M'Xlokk, Hamrun through to Championship Pool in dramatic style

Marsaxlokk and Hamrun Spartans join Valletta, Tarxien Rainbows, Floriana and Birkirkara in the Championship Pool as the two of the three BOV Premier League matches in programme on Sunday turned out to be most dramatic.

Marsaxlokk earned the point they needed against Qormi and Hamrun defeated Vittoriosa to place sixth.

At the Hibernians Stadium, two goals were scored in added time as Marsaxlokk held Qormi in a 2-2 draw. A game which Qormi needed to win in order to secure a top-six finish.

Marsaxlokk were a depleted side as they lacked Andrew Spiteri, Rumen Galabov, Martin Deanov and Gareth Sciberras – all suspended – and the injured Clive Brincat. Qormi coach Stephen Azzopardi, on the other hand, could count on the full complement of players except for Roderick Sammut.

Alfred Effiong had the first attempt at goal with a shot from the edge of the area blocked by Matthew Farrugia following a pass by Ryan Darmanin on 11 minutes.

Qormi took the lead on 22 minutes when Jonathan Bondin surprised Reuben Gauci with a cute lob from the right.

On 34 minutes, following a good run by Malcolm Licari on the left, he served Trevor Templeman who hit wide. Jonathan Bondin then blocked a Peter Pullicino effort following a good move by Florent Raimy.

Twelve minutes in the second half, Trevor Templeman had a shot from the right saved by Matthew Farrugia aided by the crossbar.

On the other side of the pitch, Qormi had a low shot by substitute Matthew Bartolo locked by a defender on 66 minutes.

In a swift counter-attack for Marsaxlokk, Alfred Effiong advanced all alone into the area only to be brought down by goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia. Referee Adrian Azzopardi had no option other than to send off the Qormi goalkeeper and order a penalty. Ruben Guerreiro Gravata made no mistake from the penalty spot.

A powerful shot by Stefan Giglio hit the crossbar for Qormi but one minute in added time, Qormi made it 2-1 with a shot by Joseph Farrugia which beat goalkeeper Reuben Gauci.

However it was not over yet as three minutes in added time, a Peter Pullicino effort hit the crossbar and off the rebound, substitute Julio Alcorse placed the ball at the back of the net for a most dramatic 2-2 draw which condemns Qormi to playing in the Relegation Pool.

Peter Pullicino was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Photo: Copyright © www.fotoincmalta.com

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Photo: Copyright © Paul Zammit Cutajar

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QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Jason Vandelannoite, Stefan Giglio, Christos Karamanolis, Keith Fenech (79’ Joseph Chetcuti), Michael Mifsud, Joseph Farrugia, Abubakar Bello-Osagie, George Mallia (62’ Matthew Bartolo), Jonathan Bondin, Josue Souza Santos (69’ Matthew Camilleri gk).
Subs not used: Luke Sciberras, Ben Camilleri, Cleavon Frendo, Kang Hojung.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi
Assistant Coach: Charles Scerri

M’XLOKK Reuben Gauci, Luca Lodetti (61’ Ruben Guerreiro Gravata), Emil Yanchev, Carlo Mamo, Malcolm Licari, Sunday Eboh, Peter Pullicino, Trevor Templeman, Florent Raimy (90+3’ Julio Alcorse), Ryan Darmanin, Alfred Effiong.
Subs not used: Glen Zammit, Julio Alcorse, Kevin Polidano, Gary Caruana, Stephen Sammut, Paul Paris.
Coach: Patrick Curmi
Assistant Coach: Louis Cutajar

Referee: Adrian Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Mariano Debono, Joe Camilleri
Fourth Official: Paul Caruana
Yellow Cards: Licari, Lodetti, Bello-Osagie, Eboh, Templeman, Guerreiro, K. Fenech, M. Mifsud, J. Farrugia
Red Cards: 67’ Matthew Farrugia
Scorers: 22’ Jonathan Bondin (Q), 69’ Ruben Guerreiro Gravata (pen) (M); 90+1’ Joseph Farrugia (Q); 90+3’ Julio Alcorse (M)

Sliema Wanderers registered a comfortable 4-0 win over Hibernians at the Victor Tedesco Stadium which however was not enough for them to secure a place in the Championship Pool.

Mark Scerri and Jackson Lima were back after serving a one-match ban but Miguel Ciantar, John Mintoff and Obinna Obiefule were missing.

Sliema took the lead on the 16th minute with a great freekick by Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza which sailed into the top corner.

Five minutes from the end of the first half, the Wanderers doubled the score with a long-distance shot by Etienne Barbara which gave goalkeeper Mario Muscat no chance.

Hardly a minute had passed in the second half that Jackson Lima made it 3-0 when served by Clayton Failla, following a cross by Etienne Barbara.

Six minutes later, Etienne Barbara scored the fourth goal hitting home from close range when released by Mifsud Triganza.

Etienne Barbara was voted BOV Player of the Match.

SLIEMA Viktor Szentpeteri, Julian Briffa, Josef Mifsud, Mark Scerri (74′ Alex Muscat), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (69′ Chakib Lachkhem), Steve Bezzina, Clifford Gatt Baldachino, Jackson Lima, Roderick Bajada, Clayton Failla (84′ Adam Spiteri), Etienne Barbara.
Subs not used: Henry Bonello, Noel Turner, James Paris, Beppe Muscat.

HIBS Mario Muscat, Matthew Tabone (57′ Triston Caruana), Jonathan Pearson, Matthew Gauci, Edward Herrera (57′ Bjorn Kristensen), Richard Hart, Patrick Osei, Brian Fairbairn, Andrew Cohen (74′ Jean Paul Farrugia), Steve Pisani, Adrian Pulis.
Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Aaron Xuereb, Paul McManus, Ryan Camilleri.

Referee: Marco Borg
Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri
Fourth Official: Kevin Azzopardi
Yellow Cards: Hart, Tabone
Scorers: 15’ Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza, 40’ Etienne Barbara, 46’ Jackson Lima Sequeira, 52’ Etienne Barbara

Hamrun Spartans registered a most dramatic 3-2 win over Vittoriosa Stars at the National Stadium.

The Spartans had central defender Dragan Milovic making his debut as Martin Hrubsa, Roderick Fenech, Massimo Grima and Dene Shields were all injured. Jean Matthias Vella started in goal for Vittoriosa.

Hamrun had the first attempt at goal with a Nikolai Chipev effort from the edge of the area turned into a corner by Vella on the 10th. Seven mintues later, Edison Luis Dos Santos failed to connect off an inviting cross by Ewurum. A minute later, the Brazilian striker rounded a defender and served Ewurum whose shot was cleared off the goal line by David Camilleri.

The Spartans managed to take the lead on 39 minutes when Dylan Kokavessis concluded a swift move with a rising shot from the edge of the area which beat Vella.

Vittoriosa levelled matters on 59 minutes when following a good run, substitute Leighton Grech crossed for Edison Luis Dos Santos to head past Borg. The ball hit the upright but the same Brazilian striker placed the ball at the back of the net off the rebound.

Seven minutes later, Leighton Grech made it 2-1 after taking a loose-ball and beating Omar Borg from close range.

Hamrun restored equilibrium on 77 minutes when off a cross by Peter Anizoba from the left, Gaetan Spiteri beat Vella with a fine header.

Three minutes later, Dyson Falzon was brought down inside the area by a defender. The referee ordered a penalty but Marcelo Pereira hit high.

However on 83 minutes, Gaetan Spiteri was on target once again as he headed the ball home off a cross by Dyson Falzon.

One minute from time, Leighton Grech was sent off for Vittoriosa.

Edison Luis Dos Santos was voted BOV Player of the Match.

VITTORIOSA Jean Matthias Vella, Clayton Micallef, Jeffrey Chetcuti, Steve Wellman, Carl Sammut, Ryan Grech (46′ Leighton Grech), Murilo Maccari, Jorge Santos Silva, Alan Tabone (75′ Dino Cachia), Edison Luis Dos Santos, Anthony Ewurum (65′ Carlos Campagnoli).
Subs not used: Alex Camilleri, Pierre Aquilina, Justin Camilleri, Larry Lagana.

HAMRUN Omar Borg, Dragan Milovic, Rupert Mangion, Dylan Kokavessis (75′ Lee James Agius), Marcelo Pereira (85′ Mead Mifsud), Dyson Falzon, Gaetan Spiteri, Jovan Vukanic, Nikolai Chipev (77′ Peter Anizoba), David Camilleri, Steve Bonnici.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Mark Anthony Bonnici, Aaron Attard, Craig Debattista.

Referee: Chris Lautier
Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Dos Santos, M. Maccari, L Grech, J. Santos Silva, D. Falzon, L. J. Agius
Red Cards: 89′ Leighton Grech
Scorers: 39’ Dylan Kokavessis (H); 59’ Edison Luis Dos Santos (V); 66’ Leighton Grech (V); 78’ Gaetan Spiteri (H); 83’ Gaetan Spiteri (H)