Hibernians keep marching on — Henry Bonello loss proves fatal for Wanderers

Hibernians registered their sixth successive win in the BOV Premier League as they defeated bottom-placed Mosta 2-0. A win which puts the Paolites once again on top, one point ahead of Valletta.

Diego Balbinot and Triston Caruana were missing for Hibernians but Adrian Pulis was back after serving a one-match ban. Mosta, on the other hand, lacked once again Gilbert Martin.

Mosta defender Yannick Ossok was sent off by Irish referee Mervyn Smith after just eight minutes after he fouled Edison Luis dos Santos as he was heading towards goal. From the resulting freekick, Clayton Failla beat goalkeeper Jonathan Debono.

Ten minutes from time, Edison Luis dos Santos sealed the issue with a second goal after Marcelo Dias had a shot partially saved by Jonathan Debono, hitting home off the rebound.

Clayton Failla was voted BOV Player of the Match.

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Luca Martinelli, Federico Tisbi (89′ Kane Farrugia), Yannick Ossok, Kurt Magro, Nikola Bogdanovic, Arilson Mello da Silva, Alex Cini (66′ Jonathan Bajada), Firas Aboulezz (10′ Bryan Agius), Ian Zammit.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, John Paul Grima, Sheldon Grech, Michel Bertrand Maki Mvondo.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

HIBS Mario Muscat, Ryan Camilleri, Adrian Pulis, Aaron Xuereb, Rodolfo Soares, Marcelo Dias, Andrew Cohen (75′ Peter Anizoba), Edward Herrera (81′ Steve Pisani), Clayton Failla, Bjorn Kristensen (88′ Jonathan Pearson), Edison Luis dos Santos.
Subs not used: Luke Bonnici, Ayrton Azzopardi, Keith Tanti, Brandon Muscat.
Coach: Mark Miller

Referee: Mervyn Smith (NIR)
Assistant Referees: David Hamilton (NIR), Sammy Attard,
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow cards: K Magro, L Martinelli, Dos Santos
Red Cards: 8′ Ossok
Scorers: 9′ Clayton Failla, 80′ Edison Luis dos Santos

Marsaxlokk returned to winning ways as they defeated Tarxien Rainbows 4-2 at the National Stadium.

Tarxien took the lead on the 4th minute thanks to a powerful shot by Daniel Mariano Bueno which gave goalkeeper Reuben Gauci no chance.

Marsaxlokk leveled matters on the 10th when off a good move by Obinna Obiefule on the right, Martin Deanov hit home past David Cassar.

Six minutes later, the Southseasiders regained the lead. Daniel Mariano Bueno brought Obinna Obiefule down inside the area and from the penalty spot, the Nigerian striker made no mistake.

However five minutes from time, the Rainbows restored equilibrium when Daniel Mariano Bueno exchanged the ball with Everton Pereira before slotting the ball past the Marsaxlokk custodian.

On 72 minutes, Julian Vella almost surprised Reuben Gauci with a direct freekick from the right but the Marsaxlokk custodian turned the ball into a corner.

Four minutes later, Marsaxlokk regained the lead when a shot by Obinna Obiefule was blocked by David Cassar and off the rebound, Emiliano Lattes placed the ball at the back of the net.

One minute in added time, Obinna Obiefule sealed the issue when off a cross from the right by Emiliano Lattes, he placed the ball at the back of the net.

Obinna Obiefule was voted BOV Player of the Match.

TARXIEN David Cassar, Steven Sadowski, Everton Antonio Pereira, Stefan Giglio, Ricardo Costa, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Julian Vella (79’ Karl Pulo), Orosco Anonam, Lee Galea, Caio Garcia Suguino (67’ Rodrigo Galvao), Justin Grioli (79’ Luke Vella Critien).
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Manuel Caruana, Adrian Carabott, Ryan Mintoff.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Asst. Coach: Michael Church

M’XLOKK Reuben Gauci, Carlo Mamo, Malcolm Licari, Clive Brincat, Carlos Campagnoli, Florent Raimy, Patrick Borg (90’ Jonathan Xerri), Emiliano Lattes, Dylan Kokavessis, Obinna Obiefule, Martin Deanov.
Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Sunday Eboh, Modesto Valeriani, Jean Claude Vella, Stefan Cutajar, Darrell Grech.
Coach: Winston Muscat
Asst. Coach: Darren Abdilla

Referee: Ross Dunlop (NIR)
Assistant referees: Tony Sharkey (NIR), Wiliam Debattista
Fourth official: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Yellow Cards: Bueno, Galea, Sadowski
Scorers: 4’ Daniel Mariano Bueno; 10′ Martin Deanov, 16′ Obinna Obiefule, 40′ Daniel Mariano Bueno, 76′ Emiliano Lattes, 91′ Obinna Obiefule

The loss of Henry Bonello, who suffered an injury and had to be substituted, proved fatal for Sliema Wanderers as Hamrun Spartans came back from one goal down to win 4-2 at the National Stadium.

Substitute goalkeeper Anthony Curmi hardly had the chance to touch the ball, suffering four goals in less than fifteen minutes.

