Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/400468
50 maltatoday, Sunday, 19 OctOber 2014 Sport FOOTBALL Naxxar and Zebbug share spoils in entertaining draw Qormi notched up their second successive victory as they hit four past Floriana to go three points above the Greens. For the second successive match, Qormi scored four goals as they beat a struggling Floriana side at the National Stadium. The result means that the Greens remain in the lower part of the table, having gone four matches without a victory after being held to three consecutive draws in their opening three matches. Qormi had two changes from the team which crushed mosta 4-0 as Albert Bruce and ryan micallef re- placed Bjorn Bondin and the sus- pended Frank Temile. on their part, Floriana, were without the suspended Amadou Samb while Giovanni Galea and Gary muir replaced Samb and manuel Briffa in the starting line- up. Qormi took the lead on 21 min- utes when Anderson michele Qua- trochi Santos headed the ball from a Joseph Chetcuti freekick. Two minutes later, an angled shot by Duncan Pisani beat Floriana's ital- ian goalkeeper Valerio Senatore for Qormi's second goal. Floriana replied with a fine Douglas Cobo freekick which was parried by Farrugia aided by the crossbar five minutes from the end of the first half and on the start of the second half, Floriana pulled one back when Giovanni Galea stabbed the ball into the net from a perfect assist by matteo Piciollo. But Floriana's hopes of a come- back were dashed a few minutes later as Qormi regained a two-goal lead on 64 minutes thanks to ryan micallef who concluded a fine solo effort on the left by hitting the ball past Senatore. Floriana reduced the gap once again on 66 minutes when Vito Plut scored from close range to bring the score to 3-2. Four minutes from time Qormi restored their two-goal lead when Alfred Effiong exchanged the ball with Carmelo Farrugia before hit- ting low past the Floriana goal- keeper. QORMI Matthew Farrugia, Jonathan Bondin, Anderson Michele Qua- trochi Santos, Emerson Vella (46' Alessio Cassar), Duncan Pisani, Joseph Chetcuti, Ryan Micallef (77' Carmelo Farrugia), Zoran Lev- najic, Albert Bruce, Alfred Effiong, Mauricio Matias Mazzetti Latini (62' Bjorn Bondin). Subs not used: Jurgen Cilia, Karl Sciortino, Joshua Barbara, Juan Carlos Vieira Peixoto. Coach: Josef Mansueto FLORIANA Valerio Senatore, Andre Scicluna, Douglas Felipe Moreira Cobo, Steve Pisani, Clyde Borg (51' Emanuel Briffa), Vito Plut, Matteo Piciollo, Giovanni Galea (46' Isaac Galea), Brooke Farrugia, Gary Muir (67' Emerson Marcelina), Steve Bonnici. Subs not used: Tyrone Gauci, Conor Borg, Neil Spiteri, Daniel Agius. Coach: Giovanni Tedesco Referee: Sandro Spiteri Assistant Referees: Duncan Sultana, Luke Portelli Fourth Official: Andre Arciola Yellow Cards: Mazzetti, Anderson Santos, Miccalef Scorers: 21' Anderson Santos, 23' Duncan Pisani, 46' Isaac Galea, 64' Ryan Micallef, 66' Vito Plut, 86' Alfred Effiong. BOV Player of the Match: Ander- son Santos NEwComErS Naxxar Lions and Zebbug rangers were yesterday involved in a free-scoring match which ended with both sides scor- ing three goals apiece. Zebbug staged another stunning comeback as they secured a point after being 3-1 down to remain at the bottom of the league standings, one place behind the Lions. Zebbug took the lead in the 17th minute when mauricio Britto flicked the ball over Julian Azzop- ardi in Naxxar's goal. However, Zebbug's joy was short- lived as Naxxar scored an equaliser four minutes later when Gilmar pounced on a loose ball before curl- ing a superb shot into the top left hand corner. A few minutes later, Naxxar took the lead when Darren Falzon scored with a powerful shot from a few yards out. on the 39th minute, Naxxar extended their lead when Gueye scored his second from the spot after Clifford Gauci fouled the ad- vancing Vella inside the box. Although Naxxar looked in con- trol, Zebbug staged an unexpected comeback aided by Andrew Sciclu- na's dismissal following two yellow cards. The rovers earned a penalty af- ter muchiardi was brought down by Cassar with Carlo monti send- ing Naxxar's goalkeeper the wrong way to reduce the Lions' advantage to one. in the 72nd minute Naxxar's defence was breached by Zebbug's Serbian striker, Bojan mamic, who lobbed the ball over the surging Az- zopardi. ZEBBUG Jeffrey Farrugia, Yessous Camill- eri, Javier Serrano Diaz, Matthew Gauci, Jacob Borg, Clifford Gauci, Matthias Muchiardi, Carlo Gordon Monti, Mauricio Osmar Rodrigues Britto (92' Miguel Ciantar) Lee James Agius (46' John Nwoba), Carlo Polli (55' Bojan Mamic). Subs not used: Luke Pace, Thomas Paris, Lee Galea, Matthew Bartolo, Coach: Jesmond Zammit NAXXAR Julian Azzopardi, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Gilmar Da Silva Ribeiro, Mattia Del Negro, Edafe Uzeh (61' Victor Bellia), Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Daren Falzon (71' Uchenna Mbachu Emenike), Pape Gueye, David Alejandro Reano, Andrew Scicluna, Terrence Vella. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Duane Bonnici, Jurgen Debono, Ryan Mercieca, Yaron Sammut. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa Referee: Adrian Azzopardi Assistant referees: Alan Camilleri, Christopher Francalanza Fourth Official: Christopher Lautier Yellow Cards: D. Falzon, C. Gauci, A. Scicluna, C. Monti, M. Gauci, R. Cassar, B. Mamic, P. Gueye, D. Reano, J. Diaz Red Cards: 48' Andrew Scicluna Scorers: 17' Mauricio Rodrigues Britto (Z) 22' Gilmar Da Silva Rib- ero (N), 29' Daren Falzon (N); 39' Papa Gueye (N); 62' Carlo Monti (Z); 73' Bojan Mamic penalty (Z) Qormi hit four past Floriana Qormi .................... 4 Floriana ................ 2 Żebbuġ. ......................3 Naxxar .......................3 PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAy AttARd BOV Premier League Qormi – Floriana 4-2 Sliema Wanderers – Mosta 4-1 Hibernians – Tarxien 1-1 Zebbug Rangers - Naxxar Lions 3-3 Sunday 15:00 Pietà Hotspurs vs Balzan 17:00 Valletta vs Birkirkara League Standings 1. Hibernians 22 2. Birkirkara 15 3. Balzan Youths 14 4. Mosta 13 5. Sliema Wanderers 12 6. Tarxien Rainbows 11 7. Valletta 10 8. Qormi 10 9. Floriana 7 10. Pieta Hotspurs 4 11. Naxxar Lions 3 12. Zebbug Rangers 2