Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/228594
50 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2013 SPORTTODAY PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD FOOTBALL Hibernians back to winning ways with victory over Rabat Naxxar defeat ten-man Tarxien Hibernians ........... 4 Rabat Ajax ............ 1 HIBERNIANS defeated bottom side Rabat Ajax 4-1 to bounce back from their defeat against Valletta in their mid-week clash. Hibernians are now level with leaders Birkirkara who still have a game in hand. Hibernians showed their dominance from the start of the match. Hibernians went ahead on the 16th minute thanks to Obinna Obiefule. Obinna's shot hit the post and off the rebound the same player made sure he scored to give Hibs the lead. The lead did not last long for Hibernians as Rabat scored the equaliser just two minutes later thanks to a penalty. Ryan Camilleri brought Diego Carillo down inside the area and referee Andre Arciola immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Daniel Pelaez Bellido made no mistake and beat goalkeeper Mario Muscat to make the score 1-1. Hibernians had to wait till the 54th minute before they regained the lead. Off a freekick by Jackson di Lima Siqueira, Andrew Cohen headed the ball past goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi to make the score 2-1. Hibernians started to show their dominance against Rabat and on the 70th minute they increased their lead. Andrew Cohen served Edison Luis dos Santos who then beat goalkeeper Jonathan Azzopardi with his shot from close range. Hibernians made sure they sealed their victory on the 79th minute when substitute Brandon Muscat scored the fourth goal for Hibernians. HIBERNIANS Mario Muscat, Ryan Camilleri, Jonathan Pearson, Rodolfo Soares, Jackson di Lima Siqueira (79' Brandon Muscat), Andrew Cohen (84' Scott Chircop), Bjorn Kristensen, Clayton Failla, Matthew Bartolo, Obinna Obiefule, Edison Luis dos Santos (79' Jean Paul Farrugia). Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Matthew Tabone, Timothy Tabone Desira, Jurgen Degabriele. Coach: Branko Nisevic RABAT AJAX Jonathan Azzopardi, Shaun Gauci, Zachary Tanti, Ivan Carapic, Joseph Caruana, Clifford Gauci, Malcolm Licari (66' Aidan Azzopardi), Daniel Pelaez Bellido (88' Etienne Scicluna), Moises Avila Perez, Diego Carrillo Pendas, Ryan Micallef (80' Chris Vella). Subs not used: Andrew Zammit, Darren Borg, Jonathan Bajada, Sacha Cortis. Coach: Steve D'Amato Referee: Andre Arciola Assistant Referees: Sammy Attard, Albert Borg Cardona Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi Yellow Cards: Camilleri, Tarabai, Carrillo, Licari, Azzopardi Scorers: 16' Obinna Obiefule (H); 18' Daniel Pelaez Bellido pen (R); 54' Andrew Cohen (H); 70' Edison Luis dos Santos (H); 79' Brandon Muscat (H) BOV Player of the Match: Obinna Obiefule Tarxien Rainbows ...0 Naxxar Lions ...........2 NAXXAR edged closer to the Championship Pool with a 2-0 victory over Tarxien Rainbows. For Tarxien this was not the result they wanted as it was their sixth defeat in their last eight matches. The first half was quiet with both teams producing very view goal scoring opportunities. The match turned for the worse for Tarxien when they were reduced to ten men on the 64th minute after Josef Mifsud was sent off. On the 72nd minute, Carlo Mamo brought Andre Rocha da Silva down inside the area and the referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. Goalkeeper Anthony Curmi deflected Andre Rocha da Silva's shot from the penalty spot. Tarxien's coach Clive Mizzi was also sent off. Naxxar to advantage of the situation and they managed to take the lead on the 74th minute. Off a corner by Pablo Doffo, Angus Buhagiar headed the ball in goal past goalkeeper Anthony Curmi. On the 79th minute, Naxxar sealed their victory when Victor Bellia served Terence Scerri who then when on to tap the ball in goal. TARXIEN RAINBOWS Anthony Curmi, Carlo Mamo, Fernando Lopez Alcantara (80' Marko Potezica), Luca Martinelli, Manuel Caruana (58' Carlos Menendez Hevia), Ronaille Calheira Seara, Miguel Ciantar, Everton Souza Santos, Ryan Sammut (27' Steven Bonnici), Josef Mifsud, Jorge Santos Silva. Subs not used: Nicholas George Vella, Steven Sadowski, Andrew Agius, Karl Pulo. Coach: Clive Mizzi NAXXAR LIONS Julian Azzopardi, Jeremiah Ani, Victor Bellia, Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro (84' Daren Falzon), Andrew Decesare, Pablo Doffo, Andre Rocha Da Silva, Terrence Scerri (80' Duane Bonnici), Evaldo Silva dos Santos. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Marlon Briffa, Jurgen Debono, Yuri Martines De Oliveira, Ousseni Zongo. Coach: Winston Muscat Referee: Clayton Pisani Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Malcolm Spiteri Yellow Cards: Mifsud, Andre Rocha, Martinelli, Decesare, Scerri Red Cards: 64' Josef Mifsud Scorers: 74' A. Buhagiar, 79' Terence Scerri BOV Player of the Match: Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro BOV Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Hibernians Birkirkara Valletta Sliema W. Mosta Floriana Naxxar L. Qormi Balzan Tarxien R. Vittoriosa S. Rabat Ajax P 15 14 14 15 14 15 15 14 15 15 15 15 Pts 35 35 34 28 22 18 18 14 13 12 9 5