Valletta defeat Floriana as edge past Balzan

This was not a good result for Floriana as they remain at the bottom of the standings after they suffered their second defeat in a row.

Valletta took the lead in added time when Abdelkarim Nafti served Ian Zammit whose header went over goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

On the 56^th minute off a corner by Nafti, Aziz Corr made no mistake with his low shot to beat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff.

On the 77^th minute, Valletta made sure they would take home all three points when Romulo Marques Antoneli beat goalkeeper Sean Mintoff with his shot from inside the area.

Abdelkarim Nafti was voted BOV Player of the Match.

VALLETTA Pietro Marino, Ryan Fenech, Ian Zammit (70’ Jonathan Caruana), Roderick Briffa, Hamza Barry, Aziz Corr Nyang (74’ Romulo Marques Antoneli), Dyson Falzon, Jason Lee Vandelannoite, Yessous Camilleri (27’ Shaun Bajada), Abdelkarim Nafti, Luke Dimech.

Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzopardi, Kurt Magro, Isaac McCarthy.

Coach: Mark Miller

FLORIANA Sean Mintoff, Andre Scicluna, Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Daniel Bogdanovic (46’ Christian Caruana), Gary Roberts, Igor Coronado (79’ Luca Casha), Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg, Gary Muir, Diogo Pinheiro de Souza (62’ Brooke Farrugia), Sacha Borg.

Subs not used: Daniel Hanford, Jonathan Xerri, Joseph Borg, Francesco Guzman.

Coach: Ian Dawes

Referee: Kevin Azzopardi

Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Peter Abela

Additional Assistant Referees: Andre Arciola, Esther Azzopardi

Fourth Official: Duncan Sultana

Yellow Cards: Dimech, Marino

Scorers: 45+1′ Ian Zammit, 56′ Aziz Corr Nyang, 77′ Romulo Marques Antoneli

In the other match Birkirkara came from behind to defeat Balzan 2-1.

Balzan took the lead just three minutes into the match when off a freekick by Dylan Grima, Rodrigo Frank Pereira beat goalkeeper Justin Haber to give Balzan the lead.

Birkirkara increased the pressure on Balzan continuing to press until they finally managed to score the equaliser on the 72^nd minute. Off a corner by Edward Herrera, Shola Shodiya headed the ball in goal past goalkeeper Daniel Martinez.

As the match looked like it would end in a draw, Birkirkara managed to score the winning goal on the 86^th minute. Off a cross by Edward Herrera, Matheus Bissi da Silva made no mistake with his shot from close range.

Edward Herrera was voted BOV Player of the Match.

BIRKIRKARA  Justin Haber, Terence Vella (46’ Frank Temile) (60’ Ryan Scicluna), Zach Muscat, Zerafa Joseph, Matheus Bissi Da Silva, Paul Fenech (85’ Ryan Camenzuli), Gareth Sciberras, Rowen Muscat, Haruna Shola Shodiya, Edward Herrera, Demba Toure.

Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Kurt Zammit, Daniel Zerafa, Ini Akpan.

Coach: Paul Zammit

BALZAN Daniel Miguelez Martinez, Firas Aboulezz (87’ Ryan Darmanin), Steve Bezzina, Gianluca Calabretta (84’ Erjon Beu), Dylan Grima, Justin Grioli, Jose Luis Armario Negrin (59’ Lydon Micallef), Rodrigo Frank Pereira, Andrew Scicluna, Mark Spiteri, Fabio Vignaroli.

Subs not used: Michael Falzon, Michael Borg, Shaun Bugeja, Andrew Cassar.

Coach: Riccardo Tumiatti

Referee: Glen Tonna

Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Albert Borg Cardona

Fourth Official: Alan M. Sant

Yellow Cards: G. Calabretta, P. Fenech, S. Bezzina, R. Darmanin

Scorers: 3’ Rodrigo Frank Pereira(BZN) 72’ Haruna Shola Shodiya , 86’ Matheus Bissi Da Silva (BKR)