Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/916779
maltatoday SUNDAY 17 DECEMBER 2017 51 Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL BOV Premier League Senglea A. - Sliema Wanderers .............. 3-0 Mosta - Valletta...................................... 0-1 Naxxar Lions - Balzan ............................ 0-0 Hamrun S. - Tarxien Rainbows ............... 2-1 Today - National Stadium 14:00 St. Andrews - Hibernians 16:00 Floriana - Birkirkara Tomorrow - Centenary Stadium 19:00 Gzira United - Lija Athletic England - Premier League Leicester City - Crystal Palace ................. 0-3 Arsenal - Newcastle United.................... 1-0 Brighton & Holve Albion - Burnley ......... 0-0 Chelsea - Southampton ......................... 1-0 Stoke City - West Ham United ................. 1-4 Watford - Huddersfield Town .................. 0-3 Manchester City - Tottenham H............... 4-1 Today 15:15 West B. Albion - Manchester Utd. 17:30 AFC Bournemouth - Liverpool Tomorrow 21:00 Everton - Swansea City Italy - Serie A Inter - Udinese ...................................... 1-3 Torino - SSC Napoli ................................ 1-3 Roma - Cagliari ...................................... Late Today 12:30 Hellas Verona - AC Milan 15:00 Bologna - Juventus 15:00 Crotone - ChievoVerona 15:00 Fiorentina - Genoa 15:00 Sampdoria - Sassuolo 18:00 Benevento - SPAL 2013 20:45 Atalanta - Lazio Spain - Liga Satander Athletic Bilbao - Real Sociedad .............. 0-0 Eibar - Valencia ..................................... Late Atletico Madrid - Alaves ......................... Late Today 12:00 Girona - Getafe 16:15 Celta Vigo - Villarreal 18:30 Las Palmas - Espanyol Postp. Leganes - Real Madrid 20:45 Barcelona - Deportivo La Coruna Tomorrow 21:00 Malaga - Real Betis Germany - Bundesliga Augsburg - Freiburg .............................. 3-3 Eintracht Frankfurt - Schalke 04 ............. 2-2 FC Cologne - Wolfsburg ......................... 1-0 VfB Stuttgart - Bayern Munich ................ 0-1 Werder Bremen - Mainz 05 .................... 2-2 Borussia Dortmund - Hoffenheim .......... 2-1 Today 15:30 Hannover 96 - Bayer Leverkusen 18:00 Rasenballsport L. - Hertha Berlin Football Results & Fixtures Senglea too strong for Sliema Balzan held by Naxxar Lions Senglea Athletic ............. 3 Sliema Wanderers ........... 0 WARREN ZAMMIT SENGLEA finished the first round tenth with twelve points and were looking to make a positive start to the second round as they hope to secure their Premier League status as early as possible. On the other hand, the Wanderers were sixth with twenty-four points and were also looking for a positive result to keep the pace with the top teams. This scenario contributed to a hard fought match. Sliema threatened first after just two minutes. Following a cross by Mark Scerri, Stefano Bianchardi headed the ball slightly over. However, Senglea hit back and went ahead on the 8th minute. Ter- ence Vella sent a cross shot from the right side of the penalty area that stunned Glenn Zammit and went inside the net. On the 20th minute, Scerri of Slie- ma fired a shot from distance that sailed wide. The Wanderers went close again on the 26th minute. Jefferson De Assis hit a shot from the left that took a deflection and went outside for a corner. John Buttigieg's side kept on in- sisting and had another chance on goal one minute from half time when Nicolae Milinceanu saw his shot being saved by Matthew Far- rugia. In his attempts to change the course of the game, Buttigieg re- placed Ryan Spiteri with Ricardo Correa Duarte prior to the begin- ning of the second half. However, Senglea kept going and doubled their advantage on the 48th minute. Nicola Palmieri