Narrow win for Tarxien over St. Andrews

A direct freekick by Ayrton Azzopardi gave Tarxien Rainbows the three points as they defeated bottom-placed St. Andrews 1-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday. A win which puts the Rainbows on the 15-point mark.

For St. Andrews, this was the ninth defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the table without any points.

St. Andrews coach Wayne Attard made no changes to the team which lost to Balzan last week. On the other hand, Sean Mintoff, Luke Montebello and Brandon Muscat replaced Andrea Cassar, Manuel Caruana and Timothy Tabone Desira for Tarxien.

Just before half-time, St. Andrews goalkeeper Kris Calleja performed a great save as he blocked into a close-range effort by Luke Montebello.

Tarxien forged ahead on the 64th thanks to a direct freekick by Ayrton Azzopardi from the right which gave goalkeeper Kris Calleja no chance.

On the 90th, Tarxien went close to doubling the score but Lucky Omeruo’s first-ime effort from inside the area hit the crossbar following a deflection by Calleja.

TARXIEN Sean Mintoff, Ebiabowei Baker, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Triston Caruana, Brandon Muscat, Ayrton Azzopardi (81′ Timothy Tabone Desira), Lucky Omeruo, Carlos Menendez Hevia, Luke Montebello (67′ Danilo Meira Santos), Alex da Paixao Alves, Joao Pedro Oliveira Santos.
Subs not used: Andrea Cassar, Manuel Caruana, Rodderick Bajada, Gaetano Gesualdi, Matthew Tabone.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

ST. ANDREWS Kris Calleja, Clyde Cumbo, Jordan Williams, Mariglen Sehitaj, Michael Johnson, Dale Camilleri, Liam Grech (66′ Michael Grima), Matthew Guillaumier, Joseph Farrugia, Kyrian Nwoko, Chris De Nguidjol (58′ Matteo Desira Buttigieg).
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Wade Moodley, Jacob Walker, Nicky Vella Petroni, Ryan Sammut.
Coach: Wayne Attard

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Martin Borg
Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Glen Tonna
Fourth Official: Chris Francalanza
Yellow Cards: Bruno de Oliveira, Sehitaj, Cumbo
Scorers: 64′ Ayrton Azzopardi
BOV Player of the Match: Kris Calleja

Mosta bounced back from the derby defeat to Naxxar as they scored twice in the second half to beat Pembroke Athleta 2-0 at the National Stadium.

Pembroke had one change from the team which lost to Tarxien as Zimbabwean defender Patmore Shereni replaced Owen Bugeja. Mosta coach Ivan Zammit made four changes from the team which lost to Naxxar as Ryan Grech, Edile Micheletti, Samuel Chukwide and the suspended Ian Zammit made way for Adrian Borg, Saviour Fidelis, Edin Murga and James Brincat were named in the starting line-up.

Mosta had an excellent opportunity to take the lead on the 3rd minute when Patmore Shereni brought Saviour Fidelis down inside the area; referee Malcolm Spiteri sent off the Pembroke defender and ordered a penalty but Fidelis’ effort from the penalty spot ended just wide. On the 8th minute, Manolito Micallef hit the upright for Mosta.

The Blues however managed to take the deadlock on the 61st when off a cross shot from the left, Zoran Levnajic deflected the ball past goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia for an own goal.

Five minutes from time, Mosta doubled the score when off a cross from the right, Dyson Falzon’s diagonal shot beat goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

PEMBROKE Matthew Farrugia (68′ Mario Muscat ), Zoran Levnajic, Alex Cini, Rennie Tanti (79’ Lydon Micallef), Paltemio Barbetti, Kyle O’Brien, Siraj Arab Eddin (64’ Owen Bugeja), Ariel Laudisi, Patmore Shereni, Gustavo Villalobos Carbajal, Austin Martz.
Subs not used: Miguel Attard, Tyron Fenech, Peter Paul Sammut, Geoffrey Spiteri.
Coach: Winston Muscat

MOSTA Yenz Cini, Tyrone Farrugia, Manolito Micallef (11’ Samuel Chuckwide), Osa Guobadia (81’ Kyle Frendo), Adrian Borg, Hassan Yau, Saviour Fidelis (74’ Dyson Falzon), Jonas Ekani Rodriguez, Edin Murga, James Brincat, Fredrick Bobby Abel.
Subs not used: Omar Borg, Ryan Grech, Zachary Brincat, Mark Brincat.
Coach: Anton Cremona

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Ryan Aquilina
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow cards: M. Farrugia
Red Cards: 2’ Patmore Shereni
Scorers: 61’ own goal Levnajic, 85’ Dyson Falzon
BOV Player of the Match: Edin Murga