FLORIANA-0, VALLETTA-1
Valletta reduced the gap on leaders Hibernians to one point after edging rivals Floriana 1-0 in a low-key derby this evening.
William Barbosa's first-half strike was enough for the Citizens to see off the Greens who battled hard but came up short in the end.
The derby offered little excitement in the opening stages. Floriana coach Michael Woods had to make a substitution after only five minutes as Christian Caruana fell victim to injury. His place was taken by Joseph Borg.
On 15 minutes, Edmond Agius's set-piece cross flew towards goal but Floriana goalkeeper Manuel Bartolo punched clear.
Valletta went close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes. Roderick Briffa's cross from the right dropped at the feet of Mifsud who released the unmarked Denni whose first-time shot from inside the box was stopped by Bartolo.
The champions went ahead four minutes. Mifsud was the provider as the Malta striker cut in from the left before passing to Brazilian William Barbosa who sent a low drive past Bartolo to the evident delight of the numerous City fans.
Just after Valletta's goal, Floriana's Tyrone Farrugia was carried off on a stretcher with Clyde Borg taking his place.
It was another blow for Floriana but the Greens refused to yield despite Valletta's superiority.
Early in the second half, Mifsud sped clear to latch on to a pass from midfield but he scuffed his shot high and wide.
Nine minutes into the second half, Bartolo denied Valletta a second goal when pushing away Jonathan Caruana's close-range effort after Floriana had failed to clear Falzon's corner from the right.
Scoring chances were few and far between in the second half before a late flurry. Woods drove high from a free-kick before Bartolo foiled Valletta when pushing away Gilbert Agius's close-range drive after the City substitute had connected with Edmond Agius's cross.
Bartolo was prominent again with another good save from Denni's shot after the Brazilian had received from Effiong.
Another good City chance was fluffed when Mifsud headed high from Gilbert Agius's cross.
Floriana's Pablo Doffo was voted BOV player of the match.
TARXIEN 1 BALZAN 2
Balzan beat a lacklustre Tarxien Rainbows to earn their second win this season. Ivan Zammit’s side took the lead just before half time with Nikola Tasic who headed in Pedro Calcado’s corner. Just after the break, Kris Bright doubled the lead with a well-worked goal.
Tarxien woke up after the hour but Balzan held on despite Anonam’s goal. The Rainbows did have chances to make an early breakthrough but Matthew Camilleri saved efforts by Justin Grioli and the woodwork denied Karl Pulo.
In the opening half where neither side were able to take a firm grip on the game, Tarxien did have the majority of the possession though they were limited to long-range efforts.
Balzan held steady under an early cumulative bombardment of free-kicks until the 42nd minute when Karl Pulo raced onto the ball and exchanged a one-two with Costa but his grounder hit the base of the far post.
The game appeared to be going Tarxien’s way before Balzan struck back thanks to the precocious talent of Pedrinho. The Brazilian midfielder picked up the ball from Dylan Grima 25 metres from goal before driving in a fierce low shot that David Cassar could only tip over the bar. From the ensuing corner by Calcado, Nikola Tasic fended off Everton to head past Cassar after 40 minutes.
The Rainbows could have felt hard done by going into the break a goal down but things went much worse for Coleiro’s side few minutes after they headed out of the changing rooms when Kris Bright put the Youths further ahead after 56 minutes. Ciantar evaded the attentions of the jittery Tarxien defenders as he directed a cross from the right towards Bright who chested the ball before firing a powerful shot that bulged the net.
Up to that point, Noel Coleiro’s team had made little impression but they were almost given a lifeline when from a corner, Camilleri punched badly with the ball finishing in the path of Orosco Anonam and the goalkeeper could do little about the Nigerian’s well-struck drive. Yet, the Rainbows’ joy was only short-lived as Ricardo Costa was sent-off following a clash with Camilleri as he tried to retrieve the ball. He barged the goalkeeper over when he raced to collect the ball from the net.
Balzan failed to press home their numerical advantage and two minutes later, Forace saw red for his second bookable offence following a clumsy challenge on Grioli.