Balzan’s fourth successive win keeps title bid on track

BALZAN                    1TARXIEN RAINBOWS 0 Balzan maintained their positive run with a narrow 1-0 win over Tarxien Rainbows which lifted them level with Gżira United at the top of the BOV Premier League table on 24 points, one ahead of Valletta who play Ħamrun Spartans on Sunday.  Bojan Kaljevic’s eight-minute goal – a close-range tap-in from Samir Arab’s cross – clinched Balzan’s fourth successive win while condemning the Rainbows to their fourth consecutive loss. In the second half, Balzan went close to doubling their lead with a close-range effort by Kaljevic which was partially saved by Andrea Cassar and from the rebound, Alfred Effiong’s effort came off the foot of the upright. HIBERNIANS 1BIRKIRKARA 0 Clayton Failla’s 100th goal in the BOV Premier League secured three important points for champions Hibernians as they edged out Birkirkara at the Hibs Stadium to stay in touch with the pace-setters. Not the same can be said of Birkirkara who suffered their fourth defeat in six matches. Hibs were the better team in the first half, going close through Marco Sahanek and Failla who were denied by the post. Seven minutes into the second half, the Paolites scored the all-important goal when they were given a penalty after Lucas Maia tripped Sahanek inside the area. Failla made no mistake from the spot. Both teams were reduced to 10 men. Hibs defender Rui da Gracia Gomes was sent off in the 64th minute for a second booking and Birkirkara’s Lucas Jaques Varone Maia followed him into the dressing rooms in the 73rd minute. MOSTA ON A HIGHMOSTA                       2SENGLEA ATHLETIC 1 Paolo Favaretto’s debut as Senglea Athletic coach ended on a sour note as the Yellow-Reds suffered a 2-1 defeat to Mosta at the Hibernians Stadium on Saturday. Thanks to this win, Mosta moved on the 14-point mark, five ahead of Senglea. The in-form Blues forged ahead in the 23rd minute when, off a cross by Thomas Veronese, Zachary Brincat blasted home from close range.  On the stroke half-time, Senglea levelled thanks to a powerful drive by Gonzalo Nicolas Virano which took a deflected off a defender as it rolled past Mosta goalkeeper Andreas Vella.  It looked as though the match was going to end 1-1 but Mosta hit the winner five minutes from time. Veronese again played a key role as his free-kick was headed home by Davide Mansi. SPOILS SHARED ST ANDREWS 1LIJA ATHLETIC 1St Andrews and Lija Athletic had to settle for a point apiece after their basement clash ended in a 1-1 draw. The Saints remain two points ahead of bottom-placed Lija. Cameroonian striker Raphael Kooh Sohna fired Lija ahead in the 14th minute but a Joseph Farrugia penalty 10 minutes from time rescued a point for the Saints.SAMB AT THE DOUBLEGŻIRA UNITED 3NAXXAR LIONS 1 A brace by Amadou Samb handed Gzira United a hard-fought win over Naxxar Lions on Friday. Gżira opened the scoring in the 29th minute when, a cross from the left by Andrew Cohen was met with a poerful header by Samb. The Maroons may have doubled their lead on 38 minutes when Samb came face to face with Naxxar goalkeeper Christoph Nicht but the latter saved his shot. Gżira began the second half strongly, extending their lead on 51 minutes when Juan Corbalan passed to Samb who stabbed the ball home.Naxxar Lions got back into the match when a shot by Yuri De Jesus Messias from outside the box surprised the goalkeeper and ended in the back of the net. But their hopes suffered a blow 11 minutes from time when goalkeeper Nicht handed the ball outside the box and was shown the red card by referee Eman Grech. From the resulting free-kick, Roderick Briffa saw his direct shot being saved by substitute goalkeeper Omar Borg with the aid of the crossbar. Gżira United sealed the issue with the third goal four minutes from time courtesy of Ndubisi Okoye.