Senglea return to winning ways

Senglea Athletic registered their first win in almost three months as they defeated Naxxar Lions 2-1 in a clash between two teams who were sharing the tenth place at the Victor Tedesco Stadium on Saturday.

It was also the first win for Senglea coach Paolo Favaretto while for Naxxar Lions coach Oliver Spiteri, this was the first defeat following back-to-back wins over Naxxar in the derby and Floriana in the FA Trophy.

Senglea managed to take the lead on the 11th minute when Nicola Palmieri headed the ball down for Peter Paul Sammmut who controlled the bell before hitting past goalkeeper Omar Borg.

On the half-hour, Senglea doubled the score when off a freekick by Virano, Nicola Palmieri headed home past the Naxxar custodian.

Naxxar pulled one back on the 65th minute when Yuri de Jesus Messias’ freekick from the left beat Farrugia.

In added time, Senglea had Augusto Rene Caseres sent off.

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SENGLEA Matthew Farrugia, Randall Vella, Jonathan Bondin, Sergio Uyi, Gonzalo Julian Leyton, Matias Garcia, Hubert Vella, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Terence Vella (69′ Ivan Edgardo Paz), Nicola Palmieri (59′ Augusto Rene Caseres), Peter Paul Sammut (82′ Steve Bonnici).
Subs not used: Roderick Debattista, Jurgen Farrugia, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Dalli, Ivan Edgardo Paz.
Coach: Paolo Favaretto

NAXXAR Omar Borg, Scott James Fenwick, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Daren Falzon (75′ Joel Ellul), Duane Bonnici, Ryan Gilmour Cassar (75′ Mark Fenech), Angus Buhagiar, Oussenyou Elhadji Ndoye, Adrian Cascaval, Yuri de Jesus Messias.
Subs not used: Andre Fenech, Tristan Nappa Licari, Marco Botta, Jurgen Debono, Arnaud Mendy.
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

Referee: Jude Amin Utulu
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Christopher Francalanza
Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant
Yellow Cards: Sammut, Caseres
BOV Player of the Match: Yuri de Jesus Messias

Meanwhile Birkirkara registered a narrow win over Hamrun Spartans at the National Stadium. A win which puts the Stripes just one point behind seventh-placed Hamrun.

Early in the game, Davide Succi was unlucky not to put Hamrun ahead when his shot was deflected to hit the woodwork. Then on the 68th minute, Thiago Espindola de Paula had a goal bound shot blocked into a corner by Vukanac.

However Luke Montebello scored the all-important goal for Birkirkara seven minutes from time when he received an assist by Jake Grech and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Steve Sultana.

HAMRUN Steve Sultana, Tiago Souza de Silveira, Daniel Zerafa, Guilherme Felipe de Castro, Davide Succi, Thiago Espindola de Paula, Triston Caruana, Francisco Manoel Marino Clavero, Karl Micallef (87′ Julian Galea), Cristian Zaccardo, Marco Criaco.
Subs not used: Lyden Moore, Dale Camilleri, Agatino Sicali, Luke Sciberras, Siraj Arab, Terence Agius.
Coach: Jacques Scerri

B’KARA Philip Schranz, Edward Herrera (70′ Jake Grech), Lucas Maia, Ryan Camenzuli, Mislav Andjelkovic, Kurt Zammit, Nikola Vukanac, Carlos Alberto da Silva (87′ Llywelyn Cremona), Ryan Scicluna, Cain Attard, Luke Montebello.
Subs not used: David Cassar, Martin Klein, Alex Nilsson, Bruno Andrade de Brito, Gianluca Zammit.
Coach: Paul Zammit

Referee: Philip Farrugia
Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Sammy Attard
Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri
Yellow Cards: Carlos Albero, Scicluna, Montebello
BOV Player of the Match: Marco Criaco