Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/236916
44 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JANUARY 2014 FOOTBALL Naxxar sink Vittoriosa while Sliema and Mosta share the spoils Naxxar Lions ..........1 Vittoriosa Stars ......0 NAXXAR LIONS Julian Azzopardi, Victor Bellia, Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar da Silva Riberio, Andrew Decesare (79' Jeremiah Ani), Mattia Del Negro, Pablo Doffo, Thiago Lopes de Sousa, Terence Scerri (90' Duane Bonnici), Evaldo Silva dos Santos. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, John Debono, Jurgen Debono, Daren Falzon, Yuri Martines de Oliveira. Coach: Winston Muscat VITTORIOSA STARS Sean Cini, Francisco Bernardo Arrigada Mella (60' Seydou Bamba), Ousmane Sidibe, Oscar Guerrero Alvarado, Malcolm Buttigieg, Luke Vella Critien (79' Siraj Arab Eddin), Clive Spiteri, Gilbert Martin (60' Adam Spiteri), David Garcia Mitogo, Samir Arab. Subs not used: Lawrence Cauchi, Justin Camilleri, Liam Gauci, Ryan Mifsud. Coach: Oliver Spiteri Referee: Chris Lautier Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Albert Borg Cardona Additional Assistant Referees: PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD NAXXAR registered an important 1-0 victory over Vittoriosa to keep them in contention for a place in the Championship Pool. Naxxar are growing in confidence, as this was their third consecutive victory. Naxxar started the match on the attack and they had their first attempt on goal on the 17th minute. Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro powerful shot ended up high. Two minutes later, Naxxar managed to take the lead. Off a pass by Victor Bellia, Gilmar da Silva Riberio's cross was intercepted by Terence Scerri to have the latter tap the ball in goal. Vittoriosa tried to score the equaliser and they went close on the 24th minute when Marcelo Pereira's shot went just past goal. Vittoriosa's Gilbert Martin had his shot go over the crossbar on the 32nd minute. Naxxar's goalkeeper Julia Azzopardi saved a close-range shot by Gilbert Martin moments later. In the second half, Vittoriosa showed more confidence and after more failed attempts on goal, their best chance to score the equaliser arrived on the 70th minute. Guerrero served Marcelo Pereria, who then had his header hit the woodwork. Marco Borg, Fyodor Zammit Fourth Official: Mitchell Scerri Yellow Cards: Decesare, Guerrero, Gilmar, Buhagiar, Azzopardi Scorers: 19' Terence Scerri BOV Player of the Match: Victor Bellia Sliema Wanderers ......1 Mosta .........................1 SLIEMA Wanderers earned a valuable point when they played to a 1-1 draw against Mosta. With this result, Sliema remain six points ahead of Mosta in the battle for a Championship Pool spot. Even though they only took home a point, this was a positive result for Mosta as their two previous matches ended in defeat. Mosta showed they meant business early in the match as they took the lead just after only four minutes of play. Off a freekick by Tyrone Farrugia, Manolito Micallef took advantage of a bad clearance and shot low past goalkeeper Henry Bonello to give Mosta the lead. Sliema almost scored the equaliser on the 35th minute when off a corner by Trevor Cilia, Alex Muscat was denied by the woodwork. Just before the end of the first half, Mosta's goalkeeper Omar Borg produced a fantastic save when Matias Muchardi had a attempt from close range. The second was lacked as many goal scoring opportunities as the first half, but Sliema managed to score the important equaliser on the 86th minute. Substitute Abubakar BelloOsagie served Matias Muchardi who then went on to beat goalkeeper Omar borg with his low shot. SLIEMA WANDERERS Henry Bonello, Alex Muscat, John Mintoff, Mark Scerri, Stanley Ohawuchi, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Ivan Woods (46'Abubakar Bello-Osagie), Trevor Cilia (90' Beppe Muscat), Paltemio Barbetti (81' Pape Gueye), Matias Muchardi, Stefano Bianciardi. Subs not used: Glenn Zammit, Jacob Borg, Axl Xuereb, Gabriel Aquilina. Coach: Alfonso Greco MOSTA Omar Borg, Kane Farrugia, Jonas Ekani Rodriguez, Tyrone Farrugia, Dyson Falzon, Manolito Micallef (84' Nicola Cosentini), Kurt Zammit, Lukas Duriska, Cristian Martins Fernandez (86' Alex Cini), Bojan Kaljevic (52' Ryan Grech), Giammarco Piccioni. Subs not used: Kurt Rizzo, Mark Brincat, James Brincat, Giancarlo Sammut. Coach: Enrico Piccioni Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann Assistant Referees: Thomas Debono, Jurgen Spiteri Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri Yellow Cards: M. Micallef, Kaljevic, Gatt Baldacchino, Duriska, K. Farrugia, Cilia Scorers: 4' Manolito Micallef (M); 86' Matias Muchardi (S) BOV Player of the Match: Matias Muchardi