The Spartans had the first attempt at goal when Gianluca Calabretta served Anderson Ribeiro whose conclusion ended just wide on 14 minutes.

Six minutes later, Sliema took the lead when off a cross by Jackson Lima, Jorge Santos Silva served Cleavon Frendo who hit home from close range.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, Hamrun were awarded a penalty by referee Mario Apap after Gaetan Spiteri was floored inside the area by Alex Muscat. From the penalty spot, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro had his penalty partially saved by Bonello. Gaetan Spiteri’s effort off the rebound was turned into a corner. From the resulting corner by Kevin Sammut, Massimo Grima headed just wide.

Goalkeeper Anthony Curmi replaced the injured Henry Bonello on 66 minutes and hardly a minute later, Gaetan Spiteri took a loose ball inside the Sliema penalty area and placed the ball at the back of the net.

On 72 minutes, the Spartans forged ahead when off a cross by Massimo Grima from the left, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro headed home past Curmi.

Three minutes later, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro made it 3-1 when off a Gaetan Spiteri cross from the left, the Brazilian striker hit home.

Dene Shields received a through pass on the right and hit hard past Anthony Curmi on the 80th to increase the lead further.

Matthew Gauci floored Jerry Ani inside the area six minutes from time. From the penalty spot, Danial Mitev converted.

Anderson Mendes Ribeiro was voted BOV Player of the Match.

HAMRUN Omar Borg, Nikica Gacesa, Massimo Grima, Roderick Fenech (37’ Steve Bonnici)(67’ David Camilleri), Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, Kevin Sammut, Matthew Gauci, Carlo Polli, Gaetan Spiteri, Gianluca Calabretta (56’ Lee James Agius), Dene Shields.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Rupert Mangion, Carlos Eduardo Toneto Porcari, Luis Fernando Silva.
Coach: Jesmond Zammit
Asst. Coach: Vince Carbonaro

SLIEMA Henry Bonello (66’ Anthony Curmi), Alex Muscat, Josepf Mifsud (76’ Jeremiah Ani), Mark Scerri, Daniel Mitev, Steve Bezzina, Jackson Lima Sequeira, Rumen Galabov (76’ Ryan Grech), Roderick Bajada, Jorge Santos Silva, Cleavon Frendo.
Subs not used: Julian Briffa, Ryan Dalli, Dillon Grech, Beppe Muscat.
Coach: Danilo Doncic
Asst. Coach: Saviour Debono Grech

Referee: Mario Apap
Assistant referees: Joe Camilleri, Paul Apap
Fourth official: Clayton Pisani
Yellow Cards: Sequeira, Calabretta
Scorers: 20’ Cleavon Frendo, 68’ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, 72’ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, 75’ Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, 80’ Dene Shields, 85’ Danial Mitev
Attendance at National Stadium: 617

In another match at the Victor Tedesco Stadium, Floriana defeated Balzan Youths 3-1.

Balzan took the lead on 42 minutes when off a corner by Fagner Lins Bernardes, Kris Bright headed home past goalkeeper William Amamoo.

The Greens’ reaction was immediate and a minute later, off a Joseph Okonkwo cross from the right, Mano Micallef headed the ball past Matthew Camilleri to make it 1-1.

The Balzan custodian had to leave the pitch injured early in the second half and was replaced by Fredrick Tabone.

On 62 minutes, Ciantar floored Micallef inside the area and Ivan Woods made no mistake from the penalty spot.

Three minutes from time, John Mintoff released Ivan Woods who served Christian Caruana who placed the ball at the back of the net from close range.

Manolito Micallef was voted BOV Player of the Match.

FLORIANA William Amamoo, Duncan Pisani, Owen Bugeja (80′ Thomas Paris), Tyrone Farrugia, Mano Micallef, Pablo Doffo, Christian Cassar (76′ Clyde Borg), Christian Caruana, Ivan Woods, Boris Odwong, Joseph Okonkwo (46′ John Mintoff)
Subs not used: Manuel Bartolo, Joseph Borg, Andrew Spiteri, Ryan Darmanin
Coach: Michael Woods
Asst. Coach: Frank Schembri

BALZAN Matthew Camilleri (52′ Fredrick Tabone), Yessous Camilleri, Bledjon Guga, Jonathan Francica (73′ Lydon Micallef), Clifton Ciantar, Dylan Grima, Nikola Tasic, Renie Forace, Luis Bernardes, Miguel Ciantar (85′ Michael Borg), Kris Bright
Subs not used: David Fenech, Silvan Ciscaldi, Bjorn Bondin, Roderick Farrugia
Coach: Joe Borg
Team Manager: Ivan Zammit

Referee: Paul Caruana
Assistant referees: Konrad Borg, Alex Grech
Fourth official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: K. Bright, L. Bernardes, C. Ciantar, J.Francica (B), O.Bugeja (F)
Scorers: 42′ Kris Bright, 43′ own goal Jonathan Francica, 62′ Ivan Woods pen, 87′ Christian Caruana