Narrow win for Valletta — Rainbows rediscover winning touch

A goal by Ousseni Zongo after just four minutes was enough for Valletta to beat Mosta 1-0 and move six points clear on top the BOV Premier League table.

However the Citizens failed to impress although they held the initiative throughout the ninety minutes. For Mosta, this was the first defeat since Steve D’Amato took over as the new coach. Following Tarxien’s win over Qormi, the Blues are once again alone at the bottom of the table.

Mosta lacked Luca Martinelli, Gilbert Martin, Bryan Agius and Ian Zammit while Steve Borg, Michael Mifsud and Dyson Falzon were missing for Valletta.

Valletta took just four minutes to forge ahead with Ousseni Zongo beating Jonathan Debono with a cross shot from the right.

Mosta replied with a long-distance shot by Kurt Magro which was neutralised by Hogg on the 10th. Jonathan Debono blocked an Alfred Effiong close-range effort on 33 minutes. Valletta went close with a Gilbert Agius effort hitting the crossbar on 44 minutes and a few seconds later, a header by Denni off another cross by Briffa, ended just over the bar.

Two minutes in the second half, Michel Maki Mvondo missed a good opportunity for Mosta hitting just wide from inside the area. On 65 minutes, Gilbert Agius headed wide off an inviting freekick by Roderick Briffa.

Eight minutes from time, Denni went close to increasing the lead after receiving a good pass and trying his luck with a rising shot from the edge of the area which however ended just wide. Finally in added time, a Gilbert Agius freekick from the left was neutralised by Debono.

Roderick Briffa was voted BOV Player of the Match.

VALLETTA Andrew Hogg, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Alfred Effiong (70’ Ryan Fenech), Roderick Briffa, Jamie Pace, Edmond Agius, Gilbert Agius, Denni Rocha dos Santos, Ousseni Zongo, William Barbosa.
Subs not used: Matthew Towns, Ramon dos Santos, Samir Arab, Glen Cassar, Siraj Arab, Oznef Cassar.
Coach: Leonard Farrugia
Assistant Coach: Jesmond Zerafa

MOSTA Jonathan Debono, Adrian Borg, Kane Farrugia, Federico Tisbi, Yannick Ossok, Nikola Bogdanovic, Sheldon Grech, Jonathan Bajada (82’ Alex Cini), Kurt Magro, Firas Aboulezz, Michel Bertrand Maki Mvondo.
Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, John Paul Grima, Steve Schembri, Pio Vassallo, Damian Delia, Wayne Sciberras.
Coach: Steve D’Amato

Referee: Fyodor Zammit
Assistant referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Duncan Sultana
Fourth official: Malcolm Spiteri
Yellow Cards: A. Borg, Bogdanovic
Scorers: 4’ Ousseni Zongo
Attendance: 1,312

Tarxien Rainbows ended their disappointing run in the BOV Premier League as they scored twice in the second half to beat Qormi 2-0. A win which puts them in tenth place on 13 points.

For Qormi, this was the fourth defeat in five matches and stay in fifth place on 20 points together with Sliema Wanderers and Balzan Youths.

Qormi welcomed back Roderick Sammut and Abubakar Bello-Osagie while Matthew Farrugia replaced Steve Sultana in goal. The Rainbows, on the other hand, lacked Stefan Giglio, Daniel Mariano Bueno and the suspended Carl Sammut.

Tarxien had the first attempt at goal with Karl Pulo hitting the crossbar with a shot from the edge of the area on the 8th minute. Ten minutes later, Suguino served Ricardo Costa on the right and the latter rounded a coupled of defenders before hitting high.

Two minutes from the end of the first half, Adrian Carabott ended a good move with a shot from outside the area which was neutralised by Matthew Farrugia. In stoppage time, Ricard Costa tried his luck with a shot from the right which was blocked by Farrugia and off the rebound, Karl Pulo hit high.

Tarxien managed to break the deadlock on the 70th minute when Caio Garcia Suguino released Ricardo Costa on the right and the Brazilian midfielder rounded the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net.

Four minutes later, the Rainbows doubled the score when Orosco Anonam served Caio Garcia Suguino whose cross from the right was well-met by Adrian Carabott who headed the ball past Matthew Farrugia.

Three minutes from time, Joseph Chetcuti could have pulled one back for Qormi but hit just wide when served by Jorge Pereira da Silva from the right.

Caio Garcia Suguino was voted BOV Player of the Match.

TARXIEN Nicky Vella, Steve Sadowski, Manuel Caruana, Everton Antonio Pereira, Adrian Carabott (81’ Luke Vella Critien), Ricardo Costa, Karl Pulo (90’ Julian Vella), Orosco Anonam, Ryan Mintoff, Caio Garcia Suguino, Justin Grioli.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Melchior Grech, Warren Zerafa, Clive Fenech, Lee Galea.
Coach: Patrick Curmi
Assistant Coach: Michael Church

QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Roderick Sammut, Matthew Bartolo, Joseph Chetcuti, Luke Sciberras, Kenneth Scicluna, Federico Mirarchi (46’ Jeffrey Chetcuti), Jonathan Bondin (81’ Stephen Wellman), Jorge Pereira da Silva, Stuart Duff, Abubakar Bello-Osagie (64’ Daniel Nwoke).
Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Joseph Farrugia, Dino Cachia, Gabriel Buttigieg.
Coach: Stephen Azzopardi

Referee: Clayton Pisani
Assistant referees: William Debattista, Thomas Debono
Fourth official: Mario Apap
Yellow Cards: Sciberras, Grioli, Jos. Chetcuti
Scorers: 70’ Ricardo Costa, 74’ Adrian Carabott