Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/809226
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 2017 49 Sport SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL BOV Premier League Gzira United - Valletta ...................... 1-1 Birkirkara - Balzan .......................... 3-1 Today - Hibernians Stadium 16:00 St. Andrews - Pembroke Athleta 18:00 Tarxien Rainbows - Mosta Today - National Stadium 16:00 Hamrun Spartans - Sliema W. 18:00 Floriana - Hibernians England - Premier League Tottenham Hotspur - Watford ........... 4-0 Manchester City - Hull City ............... 3-1 Middlesbrough - Burnley ................. 0-0 Stoke City - Liverpool ....................... 1-2 West. B. Albion - Southampton ........ 0-1 West Ham United - Swansea City ...... 1-0 AFC Bournemouth - Chelsea ............ 1-3 Today 14:30 Sunderland - Manchester United 17:00 Everton - Leicester City Tomorrow 21:00 Crystal Palace - Arsenal Italy - Serie A Empoli - Pescara ............................. 1-1 Atalanta - Sassuolo ......................... 1-1 Juventus - ChievoVerona ................. Late Today 12:30 Sampdoria - Fiorentina 15:00 AC Milan - Palermo 15:00 Bologna - Roma 15:00 Cagliari - Torino 15:00 Crotone - Inter 15:00 Udinese - Genoa 20:45 Lazio - SSC Napoli Spain - Liga Satander Espanyol - Alaves ............................ 1-0 Real Madrid - Atletico Madrid ........... 1-1 Sevilla - Deportivo La Coruna ........... 4-2 Malaga - Barcelona ......................... Late Today 12:00 Granada - Valencia 16:15 Celta Vigo - Eibar 18:30 Osasuna - Leganes 20:45 Las Palmas - Real Betis Tomorrow 20:45 Real Sociedad - Sporting Gijon Germany - Bundesliga FC Cologne - Borussia M. ................. 2-3 Freiburg - Mainz 05 ......................... 1-0 Hamburger SV - Hoffenheim ............ 2-1 RasenBallsport L. - Bayern L. ........... 1-0 Schalke 04 - Wolfsburg ................... 4-1 Bayern Munich - Borussia D. ............ 4-1 Today 15:30 Hertha Berlin - Augsburg 17:30 Ingolstadt - Darmstadt Football Results & Fixtures Gzira United ................. 1 Valletta ........................ 1 WARREN ZAMMIT VALLETTA lost two points that could be costly as they were held in a 1-1 draw by Gżira United. Valletta came into this match with high hopes after registering a 1-0 win against leaders Hibernians in their last match. On the other hand, Gżira suffered a 3-1 defeat against Balzan. Knowing that they have a chance to go momentarily top, Valletta started the game on the attack looking for a goal. In fact, Paul Zammit decided to play Luke Montebello and Michael Mifsud together in attack. Moreover, Rod- erick Briffa was given his first start following a long term injury. On the 6th minute, Montebello hit a shot from the edge of the pen- alty area that went high. The Maroons responded on the 13th minute. Andrew Cohen went inside the penalty area and sent a low shot that ended up centimetres off target. Gżira's supporters protested heavily for a penalty on the 20th minute when Cohen was brought down inside the penalty area by Jean Borg. However, the referee sig- nalled play on and cautioned Co- hen for dissent. Valletta's players immediately forgot this incident and went ahead on the 27th minute. Following a long ball inside the penalty area, Maximiliano Velasco served Mon- tebello who finished home from close range. Paul Zammit's side had another great opportunity on the 31st min- ute. Valdo Congalves Alihno went past a defender and sent a danger- ous cross inside the goal area which Velasco failed to make contact with. The Maroons hit back and equal- ised on the 39th minute. Jacob Borg delivered a cross towards Gi- anmarco Conti who controlled the ball nicely and hit a powerful drive past Dziugas Bartkus. On the 44th minute, Gżira were dangerous once more. Cohen sent a cross that was met by Moises Avila Perez whose effort went slightly high. Valletta had an opportunity to regain the lead three minutes into the second half. Montebello fired a strong shot from distance that forced a good save from Anthony Curmi. On the 54th minute, Mifsud also tried his luck from distance, but saw his effort going high. As time went by, Valletta put more numbers forward in their at- tempts to regain the lead and near- ly succeeded on the 70th minute. From a corner, Claudio Pani sent a cross towards Jonathan Caruana whose header went marginally off target. Five minutes later, Leandro Agu- irre of Valletta sent a strong shot from distance that was neutralised by Curmi. Valletta were unlucky not to score the winning goal in the additional time. Romeu Romao fired a strong shot from distance that hit the post. Valletta starting line-up: Dziu- gas Bartkus, Jonathan Caruana, Michael Mifsud, Roderick Brif- fa, Luke Montebello, Jean Borg, Claudio Pani, Leandro Aguirre, Maximiliano Velasco, Valdo Congalves Alihno, Romeu Romao Gżira United starting line-up: Anthony Curmi, Jacob Borg, Clif- ford Gatt Baldacchino, Souley- mane Diamoutene, Karl Pulo, Juan Carlos Corbalan, Andrew Cohen, Moises Avila Perez, Car- los Alejandro Reyna, Zachary Scerri, Gianmarco Conti Referee: Matthew Degabriele Assistant Referees: Luke Portel- li, Thomas Debono Additional Assistant Referees: Philip Farrugia, Etienne Man- gion Fourth Official: Paul Apap BOV Player of the Match: Mi- chael Mifsud (Valletta) Valletta held by a well organised Gzira side Zachary Scerri (Gzira) and Roderick Briffa (Valletta) in action PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG