Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/364850
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 17 AUGUST 2014 Sport 47 Balzan .......................4 Zebbug Rangers .........2 BALZAN showed their dominance as they defeated newcomers Zeb- bug Rangers 4-2. Zebbug managed to take the lead as early as the fifth minute. Goal- keeper Christian Cassar came rushing out of the area to try to stop Mauricio Rodrigues Britto, but the latter dribbled past Cassar and easily scored to give Zebbug the lead. Balzan managed to score the equaliser on the 23rd minute. Off a cross from Osa Ice-Cream Guoba- dia, Gianmarco Piccioni easily beat goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia to make the score 1-1. Balzan managed to take the lead for the first time in the match just five minutes into the second half. Off a cross by Oscar Guerrero, Lydon Micallef had his powerful shot beat goalkeeper Jeffrey Far- rugia. Zebbug were right back into the match one minute later when they equalised. Javi Diaz from just out- side the area served Mauricio Rod- rigues who easily scored from close range to make the score 2-2. Balzan regained the lead on the 65th minute. Oscar Dario Guer- rero Alvarado served Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza who then served Gianmarco Piccioni inside the area and the latter slotted the ball past goalkeeper Jeffrey Farrugia. On the 85th minute, Balzan sealed their victory when they made the score 4-2. Gianmarco Piccioni had his shot hit the woodwork and off the re- bound, Oscar Guerrero easily beat Farrugia with his shot. BALZAN: Christian Cassar, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Orlan- do Serrano Valero, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Osa Ice-Cream Guobadia, Luke Sciberras, Lydon Micallef (70' Michael Borg), Oscar Dario Guer- rero Alvarado, Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza (82' Ryan Darmanin), Gianmarco Piccioni (90'Juan Cor- bolan). Subs not used: Steve Sultana, Shaun Bugeja, Sean Cipriott, Gian- franco Micallef. Coach: Oliver Spiteri ZEBBUG RANGERS Jeffrey Far- rugia, Yessous Camilleri, Javi Diaz (84' Anderson Mendes Ribeiro), Ratko Mandic, Matthew Gauci (84' Lee James Agius), Jacob Borg, Thomas Paris (62' Miguel Ciantar), Clifford Gauci, Matias Muchardi, Carlo Manti, Maurcio Osmar Rod- rigues Britto. Subs not used: Luke Pace, Lee Galea, Melvin Farrugia, Matthew Bartolo. Coach: Jesmond Zammit Referee: Clayton Pisani Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Luke Portelli Additional Assistant Referees: Marco Borg, Fyodor Zammit Fourth Official: Peter Abela Yellow Cards: C. Gauci, J. Grioli, O. Guobadia Scorers: 5' Mauricio Rodrigues Brit- to (Z); 23' Gianmarco Piccioni (B); 50' Lydon Micallef (B); 51'Mauricio Rodrigues Britto (Z); 65' Gianmarco Piccioni (B); 85'Oscar Guerrero (B) BOV Player of the Match: Edison Bilbao Zarate 47 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Birkirkara start new campaign with a win Birkirkara ................... 2 Pieta Hotspurs ............ 1 BIRKIRKARA started the new sea- son with a 2-1 victory over Pieta Hotspurs. They were in control from the be- ginning of the match and their first scoring opportunit y came in the 30th minute, when a powerful shot from outside the area by Ryan Sci- cluna was def lected into a corner. Birkirkara took the lead in the 40th minute. A very short clear- ance by Pieta was intercepted by Rafael Ledesma, with the latter un- leashing a powerful shot from out- side the area which left no chance for goalkeeper David Cassar. The match turned for the worse for Pieta when four minutes into the second half they were reduced to 10 men as Rafael Xavier Zacarias was sent off by referee Philip Far- rugia after hitting out at Ryan Ca- menzuli. Birkirkara were now in command of the match and managed to dou- ble the score in the 76th minute. Off a cross by Zach Muscat, Ellinton Costa Morais controlled the ball and beat goalkeeper David Cassar with his shot from close range. Pieta managed to reduce the gap with a goal in the 90th minute, when Cain Attard beat goalkeeper Justin Haber off a cross with his shot from close range. BIRKIRKARA: Justin Haber, Math- eus Bissi da Silva, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais (84' Antoine Borg), Nikola Vukanac, Rafael Pompeo Rodrigues Ledesma, Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga (46' Kurt Zammit), Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat, Ryan Sci- cluna, Edward Herrera (69' Leighton Grech), Ryan Camenzuli. Subs not used: Justin Tonna, Alejan- dro Mendoza Corujo, Andrea Curmi, Russell Gatt de Raffaele. Coach: Paul Zammit PIETA HOTSPURS: David Cas- sar, Cain Attard, Christian Grech, Leonardo Fortunato dos Santos, Ju- rgen Pisani, Quilin Refalo, Terence Agius, Rafael Rodrigues da Silva (77' Neil Pace Cocks), Malcolm Licari (66' Cleaven Cassar), Rafael Xavier Zacarias, Dylan Agius (59' Luke Mi- callef ). Substitutes: Miguel Montfort, Karl Micallef, Jordie Delia, Ayrton Mizzi. Coach: Noel Coleiro Referee: Philip Farrugia Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Roberto Vella Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri Yellow Cards: R. Scicluna, D. Agius, P. Fenech, K. Zammit Red Cards: 49' Rafael Xavier Scorers: 40' Rafael Ledesma (B), 76' Ellinton Costa Morais (B), 90' Cain Attard (P) BOV Player of the Match: Rafael Ledesma Balzan too strong for Zebbug PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOE BORG Birkirkara started the new season with a win over Pieta