Mqabba lose trio for key clash
Tarxien play Marsaxlokk today
Mqabba’s faint hopes of forcing a relegation decider were dealt a further setback yesterday after three first-team players were handed a one-match ban.
Goalkeeper Kris Calleja’s red card in the 1-0 defeat to Qormi triggered an automatic one-match ban while defenders Pierre Grima and Ryan Sammut have been suspended after both earned their fourth booking in Friday’s game.
The Mqabba trio will miss their team’s final Relegation Pool en-counter with Ħamrun tomorrow.
Second-bottom, Mqabba must beat the Spartans and hope that Qormi win against Mosta, currently three points ahead of the Reds, to set up a relegation decider.
Mario Borg, the Mqabba president, was yesterday given a one-match touchline ban and fined €40 after being ordered off the pitch for remarks he made towards the Qormi bench during Friday’s game.
The other Premier League player to receive a one-match ban yesterday was Sliema Wanderers midfielder Nikola Bogdanovic.
Bogdanovic, who picked up his fourth booking in his side’s 4-1 defeat to Birkirkara, has been ruled out of the Blues’ league match against Floriana tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the final round of fixtures in the 2011/12 BOV Premier League kicks off today when Tarxien meet Marsaxlokk at the Centenary Stadium.
With Tarxien now sure of Premier League survival and Marsaxlokk relegated, the two teams have nothing to play for. Their only motivation is to end a disappointing season on a good note.
The Rainbows secured their Premier League status last weekend following a 3-0 win over Ħamrun but Marsaxlokk suffered a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Mosta.
Results so far: Tarxien vs Marsaxlokk 2-4, 2-0, 2-0.
Programme
Today: Centenary Stadium – 19.00 Tarxien vs Marsaxlokk.
Tomorrow: Hibs Stadium – 18.00 Birkirkara vs Balzan. 20.00 Mqabba vs Ħamrun.
Tomorrow: National Stadium – 18.00 Floriana vs Sliema. 20.00 Qormi vs Mosta.
Saturday: National Stadium – 16.00 Valletta vs Hibernians.