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51 Sport Vittoriosa add more misery to Tarxien Balzan defeat Floriana to keep their hopes alive for a place in the Championship Pool Tarxien Rainbows .....0 Vittoriosa Stars .........3 VITTORIOSA Stars defeated Tarxien Rainbows 3-0 in a bottom of the table clash. This victory lifts Vittoriosa to ninth place in the standings on par with Qormi. For Tarxien, their dismall season continues to get worse as this defeat was their fifth in six matches. Tarxien had most of the ball possession the start, but it was Vittoriosa who managed to get on the scoreboard on the 18th minute. Marcelo Pereira did a great job by working his way past Tarxien's defence to have his cross find Gilbert Martin. The latter's powerful shot left no chance for goalkeeper Nicholas George Vella. Tarxien had a chance on goal on the 36th minute, but Ronaille Calheira Seara's header went over the bar. Vittoriosa were close to scoring their second goal on the 38th minute, but Steve Bonnici cleared Marcelo Pereira's shot off the goal line. The second half started as the first with Tarxien on the attack. The kept pushing for the equaliser but Vittoriosa were very organised. The match turned for the worse on the 72nd minute when Steven Sad- owski brought Marcelo Pereira down inside the area. Oscar Guerrero beat goalkeeper Nicholas George Vella from the penalty spot. On the 77th minute, Vittoriosa made sure they secured all three points when Marcelo Pereira scored after being set up by Gilbert Martin. TARXIEN RAINBOWS Nicholas George Vella, Steven Sadowski, Carlo Mamo, Marko Potezica (63' Miguel Ciantar), Ronaille Calheira Seara, William Barbosa, Carlos Menendez Hevia, Karl Pulo, Josef Mifsud, Steven Bonnici (63' Luca Martinelli), Jorge Santos Silva. Subs not used: Antonio Chetcuti, Manuel Caruana, Fernando Lopez Alcantara, Andrew Agius, Ryan Sammut. Coach: Clive Mizzi VITTORIOSA STARS Sean Cini, Sidibe Ousimane, Filipe Aguilar (79' Siraj Arab), Gibert Martin (82' Ryan Mifsud), Samir Arab, Oscar Guerrero, David Mitogo Garcia (74' Francisco Arriagada Mella), Luke Vella Critien, Marcelo Pereira, Adam Spiteri, Michael Camilleri. Subs not used: Lawrence Cauchi, Clive Brincat, Justin Camilleri, Clive Spiteri. Coach: Oliver Spiteri Referee: Alan Mario Sant Assistant Referees: Edward Spiteri, Sammy Attard Fourth Official: Marco Borg Yellow Cards: S. Bonnici, M. Potezica, F. Aguiar, S. Arab, J. Santos Silva. Scorers: 18' Gilbert Martin, 73' Oscar Guerrero, 77' Marcelo Pereira BOV Player of the Match: Marcelo Pereira Floriana ................1 Balzan ...................2 BALZAN defeated Floriana 2-1 to keep their hopes alive for a top-six finish to play in the Championship Pool. After having a good run of three victories, this would be Floriana's second consecutive defeat. Balzan started the match on the attack when Fabio Vignaroli and Jose Luis Armario Negrin tested Floriana goalkeeper Daniel Hanford. Balzan's pressure paid off and they managed to take the lead on the 26th minute. Off a corner by Pedro Calcado, Steve Bezzina's header was cleared when it crossed the goal line but then Ramon dos Santos made sure he found the back of the net with his header. Assistant referee claimed that the goal be awarded to Steve Bezzina as his attempt on goal did cross the goal line. Balzan doubled their lead on the 39th minute. Jose Luis Armario scored from close range after he was served by Steve Bezzina. On the 58th minute, Floriana managed to reduce Balzan's lead. Off a corner by Gary Muir, Emmanuel Ibok Edet headed the ball past goalkeeper Manual Bartolo. As the match continued, Floriana continued to gain momentum, but Balzan managed to protect their lead and take home all three points. FLORIANA Daniel Hanford, Andre Scicluna, Sunday Eboh (61' Isaac Galea), Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Steve Pisani, Igor Coronado, Diogo Pinheiro de Sousa (46' Rodrigo Felix Aguiar), Joseph Borg, Luca Casha (24' Brooke Farrugia), Gary Muir, Sacha Borg. Subs not used: Sean MIntoff, Darrell Baldacchino, Jonathan Xerri, Glen Tabone. Coach: Ian Dawes BALZAN Manuel Bartolo, Andrew Scicluna, Steve Bezzina, Justin Grioli, Ramon dos Santos, Fabio Vignaroli, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Dylan Grima (45' Kurt Magro), Lydon Micallef (94' Luke Sciberras), Pedro dos Santos Calcado, Jose Luis Armario Negrin (87' Ryan Darmanin). Subs not used: Michael Falzon, God- win Mckay, Firas Aboulezz, Mark Spiteri. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa Referee: Paul Caruana Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Chris Francalanza Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri Yellow Cards: J. Borg, Andre Scicluna, Andrew Scicluna, S. Borg, J. Grioli, F. Vignaroli Scorers: 26' Steve Bezzina, 39' Jose Luis Armario Negrin, 58' Emmanuel Ibok Edet BOV Player of the Match: Steve Bezzina BOV Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Birkirkara Valletta Hibernians Sliema W. Naxxar L. Mosta Floriana Balzan Vittoriosa S. Qormi Tarxien R. Rabat Ajax P 17 17 18 17 18 18 18 18 18 17 18 18 Pts 44 40 38 30 27 26 21 19 15 15 13 6 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 JANUARY 2014