Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/459448
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 FEBRUARY 2015 35 Naxxar Lions ............... 4 Zebbug Rangers .......... 0 EDWARD FALZON DESPITE playing with 10 men for more than 50 minutes, Naxxar still managed to trounce Zebbug and score four goals to claim three very important points. Zebbug, who were coming from two wins against direct rivals, were dreadful throughout the match and must surely avoid simi- lar performances if they want to remain in the top f light. Naxxar took the lead after just two minutes when from a Gil- mar corner kick, new boy Frank Temille was brought down in the box by Zebbug captain Mathias Muchardi, for the referee to signal a penalty. From the spot, Gilmar put his team in front. On eight minutes, a good cross from Matthew Bartolo found Mathias Muchardi only for the latter's effort to hit the bar. A few minutes later, an effort from Jorge Santos Silva finished wide. Naxxar doubled the score on 22 minutes when from a perfect Temille pass towards Santos Silva the latter shot past Bartolo with a powerful drive. At this moment, Temille was seen celebrating in front of the Zebbug supporters and the referee had no option but to show him a red card. Three minutes after the restart, a shot by Muchardi was turned into a corner by Naxxar keeper Azzo- pardi. Naxxar made it 3-0 on 58 min- utes when Santos Silva, after re- ceiving from Captain Victor Bel- lia, shot past Bartolo for his second of the game. Naxxar kept going forward and on the 65th minute, Gilmar beat Lee Galea with a powerful run and placed the ball into the net to finish a fine individual effort and make it 4-0 for the Lions. Naxxar: Azzopardi (Pecorella 84'), Scicluna, Temille, Bellia, Del Negro, Da Silva Ribeiro (Vella 78'), Doffo, Fenech (Falzon 74'), Bu- hagiar, Santos Silva, Bruce Zebbug: Bartolo, Camilleri, Galea, Barbetti, Borg, Bartolo, Muchardi, Zammit (Ciantar 59'), Yussuf, Brit- to, Montebello (Reano 76') Referee: Clayton Pisani BOV Man of the Match: Jorge Santos Silva Sport FOOTBALL BASKETBALL Naxxar put four past disappointing Zebbug Pieta stun Balzan to claim precious points Hibernians' Andrew Cohen wins January BOV Player of the month award Balzan ...................... 1 Pieta Hotspurs .......... 2 EDWARD FALZON IN an excellent performance, Pi- eta secured an important three points by surprisingly beating Balzan 2-1, the latter failing to show their efficiency in front of goal. Balzan were on the attack from early on and after just four min- utes, a header from Elkin Valero was nicely turned into a corner by the Pieta keeper who regained his place in the starting eleven for the blues. Balzan took the lead in the 11th minute when off a Zarate free kick, Samir Arab beat Montfort from close range. Pieta however quickly drew level as two minutes after conceding Christian Grech placed the ball into the net after a Rafael Da Silva free kick. On 44 minutes, Pieta went ahead when after a moment of confusion from Samir Arab, Claudio Frances scored a beaut y in what was to be the winning goal for his team. Balzan thought they scored an equaliser on 65 minutes when Mifsud Triganza crossed the ball to Guerrero who struck the ball with his effort being saved first by Montfort and then the wood- work. Towards the end of the match, Pieta threatened to score anoth- er when one minute from time, Frances' shot was kept out by Cassar. Balzan: Cassar, Grioli, Grima (Mifsud Triganza 57'), Agius (Guibadia 57'), Zarate, Arab (Bezzina 65'), Darmanin, Guer- rero, Brincat, Micallef, Valero Pieta: Montfort, Micallef, Grech, Dos Santos, Pisani, Anonam, Mi- callef, Da Silvam Newuche (Ce- sare 86'), Frances, Costa (Gabriel Da Silva 66') BOV Man of the Match: Claudio Frances Referee: Adrian Azzopardi Scorers: Arab 9', Grech 11', Franc- es 44' YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt Download the MaltaToday App now Frank Temille sent off on debut before half time Balzan suffer setback in top four aspirations HIBERNIANS FC's Andrew Co- hen is the BOV Player of the Month for January 2015. Cohen's award breaks a three year spell of foreigners winning this award, making him the first Maltese player to win this award since De- cember 2011. The Maltese international and Hibernians' faithful is a firm fix- ture in Coach Branko Nivesic's formation that holds an impres- sive 14 point lead over nearest leaders Valletta in the BOV Pre- mier League. A pin-point cross to Andrei Agius for the 94th minute equal- izer against Birkirkara to preserve their unbeaten run in the BOV Premier League as well as his two goals against Balzan and Zebbug during the month of January are among the salient points for Co- hen to land this award, which he had also won in April 2006. Marica Ellul, manager of Bank of Valletta's Paola branch presented the BOV Player of the Month Tro- phy for January 2015 to Andrew Cohen who chose Puttinu Cares to benefit from the BOV donation related to this award. Marica Ellul, Manager of Bank of Valletta's Paola Branch presenting the award to Andrew Cohen 49th BOV basketball knockout final promises to be a real thriller Athleta to face Virtus on Tuesday ATOZ Electronics Athleta and Cynergi Virtus will face each other in the final of the 49th edition of the BOV basketball knockout competition being played on Tuesday at 4.30pm at the Basketball Pavilion in Ta' Qali. The respective coaches and foreign imports of the two fi- nalists sized each other out at a news conference addressed by MBA president Paul Sultana and the BOV Chief Officer Peter Perotti. "This is a case of experience versus the newcomer," said Paul Sultana. "Athleta boasts 10 BOV knockout wins in their club his- tory while Virtus, in their first season in the top category, are looking to add the first KO sil- verware to their trophy cabinet after winning the Shield earlier this season. We take this oppor- tunit y to invite the basketball and sport communit y to come and support the current top two teams in Maltese basketball and enjoy the spectacle that the players will definitely put up for them." "Bank of Valletta can trace its relationship with the Malta Bas- ketball Association back to the 1970s and is a major supporter of sporting disciplines on the Maltese islands," said Peter Per- otti. "For the first time ever, we are introducing a 'BOV Knock- out Most Valuable Player' award that will be selected by the spe- cialist media during the match and presented right after the fi- nal. Winner medals will also be presented to all the players for the first time next Tuesday." Veteran AtoZ Electronics Ath- leta coach Joe Galea and Ca- nadian 27-year old Chad Patus stressed that the pluri-award winning team is still hungry for more and will do its utmost to arrive at its 11th BOV Knockout success. "We hope to be at full strength and mentally prepared to get the win," said Galea, whilst Patus, now in his second season in Malta, pointed out that "it should be a nice game but we need retain our concentration throughout the game." "Virtus and Athleta have put up some great basketball in their previous encounters this season and undoubtedly Tuesday will not be different. I am confident that all my players will rise to the occasion," said Cynergi Virtus coach Paul Ferrante. "This be- ing my first final here in Malta, I am looking forward to support my Virtus team mates and win the first KO trophy for the club," said the 24-year old American Mike Bruesewitz.