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Match Reports
| MIA Premier League |
|---|
 | 18/04/2004, National Stadium - Ta' Qali Balzan Youths vs Valletta FC0-5 (HT 0-1) |  |
| BALZAN | Ernest Barry, Alex Muscat, Sergio Cappitta, Stefano Grima, Shawn Tellus, Mario Caruana, Gilbert Scerri (46' Anthony Gera), Jaroslav Marx, Stefan Zahra, Neville Arpa (73' Michael Martin), Nicky Gatt (53' Michael Valenzia).
Subs not used: Miguel Montfort, Kevin Curmi, David Agius, Kurt Coleiro. Coach: Jimmy Briffa |
| VALLETTA | Sean Sullivan, Todor Simeonov, Darren Debono, Beppe Pace, Milen Penchev, Jonathan Bondin, Jamie Pace (32' Rennie Forace), Massimo Grima (73' Kurt Zammit), Ivan Zammit, Nenad Veselji (61' Ian Zammit), Nebjosa Stajic.
Subs not used: Ranier Farrugia, Arnold Galea, Kurt Magro, Mark Barbara. Coach: Atanas Marinov |
| Referee | JR Attard |
| Assistant Referees | Gaetano Degabriele, Nicky Debattista |
| Fourth Official | Alan Mario Sant |
| Yellow Cards | 56' Ivan Zammit, 57' Grima |
| Scorers | 37' Jonathan Bondin 64' Ian Zammit 71' Ian Zammit 76' Ian Zammit 92' Nebjosa Stajic |
| MIA Player of the Match | Ivan Zammit |
| Young striker Ian Zammit scored three goals in thirteen minutes as Valletta defeated Balzan Youths 5-0 to push Jimmy Briffa's side into deeper relegation trouble.
In fact this was the third defeat in four matches for the Youths in the Relegation Pool and the one-point lead they enjoy over Msida could be lost by next Friday as the Saints face Hamrun. Balzan seemed able to keep the pace with the Citizens in the opening minutes but as soon as Valletta managed to take the lead, the game soon became a one-sided affair with the Citizens simply dominant on the field of play. Missing for Balzan were Anthony Evi Parker and Nikolay Filipov while Valletta lacked Gilbert Agius, Daniel Theuma and Kurt Farrugia. Balzan captain Jaroslav Marx tested Sean Sullivan after five minutes with the Valletta goalkeeper turning the ball into a corner. Four minutes later, a diagonal shot by Alex Muscat from the right ended wide. A Muscat volley ended high on 27 minutes following a cross from the right by Stefano Grima. Valletta went close on 34 minutes when Nebjosa Stajic served Jonathan Bondin and the latter anticipated Barry with a diagonal shot from the right. His shot however ended wide. Three minutes later, Valletta took the lead. There was a cross from the left by Stajic and Jonathan Bondin controlled before hitting hard past Barry. Balzan replied with a Stefan Zahra freekick which ended wide. Valletta doubled the score on 64 minutes. In a counter-attack for Valletta, Ivan Zammit served Ian Zammit and with Ernest Barry out of the area, the young Valletta striker deposited the ball at the back of the net. The score was 3-0 seven minutes later. Following a good move on the left, Nebjosa Stajic sent an inviting pass for Ian Zammit who slotted the ball past Barry. Ian Zammit completed a hat-trick when he received a through pass on the left on 76 minutes, advanced into the area and hit home. In stoppage time, Nebjosa Stajic concluded a solo effort with another goal for a final 5-0 score. | |
| MIA Premier League |
|---|
 | 18/04/2004, National Stadium - Ta' Qali Hibernians FC vs Birkirkara FC0-1 (HT 0-0) |  |
| HIBS | Mario Muscat, Peter Pullicino, Adrian Pulis, Aaron Xuereb, Cesar Paiber, Andre Schembri, Essien Mbong, Adrian Mifsud (69' Terence Scerri), Ndubisi Chukunyere, Antoine Zahra (83' Andrew Cohen), Roderick Baldacchino.
Subs not used: Ivan Cassar, Kevin Cassar, Julian Vella, Ryan Mintoff, Kenneth Spiteri. Coach: Robert Gatt |
| B'KARA | Justin Haber, Lino Galea (57' Roderick Briffa), Precious Monye, William Camenzuli, Michael Galea (85' Clint Micallef), Chucks Nwoko, Lucian Dronca, Kenneth Scicluna, George Mallia, Adrian Ciantar (63' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Antoine Zahra.
Subs not used: Bernard Paris, Roderick Sammut, Thomas Paris, Steve Sadowski. Coach: Stephen Azzopardi |
| Referee | Marco Borg |
| Assistant Referees | Ronnie Farrugia, Charles Micallef |
| Fourth Official | Adrian Casha |
| Yellow Cards | 34' L. Galea, 40' Pulis, 66' Mbong |
| Scorers | 69' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza |
| MIA Player of the Match | Antoine Zahra (Birkirkara) |
| A goal by substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza enabled Birkirkara to return to winning ways as they defeated Hibernians in a direct clash for the second place. The Stripes are now the only team who could challenge Sliema for the title although five points seem to be too big a gap to reduce with just three matches to go for the end of the campaign.
The two teams were quite cautious in the first half knowing that a defeat would rule out their slim chances for the title and would seriously jeopardise the second place. Hibernians seemed to have an edge over their opponents. However when Birkirkara managed to score the only goal, the Paolites' efforts to save a point from the game turned out to be in vain. Birkirkara welcomed back Precious Monye while Michael Galea was included in the starting line-up. Haruna Doda, Matthew Calascione and Mark Anthony Bonnici were unavailable due to injuries or suspensions. Hibernians, on the other hand, were in full strength with the sole exception of Miguel Mifsud. The two teams seemed to be more concerned about defending during the first half and in fact, there were only a couple of shots at goal. After 17 minutes, a cross shot by Roderick Baldacchino was tipped into a corner by Justin Haber. Then towards the end of the first half, William Camenzuli was unlucky to hit the foot of the post with a diagonal shot from the edge of the area. One minute in the second half, Antoine Zahra of Hibernians went close with a shot from outside the area which ended just over the bar. A header by Andre Schembri off a Baldacchino corner was deflected into a corner five minutes later. Birkirkara replied with a powerful drive by Kenneth Scicluna which was saved by Muscat on 54 minutes. Camenzuli came to the rescue a minute later as he blocked a Zahra effort. On the other side of the pitch, a Mallia grounder was saved by the Hibs goalie. A brilliant shot by Chukunyere was turned into a corner by Haber on 64 minutes. The Stripes managed to take the lead on 69 minutes. There was a brilliant freekick by Antoine Zahra which Muscat could only save partially. Michael Galea took the rebound, serving substitute Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who placed the ball at the back of the net. From then onwards the Paolites went all out in search of the equaliser with coach Robert Gatt including Terence Scerri and Andrew Cohen in attack. But the closest they could go was a Chukunyere fine effort which was saved by Justin Haber nine minutes from time. | |
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