Valletta edge past Balzan to stay top

Balzan 1
Valletta 2

Malta captain Michael Mifsud kept Valletta’s title hopes alive by helping the Citizens narrowly beat a resilient Balzan side and open a four-point gap over rivals Hibernians.
If Hibs beat Birkirkara in Sunday’s game, the league title will be decided in the final match of the season in which Valletta face the Paolites.
Veteran striker Michael Mifsud hit the late winner after Balzan equalised midway through the second half.
Although Valletta found it hard to break down the stubborn Balzan defence, the leaders were the more inventive side for much of the opening half but they only had one goal to show for their efforts.
Valletta did not have to wait long to open the score, with Federico Falcone’s powerful drive beating Balzan goalkeeper Ivan Janjusevic on the 13th minute.
Before half-time, Falcone went close to doubling the lead but the Argentine striker blasted high from close range. After the break, substitute Bojan Kaljevic went close to scoring an equiliser, but the Montenegrin’s attempt went without result.
An improved Balzan once again went close to scoring when Kaljevic again saw his attempt go over the bar.
Valletta were a whisker from doubling their lead when Mifsud’s potent but central strike was saved by Ivan Janjusevic.
Balzan’s efforts were rewarded when just before the hour mark, Kaljevic equalised after pouncing on an indecision between Camilleri and Bonello and hit home past Valletta goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
Nine minutes from time, Valletta regained their lead when Federico Falcone sent Michael Mifsud through and Malta’s all time top goalscorer beat Janjusevic with a low shot from inside the area.

BALZAN Ivan Janjusevic, Justin Grioli, Paul Fenech, Steve Bezzina, Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Clive Brincat, Alfred Effiong, Alan da Silva Souza (46’ Bojan Kaljevic), Lydon Micallef, Elkin Orlando Serrano Valero, Dylan Grima.
Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Maxim Fosca , Alexander Vujacic, Sean Cipriott, Luke Sciberras, Ryan Fenech
Coach: Oliver Spiteri

VALLETTA Henry Bonello. Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Ryan Camilleri, Michael Mifsud (85’ Llywelyn Cremona), Roderick Briffa, Rafael Rodriguez Ledesma (64’ Abdelkarim Nafti), Federico Matias Falcone, Claudio Pani, Uchenna Calistus Umeh, Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao (89’ Romeu Pericles Romao).
Subs not used: Nicky Vella, Daniel Camilleri, Jean Borg, Jurgen Suda.

Referee: Esther Azzopardi
Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, William Debattista
Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Philip Farrugia
Fourth Official: Luke Portelli
Yellow Cards: Mifsud, Fenech, Pedrinho, Camilleri, Brincat, Falcone, Kaljevic
Scorers: 13’ Federico Matias Falcone, 59’ Bojan Kaljevic, 81’ Michael Mifsud
BOV Player of the Match: Federico Matias Falcone
Attendance at the National Stadium: 2,410

Saints beat Naxxar to keep survival hopes alive

St. Andrews     3
Naxxar Lions     1

St. Andrews’s merited victory against Naxxar put the Saints two points behind the Lions and with one game to go kept their survival hopes alive.  
The battle between the two sides will now go down to the wire with St Andrews facing last-placed Qormi while Naxxar take on Sliema Wanderers.
The Lions only have themselves to blame for throwing away a golden opportunity to secure their top division status as a point would have been sufficient to put them in the play-off match and condemn their opponents.
St Andrews hit the ground running and created two goal scoring opportunities within the first five minutes. Kyrian Nwoko and Lucky Oseghale both went close to opening the score but their attempts failed to hit the target.
However, the two players quickly made amends with both players combining to put the Saints two goals ahead.
After 17 minutes, Nwoko headed home past goalkeeper Alberto Gallinetta with the Saints midfielder scoring his second on the 25th minute from Oseghale’s through ball.
In a rare Naxxar attack Jose Angel Godar Pereira saw his shot go wide just before half-time.
As the game resumed, the saints kept the upper hand and increased their lead on 66 minutes with Oseghale putting his name on the score sheet.
The Nigerian’s precise shot into the low corner gave Gallinetta little chance and all but secured the three points for St Andrews.
To add salt to their wound, Naxxar were reduced to 10 men on the 90th after Daren Falzon was sent off for a nasty tackle. But the Lions had time to score a consolation goal when they were awarded a penalty after Liam Grech handled the ball inside the penalty area.
From 11 metres, Eduardo Vallecillo Casado made no mistake but by then Naxxar’s hopes to secure their place in the Premier League were long gone.  
ST. ANDREWS Jake Galea, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Eloy Edu Nkene, Bong Won Che (76’ Liam Grech), Jonatan Perez Cuesta, Dale Camilleri (55’ Matteo Desira Buttigieg), Chinatu Francis Onwudinjo, Joseph Farrugia (85’ Ryan Sammut), Lucky Victor Oseghale, Kyrian Nwoko, Michel Salomon Wisdom.
Subs not used: Dorian Bugeja, Nicholas Bradshaw, Jamie Magri Overend, Jacob Walker.
Assistant Coach: Brian Chetcuti
NAXXAR Alberto Gallinetta, Andrew Scicluna, Ryan Grech, Eduardo Vallecillo Casado, Daren Falzon, Demba Toure (63’ Jurgen Debono), Duane Bonnici (31′ Mark Fenech), Jose Angel Godar Pereira (63’ Alvaro Javier Hungria Rosero), David Fenech, Angus Buhagiar, Ennio Hamutenya.
Subs not used: Gianluca Abela, Francesco Gauci, Gianluca Grima, Ryan Mercieca.
Coach: Clive Mizzi
Referee: Alan Mario Sant
Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Thomas Debono
Fourth Official: Marco Borg
Yellow Cards: Vallecillo, Scicluna
Red Cards: 90’ Daren Falzon
Scorers: 17’ Kyrian Nwoko, 25’ Kyrian Nwoko, 66’ Lucky Victor Oseghale, 90+2’ Eduardo Vallecillo Casado pen
BOV Player of the Match: Lucky Victor Oseghale