Valletta defeat Rabat to close in on Hibernians

Rabat - Valletta 1-4
Valletta defeated Rabat Ajax 4-1 to move just one point behind league leaders Hibernians who still have a game in hand.
Valletta took the lead on the 12th minute when off a cross by Abdelkarim Nafti, Denni Rocha dos Santos' shot beat goalkeeper Pavle Velimirovic to give Valletta the early lead.
Valletta made it 2-0 on the 63rd minute. A long distance shot by Denni Rocha dos Santos left no chance for the Rabat goalkeeper.
Rabat managed to get back into the match on the 76th minute after they reduced Valletta's lead. Jonathan Bajada served Moises Avila Perez who then went on to beat goalkeeper Yenz Cini with his shot.
Valletta found the back of the net again on the 83rd to restore their two-goal lead. Edmond Agius dribbled the ball past a defender to then beat goalkeeper Velimirovic with his shot.
In added time, Valletta made sure they took all three points home when off a cross by Ian Zammit, Abdelkarim Nafti headed the ball in goal.
Denni Rocha dos Santos was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Birkirkara - Tarxien Rainbows 1-0
Birkirkara defeated Tarxien Rainbows by just one goal on Saturday afternoon. Birkirkara took the lead on the 36th minute. Off a cross by Edward Herrera, Joseph Zerafa's shot beat goalkeeper Nicholas Vella.
Tarxien pressed for the rest of the match to try to score the equaliser, but Birkirkara managed to protect their one goal lead to make sure they finished the match with all three points.
Edward Herrera was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Sliema Wanderers - Vittoriosa Stars 2-0
Sliema defeated Vittoriosa 2-0 to return to winning ways after they shared the points with Hibernians last weekend.
The first half ended goalless, but Sliema made sure they started the second half on a positive note when they took the lead on the 50th minute.
Off a pass by Trevor Cilia, Stanley Ohawuchi's powerful shot left no chance for goalkeeper Jean Matthias Vella.
On the 71st minute, Sliema doubled their lead. Abubakar Bello-Osagie served Matius Muchardi, the latter then had his shot from inside the area beat substitute goalkeeper Sean Cini to make the score 2-0.
Abubakar Bello-Osagie was voted BOV Player of the Match.

Balzan Youths - Naxxar Lions 0-3
Naxxar bounced back from their defeat against Birkirkara last weekend by defeating Balzan 3-0 yesterday afternoon.
Naxxar immediately started the match trying to find the opening goal.
Naxxar had to wait till the 40th minute before they took the lead after they were awarded a penalty. Balzan's goalkeeper Michael Falzon brought down Ousseni Zongo inside the area. The referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot and sent Falzon off. Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro's shot from the penalty spot beat substitute goalkeeper.
Balzan's match managed to get even worse when Justin Grioli was sent off the the 77th minute.
Naxxar did not take long to take advantage of Balzan's handicap and doubled their lead just two minutes later. A perfect freekick by Daren Falzon beat goalkeeper Jacob Cipriot.
Ont eh 90th minute, Naxxar sealed their victory when off a pass by Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro, Daren Falzon easily scored into an empty net.
Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro was voted BOV Player of the Match.