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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 59 Sport Download the MaltaToday App now FOOTBALL Naxxar continue positive run with victory over Balzan Balzan ......................... 1 Naxxar Lions ................ 3 NAXXAR registered their third win in four, thanks to a goals by striker Terence Vella and Nige- rian winger Uchenna Emenike Mbachu. The Lions' 3-1 victory over Bal- zan put them in eighth place, three points behind the same Balzan who have not won in four games. Naxxar took the lead on 14 min- utes when the man of the match Terence Vella received a cross, chested the ball down, went past a Balzan defender before hitting a low shot past goalkeeper Steve Sultana. On 20 minutes, Vella scored his second with a close-range ef- fort from a a cross by Emenike Mbachu. Balzan made the score 2-1 when Italian forward Gianmarco Piccio- ni drilled the ball home from a low cross by Oscar Guerrero. After the break Naxxar secured the three points when on 55 min- utes Emenike Mbachu burst into the area before hitting the ball past Azzopardi. BALZAN Steve Sultana, Justin Grioli, Steve Bezzina, Elkin Ser- rano, Edison Bilbao Zarate (67' Ryan Darmanin), Osa Ice-Cream Guobadia, Clive Brincat, Lydon Micallef (56 Jean Pierre Mifsud Triganza), Oscar Guerrero, Luke Sciberras (56' Dylan Grima), Gian- marco Piccioni. Subs not used: Christian Cassar, Michael Borg, Juan Corbalan, Sean Cipriott. Coach: Oliver Spiteri NAX X AR LIONS Julian Azzop- ardi, Andrew Scicluna, Emmanuel Ibok Edet, Terence Vella (88' Duane Bonnici), Daren Falzon (82' Pape Gueye), Gilmar da Silva Ribeiro, Ryan Gilmour Cassar, Pablo Doffo, Angus Buhagiar, David Alejandro Reano, Uchenna Emenike Mbachu (69' Victor Bellia). Subs not used: Luke Pecorella, Yar- on Sammut, Jurgen Debono, Joel Ellul. Coach: Jesmond Zerafa Referee: Fyodor Zammit Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, Peter Abela Fourth Official: Adrian Azzopardi Yellow Cards: Reano, Guobadia, Doffo, Bellia Scorers: 14' Terence Vella, 20' Ter- ence Vella, 38' Gianmaro Piccioni, 56' Uchenna Emenike Mbachu BOV Player of the Match: Terence Vella Valletta ........................6 Tarxein Rainbows ..........0 VALLETTA played a fantastic match as they put six past Tarxien Rainbows. This was the fifth con- secutive win for Valletta and the third consecutive defeat for Tarx- ien. Valletta took the lead on the 14th minute when off a cross by Roder- ick Briffa, Abdelkarim Nafti tapped the ball home from close range. Jonathan Debono blocked a cross by Hamza Barry on the 20th and ten minutes later, a powerful drive by Nafti went over the net. Six minutes from the end of the first half, Valletta were awarded a penalty after Ryan Sammut brought Hamza Barry down inside the area. From the penalty spot, Hamza Barry made no mistake to double the score. Just before half-time, Debono neutralised an Elford-Alliyu effort following a good move with Barry. Seven minutes in the second half, Valletta scored the third goal when off a Shaun Bajada corner, Lateef Elford-Alliyu headed the ball home. On 61 minutes, the Citizens went close once again as a powerful drive by Roderick Briffa hit the foot of the post. Hamza Barry scored the fourth on 74 minutes when he had a first attempt blocked by Debono but the Gambian midfielder followed the ball to place it at the back of the net. Jonathan Caruana hit the upright with a back-header on 81 minutes following a cross by Nafti. Three minutes from time, follow- ing a cross by Nafti, Lateef Elford- Alliyu headed the ball over the goalkeeper for the fifth goal. One minute later, substitute Rap- hael Kooh Sohna dribbled round the goalkeeper before placing the ball at the back of the net to seal the issue with a sixth goal. VALLETTA Nicholas George Vella, Jonathan Caruana, Ian Azzopardi, Steve Borg (72' Luke Dimech) Ryan Camilleri, Ryan Fenech (69' Hugo Faria), Roderick Briffa, Lateef El- ford-Alliyu, Hamza Barry (76' Ra- fael Kooh Sohna) Shaun Bajada, Abdelkarim Nafti. Subs not used: Yenz Cini, Luke Montebello, Llywelyn Cremona, Christian Caruana. Coach: Gilbert Agius TARXIEN R AINBOWS Jonath- an Debono, Kane Paul Farrugia, Manuel Caruana, Cleber Barbosa Viana, Triston Caruana, Wesley Lima Silva (62' Steve Sadowski), Ry- an Sammut, Luke Zahra, Alexan- der Cini (62' Luke Aquilina), Mat- thew Tabone, Jorge Santos