Malta has a population similar to that of Bristol and, as you would expect for such a small nation, the Football Association tightly manages the league, teams and available playing surfaces. Only a small handful of grounds are used by the 12 teams in the league and the Saturday and Sunday fixtures are played as double-headers, two games are played back to back at the same venue. For fans of football, like me, this is fantastic, as great value is had by witnessing two games for the price of 1 (7 Euro) ticket.
The standard of football is difficult to judge but I would hazard a guess at levels ranging from tier 5 to tier 7 English equivalent. Birkirkara, one of the better teams, actually dumped Heart of Midlothian out of the Europa League this year, indicating it is not a standard to be sniffed at.
On the morning of the Friday flight, from East Midlands Airport, I checked the weather forecast to find that I would need to pack a shower-proof and brolly. A prearranged taxi took us from Malta airport to our harbour front hotel in Sliema.
On the Saturday morning, ahead of the first double-header, we did some sightseeing in Valletta. I managed to find a small shop selling scarves and I picked up, at 7 Euros each, a Hamrun one and a Birkirkara one. We then walked to the Hamrun ground.
The one-sided Victor Tedesco stadium, with its plastic pitch, was compact and functional. Functional that is if there is no rain (an unusual occurrence in Malta). But rain it did, and blow it did, and our 2 umbrellas, along with at least 3 more belonging to other fans, were completely destroyed. For the second match we found some shelter by the turnstiles but our view was obstructed. My father actually missed a goal because of it.
For us English fans, watching football in the wind, rain and cold is common and we prepare ourselves accordingly. For the Maltese this is not the case. They seemed quite happy to stand or sit out in all conditions in their shirt-sleeves.
The number of fans watching Saturday's matches were in the dozens.
On the Sunday we headed to Mdina to see the pretty walled city before the matches at the National Stadium. The stadium complex can be seen from the city walls and a short walk got us to the ground well before kick-off.
In order to protect the playing surface of the National Stadium no warming up / training is done on it ahead of the games. The teams have to use the adjacent Centenary Stadium, a ground that hosts tier 2 matches. As we waited to get into the West Stand we saw the Mosta players head over there. The National Stadium itself is a multi-sports venue and we noted the similarity to Iceland's National Stadium which we visited in the summer.
The first game was very much an appetiser for the main event, the second, and televised, match. The number of fans watching the Sliema vs. Mosta were in the dozens. Their ranks were swelled from half-time onwards as they were joined by the Birkirkara and Hibernians fans. We found ourselves with the Sliema and Birkirkara fans. I fitted in quite well for the second game as I donned my rather natty yellow and red Birkirkara scarf.
Sliema, for the first game, had a club band consisting of two drums, cymbals, trumpet and french horn, and they played some well known tunes throughout the game. Birkirkara's fans were more colourful. They hung banners, waved flags, let off a smoke bomb and sang songs to encourage their team (to no avail).
A good few hundred fans witnessed the latter match.
At the bus stop after the game we noticed a family of Scottish Hibernian fans resplendent in their green and white colours. They must have been delighted to see their namesakes beat the team that beat Hearts!
Hamrun Spartans 2:1 Pembroke Athleta
BOV Premier League
29/10/2016 15:00
Victor Tedesco Stadium
Grech 14' (H), Triganza 18'(H) Maveski 55' (P)
Mid-table Hamrun started the game much better than their bottom of the table opponents and they took control of the match within the first 20 minutes. A shot from a central position, some 20 yards out, was going wide until a big deflection took the ball past the stranded 'keeper. Hamrun's powerful number 99, operating down the left caused all sorts of problems for the Pembroke right back and it was his run and cross which created the second goal. His cross was met on the far edge of the box and the right winger, with a deft touch, laid the ball back into the middle for the striker to slot the ball past the keeper's left hand from 17 yards.
Pembroke's first chance came on 32 minutes but the effort, from 6 yards, was fluffed by the striker.
Pembroke performed better in the second half and were soon back in the game when a good through ball found the striker, who calmly placed his shot from 12 yards out.
As the minutes ticked down, and as the players of the second match warmed up behind the goal, Pembroke had two good chances to level the score but could convert either.
Tarxien Rainbows 2:2 Balzan FC
BOV Premier League
29/10/2016 17:15
Victor Tedesco Stadium
A. Nilsson 11' and 51' (T), Alan 55' (B), Serrano (B) Red Card 81', Nafti 91' (B)
Lowly Tarxien deserved their lead in this game against the league leaders. An early lead was achieved from a good left of centre shot from 15 yards out after a through ball opened up the Balzan defence.
The lead was extended early in the secondhalf after some nice control by the number 8 was followed by a defence splitting pass to find the number 9 who found the back of the net from a narrow angle out left. Soon after however Balzan were back in the game when a hopeful ball into the Tarxien box caused panic. The flapping 'keeper could only push the ball out to the edge of the box to be met by an onrushing player who fired his shot through a couple of defenders.
The wins and rain niggled at the players and the players niggled at each other. A number of yellow cards we brandished by the referee and each tackle by Balzan was met with a chorus of 'Yellow Card!' from two ladies stood in from of us. The ladies got their prize on 81 minutes when a second yellow was shown to a Balzan player.
10 man Balzan pushed on to get their equaliser and a last gasp chance was offered to them when a late tackle occured on the edge of the Tarxien box. From the dead ball position, to the left of centre, the Balzan free-kick taker struck an unstoppable shot past the 'keepers left hand and into the top corner of the net. The goal was met with wild celebrations from the league leaders.
Shortly after, at the referee's final whistle, more wild scenes were witnessed as the niggled players all came together with as lot of pushing, shoving and 'handbags'. The cause of this I didn't see but I am sure that there will be some repercussions.
Sliema Wanderers 1:1 Mosta FC
BOV Premier League
30/10/2016 15:00
Ta'Qali National Stadium
Salomon 24' (S), Priso 57' (M)
Mid-table Sliema looked the more accomplished side against lowly Mosta. Mosta's game looked to be based around the energy and pace of the strikers. When the Mosta front line did break forward their was little in the way of support and little in the way of final quality.
Sliema took a deserving lead midway through the first half following some good play down the right. The winger pulled back a cross which was met 10 yards out, in a central position, by the forward who placed his shot past the 'keeper.
Sliema should have wrapped the game up before halftime. A clever chipped freekick caught the defence napping but the free header from 6 yards was soft and the 'keeper comfortably saved the effort.
Mosta levelled shortly after the break. The winger did well down the right to get to the byline and pull back a cross to a team mate. The 12 yard shot took a slight deflection which took the ball beyond the 'keepers right hand.
Sliema had a couple of late half chances but the spoils were shared.
Birkirkara FC 0:1 Hibernians FC
BOV Premier League
30/10/2016 17:00
Ta'Qali National Stadium
Failla (Pen) 78'
This game should have been the pick of the weekend but these teams, second and third in the league respectively, cancelled each other out and a rather dour game was the result.
Birkirkara has the best of the first half. Sustained pressure on 23 minutes resulted Hibernians clearing the ball off the goal line. Hibernians best chance in the first half came on 32 minutes when a free header from 7 yards was comfortable collected by the 'keeper. The fire, some way off behind the Main Stand, looked more dangerous than either of these teams' skrike forces.
As the game was beginning to look like a bore draw Hibernians were awarded a penalty. A needless outstretched arm of the Birkikara left back brought down a Hibernians player, 10 yards from the byline. The decision was controversial. Was the outstretched arm worthy of a foul being awarded? Was the foul actually in the box? Anyway, the left footed penalty taker put the ball to the 'keepers left and the game was won.
The Hibernians goal scorer undertook his celebrations in front of us and the Birkikara fans which resulted in a lot of booing and cat calling from those around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment