Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/969423
maltatoday SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2018 47 Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL BOV Premier League St. Andrews -Birkirkara .......................... 1-0 Gzira United - Sliema Wanderers ............ 2-1 Floriana - Valletta .................................. 1-1 Balzan - Senglea Athletic....................... 2-1 Tomorrow - National Stadium 16:00 Mosta -Naxxar Lions 18:00 Hibernians - Tarxien Rainbows England - Premier League Southampton- Chelsea ........................2-3 Burnley - Leicester City ........................2-1 Crystal Palace - Brighton & H. Albion ...3-2 Huddersfield Town - Watford ................1-0 Swansea City - Everton ........................1-1 Liverpool - AFC Bournemouth ..............3-0 Tottenham Hotspur - Manchester City ...Late Today 14:30 Newcastle United - Arsenal 17:00 Manchester United - West B. Albion Italy - Serie A Cagliari - Udinese .................................. 2-1 ChievoVerona - Torino ........................... 0-0 Genoa - Crotone .................................... 1-0 Atalanta - Inter ...................................... Late Today 12:30 Fiorentina - SPAL 2013 15:00 AC Milan - SSC Napoli 15:00 Bologna - Hellas Verona 15:00 Sassuolo - Benevento 18:00 Juventus - Sampdoria 20:45 Lazio - Roma Spain - LaLiga Sevilla - Villarreal................................... 2-2 Barcelona - Valencia ............................. 2-1 LasPalmas - Real Sociedad .................... 0-1 Leganes - Celta Vigo ............................. 1-0 Athletic Bilbao - Deportivo La Corun ....... 0-2 Today 12:00 Eibar - alaves 16:15 Atletico Madrid - Levante 18:30 Getafe - Espanyol 20:45 Malaga- RealMadrid Germany - Bundesliga Bayern Leverkusen - Eintracht Frankfurt . 4-1 Hertha Berlin - FC Cologne ..................... 2-1 Hoffenheim - Hamburger SV .................. 2-0 VfB Stuttgart - Hannover 96 ................... 1-1 Bayern Munich - Borussia M. ................. 5-1 Today 15:30 Schalke 04 - Borussia Dortmund 18:00 Werder B. - RasenBallsport Leipzig 20:30 Mainz 05 - Freiburg Football Results & Fixtures Floriana .................... 1 Valletta .................... 1 WARREN ZAMMIT VALLETTA were eager to secure a win against rivals Floriana in order to put one hand on the trophy. However, Floriana were determined to stop them from doing so. The Greens also had an extra incentive as they needed a win in order to get closer to- wards Europe. Danilo Doncic kept faith in the same eleven players that won 3-0 against Ħamrun Spartans. Nico- las Chiesa did the same as he made no changes to the side that drew level with Sliema Wander- ers. Valletta protested heavily for a penalty after two minutes. Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre went down inside the penalty area after being challenged by Enzo Ruiz. How- ever, the referee waved play on despite Valletta's harsh protests. The citizens forged ahead on the 8th minute. Following a mistake by Emerson Marcellina, Miguel Angel Alba won the ball and passed it towards Kyrian Nwoko. The latter delivered a low cross which Alba left for Matteo Pici- ollo. The Italian midfielder kept his composure and finished past Ini Etim Akpan from close range. Floriana hit back on the 20th minute. From a free-kick, Mau- rizio Vella sent a cross towards Mario Fontanella who headed the ball towards Nayar. The Argen- tine attempted to place the ball inside the net, but his effort was blocked by Henry Bonello. Four minutes later, Enzo Ruiz of Floriana delivered a cross in the direction of Steve Pisani whose acrobatic effort failed to hit the target. Danilo Doncic's side went close again on the 36th minute. Alba hit a low shot from distance that ended up slightly wide. Two minutes later, it was Flori- ana's time to protest for a penalty. Vella went down inside the penal- ty area hoping to win a penalty for his side. Alan Mario Sant judged this to be a simulation and cau- tioned Floriana's player. Floriana suffered a setback two minutes prior to half time as they had a player sent off. Jurgen Pisani spat towards Alba and left the ref- eree with no option but to show him a straight red card. Valletta started the second half on the attack in order to increase their advantage and went close on the 56th minute. Picciolo ex- changed possession with San- tiago Malano and the latter saw his powerful shot hitting the side netting. The Premier League leaders kept on insisting and threatened Floriana again on the 63rd min- ute. Malano sent a powerful drive from the edge of the penalty area that went slightly wide. Picciolo thought that he had doubled Valletta's lead on the 69th minute. Alba hit a low drive which stamped off the post. The ball fell for the twenty-six year- old who placed it past Akpan. Val- letta's players and technical staff celebrated the goal, but the assis- tant referee had other thoughts as he raised his flag for an offside. Floriana scored the equalising goal on the 74th minute. Follow- ing a free-kick by Vella, Enzo Ruiz anticipated Henry Bonello and finished inside the net. Akpan denied Valletta from regaining the lead on the 79th minute. Alba's cross was met by Malano whose header was tipped behind by Floriana's custodian. In the remaining minutes, Flo- riana held firm to take an impor- tant point and put more doubt on which side will win the Premier League. Floriana starting line-up: Ini Etim Akpan, Sebastian Nayar, Enrico Pepe, Enzo Ruiz, Steve Pisani, Maurizio Vella (Dylan Grima – 90), Juninho Cabral, Ju- rgen Pisani, Alex Cini, Mario Fon- tanella, Emerson Marcelina Valletta starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Ryan Camill- eri, Santiago Malano, Matteo Pic- ciolo (Joseph Zerafa-70) , Kyrian Nwoko, Jean Borg, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Ibrahim Raed Saleh (Michael Mifsud – 84), Rowen Muscat, Miguel Angel Alba (Den- ni Rocha Dos Santos-80 ) Referee: Alan Mario Sant Assistant Referees: Mitchel Scerri, Paul Apap Additional Assistant Referees: Mario Apap, Matthew Degabriele Fourth Official: Jurgen Spiteri BOV Player of the Match: Sebas- tian Nayar (Floriana) PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Floriana and Valletta share the spoils Despite having to play the second half with ten men, Floriana remained disciplined to hold Valletta in a 1-1 draw and thus give Balzan the chance to make up for last week's defeat.