Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/370348
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2014 20 Sport FOOTBALL Porto defeat Lille to advance into group stage Yacine Brahimi and Jackson Martínez struck in the second half to send Porto into the group stage for the 19th time FC Porto safely made it to Thurs- day's UEFA Champions League group stage draw after beating LO- SC Lille 3-0 on aggregate. Yacine Brahimi opened the scoring at the beginning of the second half with a superb free-kick and Jackson Mar- tínez put the contest to bed with 21 minutes to go. Despite having won the first leg 1-0 at Lille a week ago, Porto re- mained loyal to their attacking style, dictating the pace of the game from the start. With nine minutes gone Martínez touched the ball just wide after a perfect delivery by Danilo, from the right. The early pressure from the hosts, though, began to fade as minutes passed by and LOSC started to move up the field more often. Id- rissa Gueye almost exploited a mistake from the Porto defence, but Maicon did just enough to pre- vent the midfielder from scoring. With half-time approaching the pace of the game decreased and the teams went back to their dressing rooms goalless. Barely had the second half be- gun when Brahimi converted a sensational free-kick, lifting the ball over the wall and in to the top corner. The visitors response also came from a free-kick soon after, but Fabiano in the Porto goal was equal to David Rozehnal's shot. Nolan Roux headed wide at 56 minutes as the French team tried to get back in the contest, but Mar- tínez was to finish things off at 69 minutes. After a neat play between Evandro and Brahimi the Algerian set up the Colombian striker, who beat Vincent Eneymina with his left foot. With matters settled, goal op- portunities emerged at both ends. Héctor Herrera shot went nearly wide and LOSC substitute Mar- cos Lopes saw his goal-bound shot blocked by Danilo minutes later, but the scoreboard did not change again, as Porto celebrated their 19th presence in the UEFA Cham- pions League group stage. Other results Zenit St. Petersburg - Standard Liege .3-0 Apoel Nicosia - AaB ...........................4-0 BATE Borisov - Slovan Bratislava ........3-0 Veltic - Maribor ..................................0-1 Jackson Martínez strikes the clincher Valletta defeat Floriana to claim their first win of the season Floriana ..................... 0 Valletta ..................... 2 VALLETTA defeated Floriana 2-0 to finally register their first win of the season. Valletta where desperate for a victory and dominated the match from the start. The first real goal scoring oppor- tunity arrived on the 16th minute when Valletta's Raphael Kooh Soh- na's shot from inside the area hit the woodwork. On the 23rd minute, a shot by Floriana's Brooke Farrugia was saved by goalkeeper Nicky Vella. On the 65th minute, Valletta fi- nally managed to take the lead. Off a pass from Shaun Bajada, Lateef Elford-Alliyu easily beat goalkeep- er Valerio Senatore with his shot. Valletta stayed in control of the match leaving little space for Floriana and in the 85th minute scored the second of the evening to make sure they register their first win of the season. Ryan Fenech served Abdelkarim Nafti who then eas- ily beat goalkeeper Valerio Senatore with his shot. FLORIANA: Valerio Senatore, Douglas Felipe Moreira Cobo, Emerson Marcelina, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg (75' Giovanni Galea), Vito Plut, Matteo Piciollo, Emanuel Briffa, Brooke Farrugia (80' Isaac Galea), Sacha Borg, Steve Bonnici. Subs not used: Tyrone Gauci, Luke Micallef, Neil Spiteri, Joseph Borg, Gary Muir. Coach: Giovanni Tedesco VALLETTA: Nicky Vella, Jonath- an Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Steve Borg, Ryan Fenech, Hugo Faria, Raphael Kooh Sohna (62' Lateef Elford Alliyu), Shaun Bajada (79' Llywelyn Cremona), Christian Caruana (62' Adrian Zahra), Abdelka- rim Nafti, Luke Dimech. Subs not used: Yenz Ci- ni, Ryan Camilleri, Luke Montebello, Ian Zam- mit. Coach: Gilbert Agius Referee: Alan Mario Sant Assistant Referees: William De- battista, Roberto Vella Additional Assistant Referees: Clayton Pisani, Glen Tonna Fourth Of ficial: Alan Camilleri Yellow Cards: Piciollo, Marce- lina, St. Borg , Bajada Scorers: 65'Lateef Elford-Alliyu, 85' Abdelkarim Nafti BOV Player of the Match: Ryan Fenech Naxxar Lions .............. 0 Birkirkara ................. 