Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/972198
maltatoday SUNDAY 22 APRIL 2018 51 Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL BOV Premier League Birkirkara - Hamrun Spartans ................ 4-2 Valletta - Gzira United ............................ 2-1 Lija Athletic - Floriana ............................ 2-6 Hibernians - Balzan............................... 1-0 England - Premier League West Bromwich Albion - Liverpool .......2-2 Watford - Crystal Palace .......................0-0 FA CUP Manchester United - Tottenham H. .......2-1 Today 14:30 Arsenal - West Ham United 14:30 Stoke City - Burnley 17:30 Manchester City - Swansea City FA CUP 16:00 Chelsea - Southampton Italy - Serie A SPAL 2013 - Roma .................................. 0-3 Sassuolo -Fiorentina ............................. 1-0 AC Milan - Benevento ............................ Late Today 12:30 Cagliari -Bologna 15:00 Atalanta - Torino 15:00 ChievoVerona - Inter 15:00 Lazio - Sampdoria 15:00 Udinese - Crotone 20:45 Juventus - SSC Napoli Tomorrow 20:45 Genoa - Hellas Verona Spain - LaLiga Eibar - Getafe ........................................ 0-1 Celta Vigo - Valencia .............................. 1-1 Today 12:00 Girona - Espanyol 16:15 Malaga - Real Sociedad 18:30 Las Palmas - Alaves 20:45 Atletico Madrid - Real Betis Tomorrow 21:00 Athletic Bilbao - Levante Germany - Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt - Hertha Berlin ......... 0-3 Hamburger SV - Freiburg ....................... 1-0 Hannover 96 - Bayern Munich ............... 0-3 RasenBallsport L.- Hoffenheim .............. 2-5 VfB Stuttgart - Werder Bremen ............... 2-0 Borussia Dortmund - B. Leverkusen ....... 4-0 Today 15:30 Augsburg - Mainz 05 18:00 FC Cologne - Schalke 04 Football Results & Fixtures VALLETTA .................. 2 GZIRA UNITED ............ 1 WARREN ZAMMIT VALLETTA played their last fix- ture against Gżira United at the National Stadium. The Citizens were eager to secure a win at all costs. In addition, they were hoping that Balzan would fail in their match against Hiberni- ans. On the other hand, the Ma- roons were in festive mode after clinching a spot in next season's Europa League. Danilo Doncic decided to make just one alteration to the team that drew level with Floriana. Jean Borg made way for Joseph Zer- afa. Meanwhile, Darren Abdilla made five changes to the team that emerged victorious against Sliema. Antonio Orlando Mac- edo Neto, Kris Thackray, Nikolai Muscat, Juan Corbolan and Karl Pulo replaced Sacha Borg, Prince Mambouana, Edison Bilbao Zarate, Amadou Samb and Em- manuel Okoye. Valletta made their intentions clear from the start and forged ahead after just seven minutes. Kyrian Nwoko went on a good run down the right flank before pass- ing the ball towards Ibrahim Raed Saleh. The Omani player attempt- ed to conclude, but his effort was blocked. The ball fell for Matteo Picciolo and the latter concluded inside the bottom corner. Doncic's side kept on insisting and created another chance on the 25th minute. Nwoko fired a shot from inside the penalty area that failed to hit the target. The Maltese champions threat- ened Gżira again on the 33rd minute. Miguel Angel Alba's shot from a free-kick forced a good save from Anthony Curmi. The Maroons replied on the 39th minute. Kris Thackray at- tempted a long range shot that ended up over. Valletta nearly doubled their advantage on the 49th minute. Picciolo tried to find space in or- der to conclude; however, he was marked well by Gżira's defence. The ball went into the path of Alba whose low shot sailed centi- metres wide. Despite losing this opportunity, Valletta scored the second goal of the match on the 65th minute. Santiago Malano squared the ball for Saleh and the latter finished home from inside the penalty area. Gżira had a rare opportunity on the 69th minute. Haruna Garba hit a low shot from the left side that neutralised by Henry Bonel- lo. Darren Abdilla's side pulled one back on the 80th minute. Ryan Camilleri floored Juan Corbolan inside the penalty area and the referee ordered a penalty. From the eleven metres mark, Andrew Cohen made no mistake. Two minutes from time, Denni Rocha Dos Santos served Picciolo inside the penalty area and the Italian saw his shot being saved by Curmi. Valletta's slight lead was never threatened in the remaining min- utes as they held firm to clinch their 24th title. Valletta starting line-up: Henry Bonello, Steve Borg, Ryan Camilleri (Albert Prosa- 85), Santiago Malano (Jean Borg- 74), Matteo Picciolo, Kyrian Nwoko, Enmy Manuel Pena Beltre, Joseph Zerafa, Ibrahin Raed Saleh, Row- en Muscat, Miguel Angel Alba (Denni Rocha Dos Santos- 74) Gżira United starting line-up: Anthony Curmi, Roderick Briffa, Antonio Orlando Macedo Neto (Luca Brincat – 66), Kris Thack- ray (Destin Prince-Loic Mamb- ouana), Clifford Gatt Badacchi- no, Zack Scerri, Nikolai Muscat, Haruna Zambuk Garba, Andrew Cohen, Juan Corbalan, Karl Pulo Referee: Clayton Pisani Assistant Referees: Alan Camilleri, William Debattista Additional Assistant Referees: Fyodor Zammit, Etienne Man- gion Fourth Official: Ishmael Bar- bara Yellow Cards: Antonio Orlan- do Macedo Neto (Gżira), Rowen Muscat (Valletta), Zack Scerri (Gżira), Kris Thackray (Gżira), Denni Rocha Dos Santos (Val- letta) BOV Player of the Match: Mat- teo Picciolo (Valletta) PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC BORG Valletta crowned Champions for the 24th time Valletta won their 24th title as they secured a 2-1 win over Gzira United, while Balzan were defeated by Hibernians Ryan Camilleri lifting the trophy