Vittoriosa registered their first win in the BOV Premier League as they beat Hibernians 2-0. Three points which put them just one point behind the Paolites, although they still lie at the bottom of the table.
The Stars fully deserved the three points as they were clearly the better side, especially during the second half. The Paolites, on the other hand, disappointed once again and it was only a fine performance by goalkeeper Mario Muscat who spared them a heavy defeat.
Missing for Hibernians were Adrian Pulis and Zoran Levnaic who were both serving a one-match ban and Ryan Camilleri. Vittoriosa, on the other hand, lacked Pierre Aquilina while Edison Luis Dos Santos started the game on the bench.
Vittoriosa had the first attempt at goal when Jorge Santos Silva served Carlos Campagnoli whose shot was neutralised by Mario Muscat on the 11th.
Ten minutes later, Hibernians were awarded a penalty by referee Trustin Farrugia Cann. However Andrew Cohen hit incredibly high from the penalty spot.
Simon Agius then performed good saves on two attempts by Andrew Cohen from outside the area. The Hibs striker then missed a fine opportunity when he had a close-range shot blocked by Agius when served by McManus on the 39th minute.
Two minutes in the second half, Vittoriosa Stars took the lead. Leighton Grech concluded a good run on the right flank with a cross. The ball bounced onto Matthew Clarke and then Richie Hart to end at the back of the net for an own goal.
Three minutes later, the Stars went close once again when off a swift counter-attack, Leighton Grech served Anthony Ewurum who exchanged the ball with Jorge Santos Silva, the ball reached Carlos Compagnoli whose low shot was parried by Mario Muscat.
Campagnoli served Ewurum on 56 minutes, the Nigerian striker rounded a defender before trying his luck with a powerful shot which was saved by the Hibs goalkeeper. A direct freekick by Compagnoli two minutes later ended wide.
Muscat was prominent once again with a fine save on a Jorge Santos Silva on the 70th and less than a minute later, Campagnoli served Jorge Santos with an intelligent pass but his conclusion was parried by the Hibs custodian.
Vittoriosa doubled the score on 73 minutes when off a perfect cross from the left by Carlos Campagnoli, Anthony Ewurum slammed the ball home from close range.
An Andrew Cohen direct freekick and then a low shot by Matthew Gauci were both parried by Simon Agius. In added time, Agius blocked a close-range effort by Jean Paul Farrugia.
Carlos Campagnoli was voted BOV Player of the Match.
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VITTORIOSA Simon Agius, Carl Sammut, Sharlon Pace, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Carlos Campagnoli, Dino Cachia, Kevin Mifsud, Jorge Santos Silva (90′ Johann Spiteri), Anthony Ewurum, Stephen Wellman, Leighton Grech (79’ Clayton Micallef).
Subs not used: Jean Matthias Vella, Justin Camilleri, Edison Luis Dos Santos, Jonathan Xerri, Mauro Brincat.
Coach: Winston Muscat
Assistant Coach: Darren Abdilla
HIBS Mario Muscat, Matthew Tabone, Matthew Gauci, Matthew Clarke, Jonathan Pearson (72’ Aaron Xuereb), Richie Hart (60’ Bjorn Kristensen), Paul McManus, Andrew Cohen (77’ Steve Pisani), Edward Herrera, Triston Caruana, Jean Paul Farrugia.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Warren Chircop, Ayrton Azzopardi, Keith Tanti.
Coach: Mark Miller
Assistant Coach: Edmond Lufi
Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Alan Camilleri
Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Cachia, Chetcuti
Scorers: 46’ own goal, 73’ Anthony Ewurum
Meanwhile in the first match, Tarxien Rainbows returned to winning ways as they defeated Sliema Wanderers 2-1. A win which puts Noel Coleiro’s side on level points with Qormi – seven points from six matches.
The Rainbows had the better ideas throughout the ninety minutes and deserved to take home the three points. They had one change from the team which lost to Valletta as Cristiano replaced the injured Everton.
For Sliema, this was the first defeat after four positive results. Beppe Muscat returned for the Wanderers after serving a one-match ban. Mark Scerri joined Clayton Failla, Alex Muscat and Steve Bezzina on the casualty list.
Tarxien managed to take the lead on 10 minutes when off a cross by Daniel Mariano Bueno, Ricardo Costa beat goalkeeper Viktor Szentpeteri with a fine shot.
Sliema replied with a Jackson Lima corner from which Obinna Obiefule headed wide on 14 minutes. A long-distance shot by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza ended just wide. Curmi then performed a good save on a Souare header off a John Mintoff corner from the right. On the other side of the pitch, Szentpeteri parried a Cristiano header following a cross from the right by Mark Tanti.
The Blues levelled matters five minutes from the end of the first half when off a great freekick by Jackson Lima from the right, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza deflected the ball home from close range.
Two minutes in the second half, John Mintoff concluded a good run on the right flank with a diagonal shot which ended just wide.
Tarxien regained the lead on 51 minutes. A shot by Daniel Mariano Bueno was blocked on the goal line with Beppe Muscat possibly handling the ball, the ball reached Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira on the right who served Bueno once again with the Brazilian striker placing the ball the back of the net.
The Rainbows went close once again on 58 minutes when off a pass by Daniel Mariano Bueno, Ricardo Costa served Mark Tanti on the right and the former St. Patrick midfielder’s powerful drive just missed the target. John Mintoff was then unlucky for Sliema to hit the foot of the post with a powerful shot from the edge of area with Curmi beaten on 64 minutes.
Following a cross from the right by Bueno on 67 minutes, Cristiano’s fine header was blocked by Souare on the goal-line.
On the 85th minute, Valdo Alhinho went close for the Wanderers with a powerful shot which hit the crossbar. One minute from time, Mifsud Triganza hit the crossbar once again with a header off a Miguel Ciantar cross from the right.
Daniel Mariano Bueno was voted BOV Player of the Match.
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TARXIEN Anthony Curmi, Manuel Caruana, Ricardo Costa (81’ Sergio Hili), Cristiano Dos Santos Rodrigues, Sergio Pacheco De Oliveira (82’ Lee Galea), Mark Tanti (72’ Ryan Grech), Luke Vella Critien, Orosco Anonam, Ryan Mintoff, Daniel Mariano Bueno, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: Daniel James Pryke, Steve Sadowski, Gianluca Calabretta, Julian Vella.
Coach: Noel Coleiro
SLIEMA Viktor Szentpeteri, Julian Briffa (45’ James Paris), Josef Mifsud, Sekou Tidiane Souare (79’ Valdo Goncalves Alhinho), John Mintoff (81’ Miguel Ciantar), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Jackson Lima Sequeira, Obinna Polycarp Obiefule, Roderick Bajda, Beppe Muscat.
Subs not used: Ini Etim Aktpan, Ryan Dalli, Mark Hyzler, Andrew Caligari.
Coach: Mark Marlow
Assistant Coach: Joseph Bajada
Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Edward Spiteri
Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna
Yellow Cards: Bajada, Grioli, Briffa, Cristiano, Bueno, Gatt Baldacchino, L. Galea
Scorers: 10’ Ricardo Costa (T); 40’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Traiganza (S); 51’ Daniel Mariano Bueno (T)