Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/244624
50 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2014 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Tarxien put six past Rabat Jhonnattann scores four as Birkirkara defeat Naxxar TARXIEN Rainbows easily defeated Rabat Ajax 6-2 in a match between two sides sitting at the bottom of the BOV Premier League table. After their defeat against Vittoriosa last weekend Tarxien are happy to be back to winning ways while Rabat continue their dismal season with another defeat. Tarxien immediately showed their dominance as they took the lead ten minutes into the match. Off a brilliant cross by Luca Martinelli was easily headed in goal by William Barbosa. Tarxien were up by two goals on the 30th minute. Luca Martinelli had his cross partially saved by goalkeeper Andrew Zammit and from close range Karl Pulo easily scored. Jorge Santos Silva was next to score for Tarxien just six minutes later. His shot from just outside the area left no chance for Rabat's goalkeeper. In the second half, Rabat lost a great chance to get back into the match. Manuel Caruana brought Malcolm Licari down inside the area and Rabat were awarded a penalty. From the penalty spot Dani Pelaez failed to score when goalkeeper Nicky Vella blocked his shot. Rabat managed to reduce Tarxien's lead on the 61st minute. Off a cross by Diego Carrillo, Malcolm Licari easily scored with a great header. Tarxien regained their three goal lead on the 71st minute when Jorge Santols silva beat goalkeeper Andrew Zammit with his shot to make the score 4-1. Rabat immediately replied when they scored just one minute later. An angled shot by Ryan Micallef left no chance for Tarxien's goalkeeper Nicky Vella. Tarxien replied with another goal on the 77th minute. Karl Pulo's shot beat Zammit to make the score 5-2. Karl Pulo completed a hat-trick and sealed all three points for his team on the 82nd minute. A brilliant run by Pulo took him past David Azzopardi and Dylon Falzon to then finally beat Zammit with his shot from the right. RABAT AJAX Andrew Zammit, Shaun Gauci, David Azzopardi, Dylan Falzon, Ivan Carapic, Joseph Caruana, Jonathan Bajada (31' Wayne Borg), Daniel Peleaz Bellido (72' Patrick Borg), Malcolm Licari, Ryan Micallef (84' Chris Vella), Diego Carrillo Pendas. Subs not used: Tyler Grech, Zachary Tanti, Sacha Cortis, Kurt Muscat Coach: Steve D'Amato TARXIEN RAINBOWS Nicky Vella, Carlo Mamo, Manuel Caruana (83' Miguel Ciantar), Fernando Lopes Alcantara, Luca Martinelli, Ronaille Calheira Seara (67' Marko Potezica), William Barbosa, Ryan Sammut, Carlos Menendez Hevia (87' Nigel Vella), Karl Pulo, Jorge Santos Silva. Subs not used: Anthony Curmi, Steve Sadowski, Andrew Agius, Steve PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Rabat Ajax .................2 Tarxien Rainbows ......6 Tarxien easily defeat Rabat to earn three precious points Bonnici. Coach: Clive Mizzi Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Sammy Attard Additional Assistant Referees: Paul Caruana, Sandro Spiteri Fourth Official: Albert Borg Cardona Yellow Cards: Diego Carrillo, Menendez Hevia, Falzon Scorers: 10' William Barbosa (T), 30' Karl Pulo (T), 36' Jorge Santos Silva (T), 61' Malcolm Liari (R), 71' Jorge Santos Silva (T), 72' Ryan Micallef (R), 77' Karl Pulo (T), 82' Karl Pulo (T) BOV Player of the Match: Jorge Santos Silva Birkirkara .............7 Naxxar Lions .........1 BIRKIRKARA registered an impressive 7-1 victory over Naxxar Lions. Jhonnattann was the hero of the match as he scored four goals. For Birkirkara, this was their thirteenth consecutive victory, which keeps them in a comfortable position at the top of the BOV Premier League standings, six points ahead of Valletta. A win for Naxxar would have almost guaranteed a place in the Championship Pool, but this defeat still leaves them in a fight with Mosta and Balzan. Birkirkara had to wait till the 18th minute before they took the lead. Frank Temile passed to Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao and the latter dribbled past a Naxxar defender to easily beat goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi with his shot. Birkirkara doubled the score on the 27th minute. Haruna Shola Shodiya served Ryan Scicluna who then scored from close range. In the second half, Birkirkara continued to dominate as they made it 3-0 on the 54th minute. Off a freekick by Edward Herrera, Alejandro Mendoza Corujo headed the ball home past goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi. Four minutes later, Haruna Shola Shodiya made it 4-0 with his powerful shot from just outside the penalty area. Horrible defending by Naxxar led to Birkirkara's fifth goal on the 61st minute. Jhonnattann dribbled past a Naxxar defender to then release a perfect shot from close range leaving no chance for goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi. Naxxar finally managed to register a goal on the 69th minute. Off a cross by Angus Buhagiar, substitute goalkeeper Reuben Gauci lost his balance and that left the door open for Terrence Scerri who easily scored Naxxar's first goal of the match. Birkirkara did not let Naxxar celebrate their goal for long as on the 74th minute the sixth goal arrived for the Stripes. Off a freekick by Paul Fenech into the area, Jhonnattann beat the Naxxr goalkeeper with his precise shot. Two minutes later, Jhonnattann registered his fourth goal of the match when his shot from just outside the area went over goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi into the top corner of the net. BIRKIRKARA Justin Haber (68' Reuben Gauci), Joseph Zerafa, Alejandro Mendoza, Nikola Vukanac (76' Zach Muscat), Jhonnattann Benites, Gareth Sciberras, Frank Temile (72' Ryan Camenzuli), Ryan Scicluna, Haruna Shola Shodiya, Paul Fenech Edward Herrera. Subs not used: Leon Muscat, Dan- iel Zerafa, Terence Vella, Demba Toure. Coach: Paul Zammit NAXXAR LIONS Julian Azzopardi, Angus Buhagiar, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro, Andrew Decesare, Mattia Del Negro, Thiago Lopes de Souza (76' Milan Vignevic), David Alejandro Reano, Andre Rocha Da Silva, Terrence Scerri (74' Daren Falzon), Filip Stojanovic. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Duane Bonnici, John Debono, Jurgen Debono, Yaron Sammut. Coach: Winston Muscat Referee: Adrian Azzopardi Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Duncan Sultana Fourth Official: Marco Borg Yellow Cards: F. Stojanovic, F. Temile, M. Del Negro Scorers: 18' Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, 37' Ryan Scicluna, 54' Alejandro Mendoza, 58' Shodiya Haruna Shola, 61' Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, 69' Terrence Scerri (N), 74' Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao, 76' Jhonnattann Benites da Conceicao BOV Player of the Match: Jhonnattann Benites