Narrow win for Balzan, easy for Floriana

After suffering back-to-back defeats to Sliema and Gzira, Floriana returned to winning ways as they defeated ten-man Mosta 4-0 at the Victor Tedesco Stadium.

The Greens dominated from start to finish and the dismissal of Njongo Priso mid-way through the first half made things even easier. Mosta, on the other hand, disappointed following last week’s 2-1 win over Sliema.

Both sides had four changes from their last outing. Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg and Maurizio Vella replaced the suspended Antonio Monticelli together with Ryan Camenzuli, Nicolas Chiesa and Amadou Samb. Mosta, on the other hand, had three players making their debut, namely Jonas Rodrigues Ekani, Josue Ahoure and Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza while David Fenech was back after serving a one-match ban. These replaced the injured Cedric Hengbart and the suspended Adrian Caruana and Kurt Magro along with Pedrinho.

Mosta were reduced to ten men on the 23rd minute when Njongo Priso was sent off for hitting a team mate – Lucky Oseghale.

Four minutes later, Floriana took the lead when Ignacio Varela flicked the ball home following an assist by Mario Fontanella from the right.

The Greens doubled the score six minutes in the second half thanks to a Sebastian Nayar penalty after Yenz Cini floored Mario Fontanella inside the area.

Floriana made it 3-0 on the 67th minute thanks to Maurizio Vella whose long-distance shot was not held by Cini with the ball ending at the back of the net.

Five minutes from time, substitute Ryan Camenzuli added another when he concluded a solo effort with a low shot from the edge of the area which beat Cini.

FLORIANA Justin Haber (46′ Matthew Grech), Enrico Pepe, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg, Ignacio Varela, Sebastian Nayar (58′ Ryan Camenzuli), Maurizio Vella, Jurgen Pisani, Alex Cini (46′ Andre Scicluna), Mario Fontanella.
Subs not used: Jake Davies, Mattia Zarb, Denilson Borg Castaldi, Nicolas Chiesa.
Coach: Giovanni Tedesco

MOSTA Yenz Cini, Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Jonas Ekani Rodrigues, David Fenech, Mario Toth, Heron Guilhermino, Njongo Priso, Josue Ahoure (62′ Zachary Brincat), Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (75′ Kyle Gatt), Lucky Victor Oseghale, Neil Frendo (71′ Jurgen Grech).
Subs not used: Andreas Vella, Luke Galea, Calvin Camilleri, Karl Bianco.
Coach: Zsolt Hornyak

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Eman Grech
Yellow Cards: S. Pisani, C. Borg, A. Cini, S. Nayar
Red Cards: Priso
BOV Player of the Match: Maurizio Vella
Attendance at the Victor Tedesco Stadium: 600

At the Hibernians Stadium, ten-man Balzan defeated Hamrun Spartans 1-0.

A win which enables Oliver Spiteri’s side to retain the top spot in the BOV Premier League table. For Hamrun, this was a second consecutive defeat and a fifth defeat in the last seven matches.

Hamrun had three changes from their last outing as Karl Micallef, Luis Miguel Vergara Rodriguez and new recruit Mathieu Manselwere named in the starting line-up replacing Patrick Texeira, Brandon Paiber and the suspended Jorginho. On the other hand, Alfred Effiong was preferred to Matteo Piciollo for Balzan

Balzan scored the all-important goal on the 23rd minute thanks to Alan da Silva Souza, served by Effiong from the right, whose fine shot beat goalkeeper David Cassar.

Six minutes in the second half, Hamrun were unlucky not to level matters but Jake Grech’s freekick hit the foot of the post.

Ten minutes later, Balzan were reduced to ten men after having Dylan Grima sent off.

HAMRUN David Cassar, Karl Micallef, Luke Grech (46’ Saturday Nanapere), Sergio Raphael dos Anjos, Luis Miguel Vergara Rodriguez, Massimiliano Giusti (63’ Siraj Arab Eddin), Manolito Micallef, Igor Misan, Luke Sciberras (78’ Brandon Diego Paiber), Jake Grech, Mathieu Mansel.
Subs not used: Matthew Farrugia, Philip Chircop, Patrick Jean Teixera Maia, Jeremy Busuttil.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Bruno Giglio de Oliviera, Bojan Kaljevic (88’ Milos Lepovic), Samir Arab, Dylan Grima, Ryan Fenech, Alan da Silva Sousa (66’ Clive Brincat), Abelkarim Nafti (17’ Lydon Micallef), Elkin Serrano Valero, Paul Fenech, Alfred Effiong
Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Steve Bezzina, Terrance Agius, Sean Cipriott.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Matthew De Gabriele
Assistant Referees: Luke Portelli, Christopher Francalanza,
Fourth Official: Etienne Mangion
Yellow Cards: Grima, Misan, Oliveira, K. Micallef, L. Micallef, Kaljevic
Red Cards: 61’ Dylan Grima
Scorers: 23’ Alan Da Silva Sousa
BOV Player of the Match: Paul Fenech
Attendance at the Hibernians Stadium: 679

Renato Vella reporting from the Hibernians Stadium