Silva (40' Manuel Xerri). Subs not used: Sean Cini, Alvaro Andre Rodrigues Silva, Carlos He- via Menendez, Alessandro Lopes Pereira. Coach: Clive Mizzi Referee: Alan Mario Sant Assistant Referees: Ingmar Spiteri, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Chris Lautier Yellow cards: Tabone Scorers: 14' Abel Karim Nafti, 39' Hamza Barry pen, 52' Lateef Elford Alliyu, 74' Hamza Barry, 87' Lateef Elford Alliyu, 88' Raphael Kooh Sohna BOV Player of the Match : Roderick Briffa Valletta too good for Tarxien BOV Premier League Preview Floriana – Sliema take centre stage in Old Firm Derby Stripes hoping to bounce back with convincing win against winless Zebbug EDWARD FALZON THE opening fixture on Sunday pits old rivals Floriana and Sliema W. in the anticipated Old firm Der- by. Having not been a major force in local Football in recent years, this fixture has unsurprisingly lost its glamour which used to make it the highlight of the season when both teams were regularly compet- ing for the major honors year af- ter year. In what is the weekends' biggest clash, it has the potential to provide some excitement with both sides enduring a rather simi- lar slow start to the season. After a streak of positive results including a 2-1 victory over title hopefuls Birkirkara, the greens were soundly beaten by league leaders Hibernians in a 5-0 demol- ishing in what was arguably their worst performance of the season so far. Floriana will attempt to re- gain some dignity with coach Gio- vanni Tedesco expected to have all players at his disposal with possi- ble changes to be made after their disappointing showing in their last outing. The greens will also be hoping Slovenian striker Vito Plut produces the goods against their rivals after some positive perform- ances scoring seven goals in the process. Sliema certainly had a difficult start to the season under now Former Italian Coach Alfonso Grieco despite numerous impor- tant additions during the summer. It is now up to new coach Stephen Azzopardi to try changing the club's fortunes and push for a place in Europe next season. The Blues are currently five points behind third placed Birkirkara meaning they need to start collecting points before the later stages of the sea- son. After scoring his first goal of the season, the blues will be hoping their talisman Michael Mifsud con- tinues finding the net on a regular basis to give their attack a much needed boost. For this match the Wanderers will be without their inf luential midfielder Mark Scerri through suspension. Floriana Vs Sliema W. (Today at 14:00, National Stadium) EDWARD FALZON THE second fixture scheduled for Sunday sees Birkirkara fac- ing winless Zebbug Rangers in a testing encounter for the stripes. Paul ' Zammit's side will be hoping to bounce back from a surprising defeat to Premier League newcomers Pieta Hot- spurs marking their second con- secutive defeat and fifth of the campaign. For the stripes this was certainly not the start they were hoping for after throwing away the title last year and find- ing themselves thirteen points behind leaders Hibernians. While they firmly remain in the hunt for the season's top honors, the stripes are yet to produce a truly comprehensive performance which made them the most exciting teams to watch in the previous years. A clash against the leagues' bottom club could prove to be a good oppor- tunit y for them to produce solid and convincing football which has been lacking throughout. Zammit may be wary of the po- tential threat posed by Zebbug, but is aware that no result apart from a victory will do if they are to keep up with leaders Hiber- nians. On the other hand Zebbug Rangers are still looking for that first victory having so far strug- gled for consistency in their first experience in the Premier League for a number of years. It is difficult to imagine the Rangers getting anything out of this contest, however on vari- ous occasions they have shown qualit y and spirit through the ninet y minutes. Despite al- ready suffering seven defeats in their first twelve matches, these figures may not be showing the real picture where the Rangers have shown to be quite danger- ous when going forward and possess players which can cause problems to their opponents' defense. Birkirkara Vs Zebbug (Today at 16:00, National Stadium) YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt