Msida St. Joseph vs Tarxien Rainbows 1-1 (HT 0-1)
After holding leaders Valletta in a goalless draw, Msida St. Joseph scored their first goal to hold Tarxien Rainbows in a 1-1 draw.
More was expected from the Rainbows who were coming from a fine win over Sliema. They held the initiative for most of the time but failed to convert the chances they created into goals.
Both sides were unable to field their best formation due to the absence of Ryan Mintoff and Andrew Decesare for Tarxien, Iro Curmi and Neville Arpa for Msida.
The Rainbows held the initiative early in the game but missed a good chance on 14 minutes when there was no one to conclude off an inviting pass by Gianluca Calabretta. On 16 minutes, Tarxien went close once again with a powerful shot by Denni Rocha Da Silva from the right ending just wide. Anderson Mendes Ribeiro then headed wide off a cross from the left by Calabretta.
Tarxien took the lead on 35 minutes when off a pass by Gianluca Calabretta, Denni Rocha Dos Santos rounded a couple of players before beating Manuel Bartolo with a shot from the left.
Five minutes from the end of the first half, Calabretta tried his luck with a shot from the edge of the area which was neutralised by Bartolo. Msida replied with an Olumuyiwa Aganun freekick ending high three minutes later.
Ten minutes in the second half, Aganun served Emiliano Lattes whose powerful drive was parried by David Cassar aided by the crossbar. Anderson Ribeiro, served by Denni Dos Santos, had a shot from outside the area saved by Bartolo and on the other side of the pitch, Tyrone Farrugia tried his luck with a powerful shot from outside the area. A freekick by David Camilleri ended just over the bar on 71 minutes.
Msida levelled matters eleven minutes from time when off a cross from the right, Olushola Aganun headed home past goalkeeper David Cassar.
Tarxien could have regained the lead on 86 minutes but a shot by Denni from the right hit the crossbar. Two minutes later, a powerful drive by David Camilleri ended high.
MSIDA Manuel Bartolo, Stefano Grima, Roderick Baldacchino, Cedric Sciberras, Tyrone Farrugia, Kevin Mifsud (39′ Adam Spiteri), Olushola Aganun, Zoran Levnaic, Adrian Farrugia, Emiliano Lattes, Karl Ebejer (51′ Andrew Formosa).
Subs not used: Matthew Mulholland, Matthew Borda, Darren Caruana, Lydon Micallef, Kirsten Brincat.
Coach: Mark Marlow
Asst. Coach: Johann Zammit
TARXIEN David Cassar, Steven Sadowski, Manuel Caruana, David Camilleri, Gianluca Calabretta (72′ James Shead), Everton Antonio Pereira, Anderson Mendes Ribeiro, Luke Vella Critien, Denni Rocha Dos Santos, Lee Galea, Kurt Magro (58′ Mark Tanti).
Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Stacey Vella, Marco Catania, Warren Chircop, Salvatore Mentosa.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
Asst. Coach: Michael Church
Referee: Adrian Casha
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Alan Camilleri
Fourth Official: Saviour Tanti
Yellow Cards: Levnaic, Bartolo, Baldacchino, Everton
BOV Player of the Match: Denni Rocha Dos Santos
Scorers: 35′ Denni Rocha Dos Santos (T)
79′ Olushola Aganun (M)
Sliema Wanderers vs Hamrun Spartans 5-0 (HT 1-0)
Sliema Wanderers returned to winning ways as they defeated Hamrun Spartans 5-0.
The Blues were clearly a better side, taking an early lead. After the break, they dominated, adding another four goals.
Sliema lacked Alex Muscat, John Mintoff and Henry Isaac while Ivan Woods started on the bench. Missing for Hamrun were Manolito Micallef, Marcelo Pereira and Jonathan Holland.
The Wanderers managed to take the lead on 10 minutes when Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza rounded Ivan Casha and placed the ball at the back of the net with a shot from the right.
Hamrun’s reaction consisted of a Gaetan Spiteri close-range effort hitting the upright on 17 minutes. Another Spiteri effort was parried by Agius five minutes later.
Sliema doubled the score two minutes in the second half thanks to Matthew Bartolo who concluded a solo effort with a shot which beat goalkeeper Ivan Casha.
On 54 minutes, Ryan Fenech had a shot from close range blocked into a corner.
Clayton Failla made it 3-0 on 57 minutes when he headed the ball home off a cross from the right by Matthew Bartolo.
A minute later, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza beat Ivan Casha with a shot from inside the area when served by Ian Azzopardi.
Six minutes from time, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza scored the fifth goal as he headed home the ball off a cross by Ian Ciantar from the right.
SLIEMA Simon Agius (75′ Jeremy Alden), Ian Azzopardi (82′ Luca Martinelli), Josef Mifsud, Ryan Fenech, Mark Scerri (61′ Miguel Ciantar), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Matthew Bartolo, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Lucian Dronca, Ian Ciantar, Clayton Failla.
Subs not used: Michael Gustavo Siscoutto Lima, Noel Turner, Ivan Woods, Amadeo Mercieca.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi
Team Manager: Rupert Perry
HAMRUN Ivan Casha, Aaron Attard, Rupert Mangion, Ryan Fenech, Diego Cucciardi, Mead Mifsud (80′ Mauro Busuttil), Lee James Agius (76′ Christian Cacciattolo), Gaetan Spiteri, Martin Hrubsa, Timothy Fleri Soler (66′ Dalton Caruana), Clyde Camoin.
Subs not used: Luca Grech, Daniel Bonnici, Mark Barbara, Neville Galea.
Coach: Steve D’Amato
Asst. Coach: Marco Grech
Referee: Chris Lautier
Assistant Referees: Konrad Borg, Fyodor Zammit
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Mangion
BOV Player of the Match: Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza
Scorers: 10′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza
47′ Matthew Bartolo
57′ Clayton Failla
58′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza
84′ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza