Malta Premier Final 4 deciders to be played on Sunday and Monday

The Malta Premier semi final deciders for the Final 4 will be played out on Sunday and Monday. The first match to be played on Sunday will be Sliema Wanderers against Birkirkara. The second match will be Floriana against Hamrun Spartans. The winners of each match will progress to the final of the competition.

The Maltese Herald covered the three games played yesterday. Below are detailed reports.

Floriana and Birkirkara Share the Spoils in Top 6 Clash

Floriana and Birkirkara played out a 1-1 stalemate in the final match of the Top 6 Closing Round of the 360Sports Malta Premier, setting the stage for an exciting Final Four.

Birkirkara struck first just three minutes into the game. Donovan Makoma’s long-range effort was parried but not held by Floriana goalkeeper Christoffer Mafoumbi, and Maxuell Maia pounced on the rebound to fire home and give the Stripes an early lead.

Floriana responded with growing confidence. On 13 minutes, Sasere was brought down on a counterattack, earning Birkirkara’s Neil Micallef a booking. From the resulting free kick, Fernandinho forced Volpe into a smart save to push the shot out for a corner.

The Greens continued to threaten. Jake Grech’s delivery found Sasere’s header in the 19th minute, but again Volpe was alert to turn the ball away. Birkirkara replied with quick chances of their own — Kemar Reid burst into the box but saw his cross intercepted by Mafoumbi, and a minute later Alex Satariano’s effort narrowly missed the target.

Greens get breakthrough

Floriana eventually found their breakthrough in the 39th minute. Jake Grech broke into the area and crossed to an unmarked Dunstan Vella, who calmly slotted past Volpe to level the match.

The Greens pushed for a second before the break, with Fernandinho and Garzia both going close — the latter denied by an outstanding goal-line clearance from Morello.

Chances came at both ends in the second half. Maia tested Mafoumbi with a powerful shot, while Volpe was called into action to stop a fierce strike from Gamarra. Floriana squandered a golden opportunity on 72 minutes when Aleandro Garzia fired wide from close range after Volpe had parried a cross into his path.

In stoppage time, Mafoumbi preserved parity with a save from Satariano’s long-range shot, and despite seven additional minutes, neither side could find a winner.

Both sides will now look ahead to the decisive Final Four stage.

Starting Line-ups:

Birkirkara: Giacomo Volpe, Manuel Morello, Agustin Sandona, Paul Mbong, Kemar Reid, Alex Satariano (c), Leandro Lacunza, Neil Micallef, Alessandro Coppola, Donovan Makoma, Maxuell Maia.
Coach: Stefano De Angelis.

Floriana: Christoffer Mafoumbi, Oualid El Hasni, Dunstan Vella (c), Owen Spiteri, Matias Garcia, Gonzalo Gamarra, Franklin Sasere, Alexandros Kouro, Aleandro Garzia, Fernandinho.
Coach: Darren Abdilla.

Referee: Philip Farrugia

Hamrun Spartans Edge Past Marsaxlokk to Secure Playoff Spot

360Sports Malta Premier

Marsaxlokk 0 Ħamrun Spartans 1
(Goal: Lopes Silva 32’)

Ħamrun Spartans clinched a crucial 1-0 victory over Marsaxlokk at the Centenary Stadium. This helped them book their place in the 360Sports Malta Premier playoffs, courtesy of a first-half strike from Raphael Lopes Silva.

The decisive moment came in the 32nd minute when Joseph Mbong threaded an incisive through-ball to Lopes Silva. The Brazilian striker burst into the box and coolly slotted past Matthew Calleja Cremona to give Ħamrun the lead.

Marsaxlokk had their chances, with a golden opportunity in the 20th minute when Ryan Scicluna dispossessed the defence and set up Jorge Soares, whose shot was dramatically cleared off the line by Ognijen Bjelicic.

Earlier, Roko Prsa had gone close for Ħamrun with a header that sailed just over the bar, while in the 55th minute, Calleja Cremona produced a fine save to deny Redon Mihana from close range.

Marsaxlokk pushed hard for an equaliser in the second half. A well-worked free-kick between Nikolai Muscat and Yuri Messias in the 59th minute saw Muscat’s effort tipped over by Henry Bonello. Late on, Lucas Lopez saw a deflected strike hit the post, but Bonello reacted quickly to preserve Ħamrun’s clean sheet and secure the win.

This result eliminated Marsaxlokk from playoff contention, while Ħamrun Spartans progress with renewed confidence.

Referee: Malcolm Spiteri

Player of the Match: Roko Prsa (Ħamrun Spartans)

Line-ups:

Marsaxlokk: Matthew Calleja Cremona, Karl Micallef, Nikolai Muscat, Yuri Messias, Jorge Soares, Martin Adamec (Jai Quintano), Lucas Lopez, Manuel Pena Beltre, Leandro Aguirre, Ryan Scicluna (C)

Ħamrun Spartans: Henry Bonello, Steve Borg (C), Sven Xerri (Rocha da Barbosa), Joseph Mbong, Roko Prsa (Daniel Letherby), Elionay Freitas, Jovan Cadenovic, Ognijen Bjelicic, Redon Mihana (Cesar Menacho), Ryan Camenzuli, Raphael Lopes

Sliema Wanderers Dominate Mosta to Top 360Sports Malta Premier Closing Round

Sliema Wanderers capped off the Closing Round Top 6 in style with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Mosta, propelling them to joint first place alongside Ħamrun Spartans on 28 points.

The opening stages of the match were largely contested in midfield, with clear-cut chances at a premium. Sliema had an early opportunity after six minutes, but their effort was saved with the resulting corner came to nothing. Mosta responded with a corner of their own in the 24th minute but similarly failed to create danger.

Sliema eventually managed to break the deadlock in the 27th minute. Alexander Magri Overend combined well with Maksym Priadun, who set up Neil Frendo to fire home the opener. Just eight minutes later, Wescley doubled the Wanderers’ lead, showing great composure under defensive pressure to slot past the hapless goalkeeper.

The first half concluded with Sliema comfortably ahead, 2-0.

After the break, Mosta came out with renewed attacking intent. Within three minutes, they forced a freekick through Clayton Failla, but the effort was saved and cleared for a corner, which again posed no threat. Additionally, further attempts by Chibuike Okereke and Gilmar Goncalves were thwarted by the Sliema defence.

In the 59th minute, Sliema extended their lead. Mosta goalkeeper David Akpan fumbled under pressure from Kyrian Nwoko, who capitalised on the error to make it 3-0.  The Mosta players struggled to regain composure, and nine minutes later, substitute Samba Kone made it 4-0 with a towering header.

Mosta did manage a consolation goal in the 85th minute. Prince Chibuzor showed resilience to hold off the Sliema defence before setting up Jamie Scerri, who finished neatly to reduce the deficit.

Despite a late push from Mosta, it was too little too late as Sliema Wanderers secured a commanding 4-1 win and claimed all three points.

Referee: Trustin Farrugia Cann.

Line-ups:

Mosta: D. Akpan, S. Cachia, E. Chukwuemeka, G. Goncalves, C. Failla, G. Scibberas, N. Agius, P. Chibuzor, S. Okereke, J. Vassallo, K. Lampsias.

Sliema Wanderers: K. Emeka, J. Borg, N. Frendo, A. Magri Overend, M. Priadun, M. Beerman, G. Alcino, W. Matos Da Silva, K. Nwoko, S. Zibo, S. Pisani.