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: C. Cassar, C. Campagnoli, C. Borg, M. Brincat, A. Ewurum, T. Farrugia, S. Pace

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Meanwhile Valletta moved four points clear on top the BOV Premier League table as they defeated Tarxien Rainbows 5-2 in an entertaining clash.

The Citizens twice took the lead and on both occasions, Tarxien equalised. However Valletta scored another three goals to take home the three points.

Gilbert Agius, Edmond Agius, Omonigho Temile and Kenneth Scicluna were all missing for Valletta. The Rainbows, on the other hand, were in full strength.

The Citizens had the first attempt at goal on the 5th minute with Terence Scerri hitting just wide from the right.

Valletta managed to take the lead on 11 minutes when off a Kevin Sammut freekick, the ball was deflected into the direction of Terence Scerri who headed the ball home from an angled position.

Tarxien levelled matters two minutes later thanks to a goal by Ricardo Costa following a corner from the right by Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira.

Daniel Mariano Bueno went close to putting Tarxien ahead with a diagonal shot from the left on 28 minutes but his conclusion just missed the target. Six minutes from the end of the first half, off a cross by Roderick Briffa from the right Kevin Sammut’s fine header was saved by Curmi, assisted by a defender and off the rebound, Dyson Falzon hit just wide.

The Citizens regained the lead four minutes in the second half when Kevin Sammut was brought down inside the area by Orosco Anonam. From the penalty spot, Terence Scerri made no mistake to make it 2-1.

Tarxien restored equilibrium on the 57th minute when off a through-pass on the right, Daniel Mariano Bueno managed to get through Ramon Dos Santos and goalkeeper Andrew Hogg, placing the ball at the back of the net.

Valletta forged ahead once again on the 70th thanks to a goal by Kevin Sammut whose low shot from inside the area beat goalkeeper Anthony Curmi.

Ricardo Costa was then unlucky to hit the woodwork for Tarxien off a corner by Calabretta on 77 minutes.

Five minutes later, Valletta increased the lead when off a Denni Rocha Dos Santos freekick, Jamie Pace flicked the ball home past Curmi.

Terence Scerri sealed the issue with a fifth goal on the 90th, beating Curmi with a shot from inside the area following a good run on the right flank

Kevin Sammut was voted BOV Player of the Match.

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VALLETTA Andrew Hogg, Steve Borg (78’ Joseph Okonkwo), Jonathan Caruana, Ramon Dos Santos, Ian Azzopardi, Roderick Briffa, Jamie Pace, Dyson Falzon (88’ Ian Zammit), Kevin Sammut, Terence Scerri, Denni Rocha Dos Santos.
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Kurt Magro, Leon Camilleri, Clifford Gauci, Samir Arab.
Coach: Leonard Farrugia
Assistant Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

TARXIEN Anthony Curmi, Manuel Caruana, Everton Antonio Pereira (22’ Ryan Grech), Ricardo Costa, Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira (61’ Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues), Mark Tanti (74’ Gianluca Calabretta), Daniel Mariano Bueno, Luke Vella Critien, Orosco Anonam, Ryan Mintoff, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Steve Sadowski, Julian Vella, Lee Galea.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Assistant Coach: Michael Church

Referee: Chris Lautier
Assistant Referees: Joe Camilleri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Briffa, Mintoff, Azzopardi, Vella Critien, Bueno, Pace, Calabretta, J. Caruana
Scorers: 11’ Terence Scerri (V); 13’ Ricardo Costa (T); 49’ Terence Scerri (V); 57’ Daniel Mariano Bueno (T), 70’ Kevin Sammut (V), 82’ Jamie Pace (V); 90’ Terence Scerri (V)
Spectators: 1,626