Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/969423
maltatoday SUNDAY 15 APRIL 2018 49 FOOTBALL Sports St Andrews .................. 1 Birkirkara ................... 0 WARREN ZAMMIT THE first match at the Hiberni- ans stadium saw the teams of St Andrews and Birkirkara facing off in a match which was very im- portant for both sides. Birkirkara needed a win to increase their chances of qualifying for the Eu- ropa League. On the other hand, a good result for St Andrews meant that Naxxar Lions will probably be relegated, while the Saints or Tarxien will go through the rel- egation / promotion play off. The stripes were reduced to ten men on the 31st minute when Carlos Alberto da Silva was sent off following an incident with Matthew Gauci. St Andrews lost a golden op- portunity to go ahead on the 68th minute. Nikola Vukanac was brought down by Kevaughn Atkinson and the referee ordered a penalty. However, Kemar Reid's shot from the eleven metres mark hit the upright. Michael Woods's side forged ahead on the 80th minute. Fol- lowing a cross by Atkinson, Mi- sael Miranda Gomez finished in- side the net from close range. Three minutes later, Jake Grech f loored Reid inside the penalty area and the referee ordered an- other penalty. This time, Travis Blagrove's shot was saved by Kristijan Naumovski. Paul Zammit's side ended up with nine men in the latter stages of the match as Grech was sent off after being shown his second yellow card. St Andrews starting line-up: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Adri- an Borg, Misael Miranda Gomez, Martin Davis, Jason Vadelan- noite, Adrian Martin, Matthew Gauci, Kevaughn Atkinson, Mar- cus Grima, Kemar Reid, Travis Blagrove Birkirkara starting line-up: Kris- tijan Naumovski, Lucas Maia Jaques Varone, Nikola Vukanac, Matthew Guillaumier, Ryan Sci- cluna, Ognjen Rolovic, Waldemar Acosta, Terence Agius, Fernando Barbosa Pereira, Carlos Alberto da Silva, Edward Herrera Referee: Patrick Canepa (Gibral- tar) BOV Player of the Match: Kevaughn Atkinson (St Andrews) Gzira United ................ 2 Sliema Wanderers ........ 1 WARREN ZAMMIT NEIGHBOURS Sliema Wan- derers and Gzira United played against each other in the second match at the Hibernians sta- dium. Mathematically, Sliema could still reach fourth place and thus, they had to keep on working hard despite knowing that their chances were remote. Meanwhile, Gzira sit comfort- ably in the third place, but knew that a win would give them as- surance that they will partici- pate in next season's Europa League. Sliema scored the opening goal on the half hour mark. From a free-kick, Matias Muchardi delivered a cross towards Kurt Shaw who headed the ball past Anthony Curmi. The Maroons hit back and equalised three minutes later. Zack Scerri and Haruna Garba saw their efforts being saved by Antonio Cotticelli. The rebound went into the path of Emmanuel Okoye whose effort went inside the net. Darren Abdilla's side scored the winning goal in the second half. Andrew Cohen's cross from a corner was met by Garba and the latter headed home. Gzira United starting line-up: Anthony Curmi, Roderick Brif fa, Sacha Borg , Prince Mamboua- na, Clif ford Gatt Baldacchino, Zachary Scerri, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Haruna Garba, Andrew Cohen, Amadou Samb, Emma- nuel Okoye. Sliema Wanderers starting line-up: Antonio Cotticelli, Michele Sansone, Stefano Bian- ciardi, Frank Temile, Edmond Agius, Kurt Shaw, Jef ferson De Assis, Ryan Spiteri, John Mint- of f, Roberty Matias Muchardi, Ricardo Correa Duarte. Referee: Eman Grech BOV Player of the Match: Haruna Garba (Gzira) Birkirkara shocked by St Andrews Gzira clinch Europa League spot Birkirkara are now just one point ahead of Floriana after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of St Andrews Gzira made sure that they will compete in next season's Europa League after securing a 2-1 win over Sliema Wanderers PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTINE BORG