Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/926403
maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 47 PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG Gzira return to winning ways despite Tarxien's efforts A brave performance from Tarxien Rainbows was not enough as they suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Gzira United Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL BOV Premier League Gzira United - Tarxein Rainbows ............. 3-1 Sliema Wanderers - Balzan .................... 1-2 Hamrun Spartans - St. Andrews ............. 1-1 Naxxar Lions - Valletta ........................... 0-1 Today - National Stadium 14:00 Mosta - Birkirkara 16:00 Floriana - Hibernians Tomorrow - Centenary Stadium 19:00 Gzira United - Lija Athletic England - Premier League Chelsea - Leicester City ........................0-0 Crystal Palace - Burnley .......................1-0 Huddersfield - Wes Ham United ...........1-4 Newcastle United - Swansea City .........1-1 Watford - Southampton .......................2-2 West B. Albion - Brighton & H. Albion ..2-0 Tottenham Hotspur - Everton ...............4-0 Today 14:30 AFC Bournemouth - Arsenal 17:00 Liverpool - Manchester City Spain - LaLiga Girona - Las Palmas ............................... 6-0 Real Madrid - Villarreal........................... 0-1 Eibar - Atletico Madrid ........................... 0-1 Deportivo La Coruna - Valencia .............. Late Today 12:00 Levante - Celta Vigo 16:15 Alaves - Sevilla 18:30 Espanyol - Athletic Bilbao 20:45 Real Sociedad - Barcelona Tomorrow 21:00 Real Betis - Leganes Germany - Bundesliga Augsburg - Hamburger SV ..................... 1-0 Eintracht Frankfurt - Freiburg ................. 1-1 Hannorver 96 - Mainz 05 ....................... 3-2 VfB Stuttgart - Hertha Berlin ................... 1-0 Werder Bremen - Hoffenheim ................ 1-1 RasenBallsport Leipzig - Schalke 04 ....... 3-1 Today 15:30 FC Cologne - Borussia M. 18:00 Borussia Dortmund - Wolfsburg Football Results & Fixtures Gzira United .................... 3 Tarxien Rainbows ............ 1 WARREN ZAMMIT THE Maroons started this match looking to bounce back from last week's disappointing defeat against Birkirkara as they are now four points behind leaders Balzan. On the other hand, relegation candidates Tarxien Rainbows knew that they should try to win points if they are to avoid relegation. The Rainbows came into this match sit- ting 13th with just ten points. In their previous match, Gzira se- cured a 2-1 win over Jose Borg's side. Gzira went close after four min- utes. Andrew Cohen saw his shot from a free-kick hitting the upright. Tarxien responded on the 12th minute. Ayrton Azzopardi hit a shot from outside the penalty area that was neutralised by Justin Haber. On the 20th minute, Cohen tried his luck from another free-kick, but his effort went over. Gzira threatened again on the 28th minute. Following another free-kick, Cohen delivered the ball towards Moises Avila Perez who headed wide. Tarxien forged ahead two minutes later. Ricardo Silva Faria won the ball at the heart of Gzira's defence, ran towards goal and attempted to pass the ball in the direction of Eduard Marian Calin. A Gzira de- fender managed to intercept the ball, but cleared it in the direction of Faria. This time, the Brazilian forward fired a shot from the right that ended up inside the top corner. Darren Abdilla's side hit back on the 38th minute. Edison Bilbao Zarate sent a shot from distance that went centimetres off target. One minute prior to half time, Faria received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and hit a low shot that was blocked by Haber. Gzira equalised in the additional time. Spiteri brought down Cohen inside the penalty area and the ref- eree signalled towards the spot. From the eleven metres mark, Ama- dou Samb made no mistake. Eight minutes into the second half, Juan Corbolan of Gzira sent a dangerous volley from a corner that went across the frame of goal as none of the attackers managed to make contact with the ball. Tarxien replied on the 64th min- ute. Azzopardi fired a ball that end- ed up centimetres wide. However, Gzira went ahead for the first time in the match on the 72nd minute. Following a corner, the ball went into the path of Samb who placed it inside the net. Five minutes later, Cohen hit a low shot from distance that failed to hit the target. Tarxien took another setback on the 82nd minute when Anto- nio Mitrev was sent off after being shown his second yellow card. Gzira took advantage immediate- ly as they sealed the issue a minute later. Substitute Nikola Muscat hit a powerful drive from a free-kick that gave Antonio Chetcuti no chance. Following this result, Gzira re- main third with thirty-three points, while Tarxien are still in the danger zone with just ten points. Gzira United starting line-up: Jus- tin Haber, Roderick Briffa, Clifford Gatt Baldacchino (Nikolai Muscat – 70), Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto, Karl Pulo, Moises Avila Perez, Edison David Zarate Bilbao, An- drew Cohen (Sacha Borg – 90), Juan Corbolan, Amadou Samb, Haruna Zambuk Garba (Luca Brincat – 85) Tarxien Rainbows starting line- up: Antonio Chetcuti, Stefan Rado- vanovic, Andrew Agius, Matthew Spiteri (Mamadou Traore- 85), Ma- tar Dieye, Ayrton Azzopardi (James Brincat- 75), Luke Grech, Andre` Charles Scicluna, Eduard Marian Calin, Ricardo Silva Faria (Arsenne Rye Cilia Mumford – 89), Antonio Mitrev Referee: Emanuel Grech Assistant Referees: Duncan Sul- tana, Dusan Petrovic Fourth Official: Ishmael Barbara Yellow Cards: Antonio Mitrev (Tarxien), Eduard Marian Calin (Tarxien), Matthew Spiteri (Tarx- ien), Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto (Gzira), Ricardo Silva Faria (Tarx- ien), Amadou Samb (Gzira), Rod- erick Briffa (Gzira), Antonio Mitrev (Tarxien) Red Cards: Antonio Mitrev (Tarx- ien) BOV Player of the Match: Ricardo Silva Faria (Tarxien)