1 A late goal in stoppage-time hand- ed Birkirkara a 1-0 victory over Naxxar Lions. Birkirkara dominated the major- it y of the match buy they could not get through the stubborn defence of Naxxar. As the match was look- ing to end in a draw, the late goal by Birkirkara left no chance for Naxxar. Naxxar had the first chance on goal just two minutes into the match when Pape Gueye's shot went just wide. On the other side of the pitch, Birkirkara went close to scor- ing when off a freekick by Rafael Ledesma Zach Muscat's header scraped past the post in the 19th minute. Birkirkara again came close to scoring in the 33rd minute. El- linton Antonio Costa Morais was unlucky to have his shot hit the woodwork. Birkirkara continued to press for and were denied by some great goalkeeping by Julian Azzopardi. Azzopardi performed a great save on a shot by Paul Fenech in the 62nd minute, a few minutes later goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi performed another great save on a shot by Ryan Scicluna. Birkirkara were unlucky not to score again in the 67th minute when off a corner by Rafael Ledes- ma, Alejandro Mendoza's header hit the crossbar. Goalkeeper Julian Azzopardi performed a great save on a over- head kick by Eliandro following a cross by Zack Muscat on the 85th minute. Birkirkara finally scored the goal that would give them all three points in added time. Goalkeeper Julian Farrugia def lected a cross by Edward Herrera and off the rebound, Paul Fenech 's shot from outside the area beat Azzopardi to give Birkirkara the victory and keep their perfect start to the sea- son intact. NA X X AR LIONS: Julian Azzop- ardi, Andrew Scicluna, Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Victor Bellia (80' Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro), Terence Vella, Pape Gueye, Daren Falzon, David Fenech (39' Mattia Del Negro), An- gus Buhagiar (46' Ryan Gilmour Cassar), David Alejandro Reano, Uchenna Emenike Mbachu. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Duane Bonnici, Yaron Sammut, Jurgen Debono. Coach: Winston Muscat BIRKIRK AR A: Justin Haber, Ale- jandro Mendoza Corujo, Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais, Nikola Vu- kanac, Rafael Pompeo Ledesma Rodrigues (67' Eliandro dos Santos Gonzaga), Edward Herrera, Paul Fenech, Zach Muscat, Ryan Sci- cluna (84' Kurt Zammit), Leighton Grech (68' Matheus Bissi da Silva), Ryan Camenzuli. Subs not used: Justin Tonna, An- toine Borg , Andrea Curmi, Russell Gatt de Raf faele. Coach: Paul Zammit Referee: Philip Farrugia Assistant Referees: Edward Spi- teri, Luke Portelli Additional Assistant Referees: Adrian Azzopardi, Malcolm Spi- teri Fourth Of ficial: Sammy Attard Yellow Cards: R. Scicluna, E . Mbachu, A. Buhagiar, T. Vella Scorer: 90+3' Paul Fenech BOV Player of the Match: Julian Azzopardi YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Birkirkara leave it late to defeat Naxxar Lampard retires from international football FRANK Lampard has called time on his England career which has spanned 15 years and earned him 106 caps. Lampard said in a statement re- leased by his management company: "I have taken the decision to retire from international football. It has been a very tough decision for me to make which is why I have given it so much thought since the World Cup." Lampard ended his 13-year stay at Chelsea in the summer and is cur- rently on loan at Manchester City from Major League Soccer side New York City. He added: "I have always been ex- ceptionally proud and honoured to represent my country and have to say looking back I have enjoyed every minute of wearing the England shirt. "Due to my club career now going in a different direction it is of utmost importance for me to consider my family first - also, to concentrate on how I can perform consistently to the best of my abilities over my next few years in club football. "It is now the time to move forward and I feel very confident that, with Roy Hodgson in charge, the young players that we have coming through and the changes that are being made throughout the development of the youth system in this country, we will have success in the future and a team that this country deserves. "I would like to thank all the man- agers that I have worked under, all the players that I have been fortunate enough to play alongside, and all the England fans for their support, not only at home, but particularly on their travels with the team around the world. "I now look forward to continuing to support the team as a fan and wish them every success for the upcoming campaign towards France 2016."