Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/224217
52 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 DECEMBER 2013 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD FOOTBALL Birkirkara continue positive run with victory over Balzan Mosta return to winning ways after they put four past Rabat Balzan .................1 Birkirkara ............2 BIRKIRKARA registered their sixth straight victory after they defeated Balzan 2-1. With this victory, Birkirkara stay at the top of the BOV Premier League table with Hibernians. The match was goalless until the 41st minute when Birkirkara managed to take the lead. Off a freekick by Ryan Scicluna, Balzan's goalkeeper Michael Falzon collided with teammate Steve Bezzina to have Haruna Shola Shodiya serve Paul Fenech who headed the ball in goal. Balzan were back in the match on the 54th minute. Jose Luis Armario Negrin served Dylan Grima who then beat goalkeeper Justin Haber from close range to make the score 1-1. Birkirkara regained the lead on the 77th minute when Haruna Shola Shodiya scored to hand his team victory. BALZAN Michael Falzon, Justin Grioli, Andrew Scicluna, Rodrigo Frank Pereira, Steve Bezzina, Fabio Vignaroli, Luke Sciberras, Dylan Grima, Lydon Micallef, Joselito dos Reis Santos, Jose Luis Armario Negrin. Subs not used: Guilherme Lorenzi Schelski, Godwin Mckay, Ryan Darmanin, Aaron Agius, Michael Borg, Erjon Beu, Gianluca Calabretta. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa Birkirkara Justin Haber, Rowen Muscat, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo, Nikola Vukanac, Paul Fenech, Joseph Zerafa, Frank Temile, Zach Muscat, Haruna Subs not used: Reuben Gauci, Edward Herrera, Demba Toure, Daniel Zerafa, Kurt Zammit, Gareth Sciberras, Jhonnattann Beites da Conceicao. Coach: Paul Zammit Referee: Paul Caruana Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Albert Borg Cardona Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Trustin Farrugia Cann Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri Mosta ..................4 Rabat Ajax ...........0 MOSTA are back to winning ways after they defeated Rabat Ajax 4-0. Mosta suffered a heavy defeat against Valletta in their last and this victory gives them hope to secure a place in the Championship pool. This result was Rabat's eleventh defeat in thirteen matches leaving them at the bottom of the BOV Premier League standings. The first goal arrived on the 29th minute when Mosta's Gianmarco Piccioni direct freekick left no chance for goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi. Mosta kept pressing but the first half ended with Mosta only having a one-goal advantage. Two minutes into the second half Mosta were awarded a controversial penalty. Rabat's Shaun Gauci was deemed to have handled the ball inside the area. From the penalty spot, Gianmarco Piccioni coverted to make the score 2-0. On the 56th minute, Mosta were awarded another penalty. Ivan Carapic brought Gianmarco Piccioni down inside the area to have referee Mario Apap point to the penalty spot. Cristian Martins Fernandes' shot beat goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi to make it 3-0. The fourth goal arrived on the 69th minute when off a cross by substitute Ricardinho Faria, the unmarked Cristian Martins Fernandes wasily scored from close range. MOSTA Omar Borg, Kane Farrugia (81' Kurt Zammit), Tyrone Farrugia, Mark Brincat, Manolito Micallef, Ryan Grech, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez, Armando Vieira dos Santos (74' Ishmael Grech), Cristian Martins Fernandes, Yuri Messias de Oliveira (66' Ricardo Silva Faria), Gianmarco Piccioni. Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, Giancarlo Sammut, Isaac Chircop, Kyle Frendo. Coach: Danilo Doncic RABAT AJAX Jonathan Azzopardi, Shaun Gauci, David Azzopardi, Ivan Carapic, Dylan Falzon, Clifford Gauci, Malcolm Licari (68' Aidan Azzopardi)(93' Zachary Tanti), Daniel Pelaez Bellido (77' Joseph Caruana), Diego Carrillo Pendas, Moises Avila Perez, Jonathan Bajada. Subs not used: Andrew Zammit, Darren Borg, Sacha Cortis, Etienne Scicluna. Coach: Steve D'Amato Referee: Mario Apap Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Luke Portelli Fourth Official: Clayton Pisani Yellow Cards: Armando dos Santos, M. Brincat, D. Pelaez, I. Carapic Scorers: 29' Gianmarco Piccioni, 48' Gianmarco Piccioni pen, 57' Cristian Martins Fernandes pen, 69' Cristian Martins Fernandes BOV Player of the Match: Gianmarco Piccioni Today's matches BOV Premier League Qormi - Tarxien R. Floriana - Valletta BOV First Division Melita - Zurrieq St. andres - Birzebbuga SP Zejtun C. - Zebbug R. Hamrun S. - Gudja U. BOV Second Division Dingli S. - Fgura U. Mdina K. - Pembroke A. Marsaskala - Mellieha Mqabba - Kirkop U. San Gwann - Marsa Siggiewi - Gharghur 14:00 16:00 14:00 16:15 14:00 16:15 14:00 16:00 14:00 16:15 14:00 16:15