served Pe- ter Sammut on the left and the lat- ter hit a low shot past Zammit. Sliema nearly pulled one back on the 56th minute. Following a cross inside the penalty area, Mil- inceanu's effort was cleared off the line by Jonathan Bondin. On the hour mark, Matias Muchiardi fired a shot from a free- kick that was neutralised by Farru- gia. Desperate for a goal, Sliema kept putting pressure and were denied by Farrugia on the 72nd minute when Scerri saw his powerful drive being blocked by Senglea's goal- keeper. Despite Sliema's efforts, Senglea remained calm and sealed the issue on the 75th minute. Bian- ciardi floored Peter Sammut inside the penalty area and the referee pointed towards the spot. Terence Vella took charge of the spot kick and placed the ball inside the net. Eight minutes later, Senglea near- ly scored again. Sammut received a through ball and hit a strong shot that was saved by Zammit. In the remaining minutes, Senglea held firm to take home their second win in a row. SLIEMA WANDERERS starting line-up: Glenn Zammit, Ryan Spi- teri (Ricardo Correa Duarte – 45), Goran Adamovic (Franci Qeros- 68), Stefano Bianchardi, Jefferson De As- sis, Mark Scerri, John Mintoff, Ma- tias Muchiardi, Edmond Agius, Jon- athan Pearson, Nicolae Milinceanu SENGLEA Athletic starting line-up: Matthew Farrugia, Randal Vella (Steve Bonnici – 82), Jonathan Bon- din, Sergio Uyi, Julian Leyton, Ma- tias Garzia (Mattia Del Negro – 85), Ivan Paz, Gonzalo Nicolas Virano, Terence Vella, Nicola Palmieri, Pe- ter Sammut (Ryan Dalli – 88) REFEREE: Trustin Farrugia Cann ASSISTANT Referees: Duncan Sul- tana, Disan Petrovic FOURTH Official: Darry Agius YELLOW Cards: Randal Vella (Senglea), Matias Garzia (Senglea), Nicola Palmieri (Senglea), Mark Scerri (Sliema), John Mintoff (Slie- ma), Jefferson De Assis (Sliema) BOV Player of the Match: Terence Vella (Senglea) Balzan ........................0 Naxxar Lions ...............0 WARREN ZAMMIT BALZAN created the first op- portunity of the match on the 11th minute. Paul Fenech fired a shot that went over. Three minutes later, Bojan Kaljevic served Alfred Effiong and the latter finished off target from close range. Seconds later, Milos Lepovic hit a shot from a free-kick that went over. Naxxar responded on the 27th minute. Following a cross by Dune Bonnici, Yuri De Jesus Mes- sias saw his shot hitting the post. From the rebound, Jurgen Debono finished wide. On the 40th minute, Kaljevic re- ceived the ball from Lepovic and fired a shot that forced a good save from Nicht. Balzan kept insisting and went close on the 66th minute. Ryan Fenech delivered the ball towards Alfred Effiong who failed to make contact with the ball and it went out for a goal kick. On the 89th minute, Fenech hit a low shot that was saved by Nicht. Balzan had another opportunity on the 90th minute. Following a free-kick, Lepovic finished centi- metres wide. Naxxar Lions starting line-up: Christoph Nicht, Scott Fenwick, Ryan Grech, Manolito Micallef, Duane Bonnici, Jurgen Debono, Angus Buhagiar, Oussenyou Elhadji Ndoye, Adri- an Cascaval, Arnaud Mendy, Yuri de Jesus Messias Balzan starting line- up: Sean Mintoff, Jacob Borg, Alfred Effiong, Elkin Serrano Valero, Uros Ljubomirac, Milos Lepovic, Bojan Kalje- vic, Paul Fenech, Alex da Paixao Alves, Bruno Giglio de Oliveira, Justin Grioli Referee: Philip Farrugia Assistant Referees: Jurgen Spiteri, Mitchell Scerri Fourth Official: Sandro Spiteri BOV Player of the Match: Milos Lepovic (Balzan) Senglea Athletic secured their second win in a row after registering a comfortable 3-0 win over Sliema Wanderers. Balzan lost two vital points as they were held by Naxxar Lions in a 0-0 draw PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG