Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/244624
51 Sport maltatoday, SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2014 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD FOOTBALL Balzan kept their hopes alive to place in the top-six with their victory over Qormi Balzan register important victory Valletta return to winning ways with victory over Vittoriosa Balzan .............. 1 Qormi ............... 0 BALZAN defeated Qormi 1-0 to keep their hopes alive of placing in the top-six of the BOV Premier League. The first half had very few scoring opportunities and remained goalless. Roderick Bajada almost scored for Qormi six minutes into the match when his attempt on goal went just over the crossbar. Balzan's Edison David Zarate Bilbao had his shot neutralised by goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia on the seventh minute. Balzan took the lead on the 54th minute. Pedro Calcado served Edison Bilbao and the latter's cross was intercepted by Luis Armario Negrin who then beat goalkeeper Matthew Farrugia with his shot. Qormi continued to dominate the match and made sure Balzan's pressure to score the equaliser was neutralised. Qormi's chances to score the equaliser were practically over when referee Clayton Pisani sent Owen Bugeja off for dissent. BALZAN Manuel Bartolo, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Lucas Ram- on Dos Santos, Andrew Scicluna, Kurt Magro, Pedro Henrique dos Santos Calcado, Edison David Zarate Bilbao, Lydon Micallef (79' Mark Spiteri), Dylan Grima, Jose' Luis Armario Negrin (83' Luke Sciberras). Subs not used: Michael Falzon, Godwin McKay, Ryan Darmanin, Gianfranco Micallef, Firas Aboulezz. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Owen Bugeja, Jonathan Bondin (44' Emerson Vella), Roderick Bajada, Leighton Grech, Triston Caruana, Roderick Sammut, Christian Terrible, Alfred Effiong, Gianluca Nocera (65' Abudulai Issaka), Duncan Pisani. Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Terence Abela, George Portelli, Leonardo Gabrieli, Dylan Pirotta. Coach: Karel Zeman Referee: Clayton Pisani Assistant Referees: William Debattista, Paul Apap. Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant Yellow Cards: P. Calcado, C. Terrible, T. Caruana, A. Effiong, E. Zarate Red Card: 87' Owen Bugeja (Q) Scorers: 54' Jose Luis Armario Negrin BOV Player of the Match: Pedro Henrique Dos Santos Calcado (Balzan) Vittoriosa Stars .. 0 Valletta ............ 4 VALLETTA returned to winning ways with a convincing 4-0 victory over Vittoriosa Stars. This was a boost for Valletta after playing to a goalless draw last weekend against Sliema Wanderers. For Vittoriosa, this defeat leaves them second from bottom in the BOV Premier League standings. Valletta took the lead on the 26th minute. Off a cross by shaun Bajada, Abdelkarim Nafti headed the ball past goalkeeper Sean Cini. Valletta's dominance immediately showed as they doubled the score just two minutes later. Denni Rocha dos Santos served Edmund Agius inside the area and the latter beat the Vittoriosa goalkeeper with his low shot. Valletta scored the third goal of the match on the 78th minute. Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza served Denni Rocha dos Santos who then managed to beat Cini with his shot from just outside the area. Valletta were denied a fourth goal on the 82nd minute when Roderick Briffa hit the woodwork with his shot. The fourth goal arrived on the 84th minute when Aziz Corr Nyang headed the ball past Cini when he received a precise cross by Mifsud Triganza. VITTORIOSA STARS Sean Cini, Luke Vella Critien (68' Clive Brincat), Ousmane Sidibe, Malcolm Buttigieg, Marcelo Pereira, Michael Camilleri, Siraj Arab Eddin (52' Gilbert Martin), David Garcia Mitogo (68' Federico Santaguida), Sammir Arab, Oscar Dario Guerrero, Jose Filipe Aguiar Subs not used: Lawrence Cauchi, Justin Camilleri, Clive Spiteri, Ryan Mifsud. Coach: Oliver Spiteri VALLETTA Pietro Marino, Jonathan Caruana, Steve Borg, Ryan Fenech, Edmond Agius, Ian Zammit (75' Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Roderick Briffa, Hamza Barry, Shaun Bajada, Denni Rocha dos Santos (80' Llywelyn Cremona), Abdelkarim Nafti (69' Aziz Corr Nyang). Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Ian Azzopardi, Oscar Reyes Sanchez, Luke Scicluna. Coach: Paul Zammit Referee: Andre Arciola Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Jurgen Spiteri Fourth Official: Glenn Tonna Yellow Cards: Barry, Camilleri, Martin Scorers: 26' Abdelkarim Nafti, 28' Edmond Agius, 78' Denni Rocha dos Santos, 84' Aziz Corr Nyang BOV Player of the Match: Denni Rocha dos Santos BOV Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Birkirkara Valletta Hibernians Sliema W. Naxxar L. Mosta Balzan Floriana Tarxien R. Vittoriosa S. Qormi Rabat Ajax P 19 19 18 18 19 18 19 18 19 19 19 19 Pts 50 44 38 31 27 26 22 21 16 15 15 6