Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/413175
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2014 51 Sport FOOTBALL Lions register surprise victory over Sliema Naxxar Lions .................1 Sliema Wanderers .........0 NAXXAR Lions made it two wins in a row after surprisingly beating Sliema Wanderers thanks to an own goal by right-back John Mintoff. The win puts Jesmond Zerafa's side in tenth position, one point behind Floriana and two ahead of Pietà . On the other hand, it was Sliema's second consecutive defeat after their 1-0 loss to Birkirkara on Mon- day and the Blues remained in sixth place on 13 points. In the opening minutes, Sliema were the livelier of the two teams and Stephen Azzopardi's side went close to opening the score after Fa- bio Mangiacasale's shot was saved by Andrew Scicluna. The Blues, without the injured Stefano Bianciardi and the suspend- ed Andrea Pisanu, created a few notable chances in the first half but Naxxar deserved their victory after creating the most dangerous goal scoring opportunities. However, Naxxar managed to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute when John Mintoff slid in to clear the ball but only managed to send it into his own net following a dangerous cross by Brazilian for- ward Gilmar. In the opening minutes of the sec- ond half, Malta striker Michael Mif- sud went close to scoring an equal- iser for the Blues with a diagonal shot from the right. Although Sliema were on the at- tack, Naxxar were more dangerous on the counter attack with Gilmar coming close to score a second with a curling free-kick which went just wide. Despite their efforts, the Wander- ers' hopes of earning a point received a blow when seven minutes before the final whistle Referee Alan Mar- co Borg showed the Sliema defender Filippo Andrea Scozzese a second yellow card for a foul on Emenike. NAXXAR LIONS: Julian Azzop- ardi, Andrew Scicluna, Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Victor Bellia, Pape Gu- eye (84' Terence Vella), Daren Fal- zon, Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Angus Buhagiar, David Alejandro Reano, Uchenna Emenike Mbachu. Subs not used: Luke Pecorella,Terence Vella, Duane Bonnici, Yaron Sammut, Jurgen Debono, Ryan Mercieca, Pablo Doffo. SLIEMA WANDERERS: Glenn Zammit, Luca Martinelli, An- drea Scozzese, Guy Gnabouyou (46' Marko Potezica), John Mint- off, Mark Scerri (36' Trevor Cilia), Michael Mifsud, Filippo Talato, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino, Fabio Mangiacasale, Paltemio Barbetti (71' Beppe Muscat). Subs not used: Daniel Balzan, Clive Psaila, Peter Xuereb, Carl Cassar. Referee: Alan Marco Borg Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Edward Spiteri Additional Assistant Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann, Sandro Spiteri Fourth Official: Paul Apap Yellow Cards: Cilia, Mangiacasale, Scozzese, Barbetti, Buhagiar, Bellia Red Cards: 83' Filippo Andrea Scozzese Scorers: 33' own goal John Mintoff BOV Player of the Match: Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD Costa goal hands Chelsea win at Liverpool Diego Costa fired his 10th goal of the season as Chelsea maintained their four-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield. Costa polished off a Cesar Azpilicueta cross in the 67th minute as Jose Mourinho's men fought back from the shock of con- ceding an eighth minute opener to Emre Can. The Turkish midfielder's effort def lected home off Chelsea de- fender Gary Cahill, who redeemed himself five minutes later when he bundled an equaliser past home keeper Simon Mignolet. Costa's effort appeared to have sealed victory but Chelsea still had to ride their luck when an appar- ent Cahill handball in the box went unpunished by referee Anthony Taylor. Sergio Aguero saved Manchester City further embarrassment with a double in a 2-2 Premier League draw at QPR in the late game at Loftus Road. Manuel Pellegrini admitted the champions were in the midst of a crisis of confidence following their latest European defeat and QPR seemed determined to increase City's misery at Loftus Road. Charlie Austin scored the open- ing goal after finding the City net for the third time after 21 min- utes. Austin had two strikes ruled out in the space of 30 seconds after eight minutes, but each time the visitors' shambolic defence was re- prieved. He was offside in heading in, then City goalkeeper Joe Hart kicked the ball twice, firstly with his standing foot, before the striker scored. Ref- eree Mike Dean correctly ruled out the effort. Hart made a stunning save from Austin after 14 minutes before it was fourth time lucky as the strik- er ghosted in behind an absent City defence, was played on by Eliaquim Mangala, and finished clinically for his sixth of the season. Aguero, who was excellent throughout, was given the benefit of the doubt by the officials when he equalised, despite the possibil- ity of the strike being ruled out for offside and handball. Austin's cross was then turned into his own net by Martin Dem- ichelis but Aguero mesmerised the QPR defence for a second time to earn a draw. Third-placed City now have one win in six games and are eight points behind leaders Chelsea. Substitute Shane Long struck twice late on as second-placed Southampton stayed within touch- ing distance of the leaders with a 2-0 win over Leicester at St Mary's Stadium. Both sides struggled in awful conditions on the south coast with Sadio Mane closest to a first half opener when his close-range effort was ruled out for offside. Long replaced Mane in the 67th minute and curled home a fine opener eight minutes later, before beating the visitors' offside trap to stroke home his second with 10 minutes to go. Louis Van Gaal was a relieved man after watching his Manches- ter United side labour to a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Traf- ford. United's defensive frailties were once again in evidence as Fraizer Campbell was gifted a golden chance to open the scoring in the first half after hesitation between Daley Blind and Paddy McNair. Yannick Bolasie also missed a good chance but United rode their luck and grabbed the winner in the 67th minute when substitute Juan Mata played a neat one-two with Angel di Maria before firing home. Mata also hit the post late on as United improved and ultimately did just enough to earn their vic- tory. Burnley claimed their first top- f light win at the 11th time of trying as they edged a 1-0 win over Hull at Turf Moor. Recalled Ashley Barnes was the hero as he headed home Kieran Trippier's 50th minute cross to fi- nally get Sean Dyche's season up and running. Andy Carroll came agonising close to claiming all three points for West Ham in his first appear- ance of the season at Upton Park. The Hammers were largely frus- trated by a resolute Aston Villa side who were looking to end a miser- able run of six successive defeats. Diafra Sakho missed two late chances before Carroll replaced Mark Noble in stoppage time and saw a strong late header brilliantly saved by Brad Guzan as Villa clung on for a goalless draw.