Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/946236
maltatoday SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY 2018 49 FOOTBALL Sports PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Balzan ease past Lija Balzan returned to winning ways with a comfortable 3-0 win over bottom side Lija Athletic Lija Athletic ...........0 Balzan ...................3 WARREN ZAMMIT BALZAN forged ahead on the 31st minute. Ousmane Sidibe cleared the ball in the path of Alfred Effiong who went through before finishing past Luke Bonnici. The Premier League leaders doubled their advantage on the hour mark. Clinch McAl- lister f loored Alex Da Paixao Alves inside the penalty area and the referee signalled to- wards the spot. From the eleven metres mark, Carlos Eduardo De Fiori Mendes converted. Marko Micovic's side sealed the issue on the 71st minute. Siraj Arab hit a low shot that ended up in the net. Following this result, Balzan are four points ahead of Val- letta. The citizens will play tomorrow against Birkirkara. Lija Athletic starting line- up: Luke Bonnici, Erjon Beu, Patrick Borg, Clinch McAllis- ter, Kei Hirose, Valifor Hysa, Aaron Sammut, Daniel Scerri, Ousmane Sisibe, Ryan Sam- mut, Leejoe Schembri Balzan starting line-up: Sean Mintoff, Siraj Arab, Harry Ascroft, Ivan Bozovic, Alfred Effiong, Bruno Giglio De Ol- iveira, Justin Grioli, Carlos Eduardo Mendes, Alex Da Paixao Alves, Milos Lepovic, Uros Ljubomirac Referee: Darryl Agius Assistant Referees: Roberto Vella, Paul Apap Fourth Official: Alan Mario Sant BOV Player of the Match: Alex Da Paixao Alves (Balzan) Sliema Wanderers .................... 1 Tarxien Rainbows .................... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT THE Wanderers broke the deadlock on the 26th minute. Frank Temile passed the ball towards Nikolae Milinceanu who went past Andrea Cassar and finished inside the net. Tarxien equalised three minutes later. Ga- briel Aquilina fired a shot that was saved by Cotticelli. However, the rebound went into the path of Aquilina who placed the ball past Sliema's goalkeeper. The Rainbows lost a golden opportunity to go ahead on the 32nd minute. Ricardo Silva Faria's cross was handled inside the penalty area by John Mintoff and the referee ordered a penalty. Faria took charge of the spot kick, but saw his effort being saved by Cotticelli. Following this result, Tarxien can feel more optimistic as they are now on level points with Naxxar and just one point behind St Andrews. Sliema Wanderers starting line-up: Antonio Cotticelli, Edmond Agius, Kilian Amehi, Ri- cardo Correa Duarte, Nicolae Milinceanu, Matias Muchardi, Jonathan Pearson, Kurt Shaw, Frank Temile, Peter Xuereb, John Mint- off Tarxien Rainbows starting line-up: Andrea Cassar, Andrew Agius, Gabriel Aquilina, Ebiabowei Baker, Eduard Calin, Luke Grech, Stefan Radovanovic, Ricardo Silva Faria, An- dre Scicluna, Samba Tounkara, Wellington de Oliveira Referee: Ishmael Barbara Assistant Referees: Mitchell Scerri, Theodore Zammit Fourth Official: Mario Apap BOV Player of the Match: Antonio Cotticelli (Sliema Wanderers) Tarxien Rainbows earn another precious point Tarxien are now on level points with Naxxar after sharing the spoils with Sliema in a 1-1 draw