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My masterpiece

February 7, 2020, 8:35 am
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When Jorge Carnicero talks about how it all began, how he met his “first great love” back in 1971, a radiant smile spreads across his face. And quickly disappears. “I made the biggest mistake of my life,” he says. After buying that gorgeous silver metallic Porsche 911 S, he heedlessly let it go—an unbelievable folly that haunts him to this day—to buy a different, new 911. “I’ve often thought about tracking down that Porsche,” says Carnicero, a sixty-eight-year-old horse breeder from Lexington, Kentucky. “It’s like the first love of your life, whom you let go. Only later do you realize what a mistake that was.” A sticker on the rear side window exerted what turned out to be an irresistible appeal. It read “Porsche Markenweltmeister 69, 70, 71.” Carnicero didn’t speak German and had no connection with racing at the time, and thus didn’t know that “Markenweltmeister” meant “Manufacturers’ World Champion” in the World Sportscar Championship. So he asked around. The answer opened the door to a world that he has never wanted to leave. “The car’s appearance won my heart. But the story behind it, which started with that sticker, swept me off my feet.” He has tried to recapture that...
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Man denied bail over Paceville disturbance

February 7, 2020, 8:42 am
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A man was denied bail at his arraignment on Friday after pleading not guilty to creating a disturbance and resisting arrest, leading a court to observe that such incidents against the police were on the rise. Fosso Toche Joel, a 30-year-old Cameroon national living in Mosta, was arrested shortly before 4am on Sunday, after police had been alerted to a disturbance at an establishment in Spinola Road, St Julian’s.  The man, suspected of kicking up the commotion, had allegedly threatened a sergeant and two constables, before fleeing from the scene with officers from the Rapid Intervention Unit at his heels.  While being arrested, the man had allegedly grabbed the sergeant by the throat.  Some 6.5 grams of cannabis and an ecstasy pill were found in his possession, together with 50 empty sachets.  The man was taken to court on Friday, charged with assaulting the police officers, violently resisting arrest, insulting and threatening the officers, disobeying legitimate orders and breaching the peace.  He was further charged with possession of cannabis in circumstances indicating that the drug was not for his personal use, possession of ecstasy aggravated by the fact that the offence...
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Fgura council loses battle to save ‘historic’ farmhouse

February 7, 2020, 9:41 am
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The Fgura farmhouse which faces demolition.

The Fgura council has failed in its attempt to save one of the oldest buildings in the locality from being demolished after the Environment and Review Tribunal ruled there was no sufficient evidence to justify its complete preservation. The issue revolves around a dilapidated farmhouse located in Triq Hompesch believed to be about 200 years old. Apart from the historical aspect, the council says the building has several vernacular features such as stone slabs and kileb (corbels). Since its establishment, the council had expressed its wish to restore it, reconstruct a historic niche of Our Lady and transform the farm into a public cultural centre and open space. Although in 1995 the farmhouse had been granted basic protection (Grade 3) by the Planning Authority, in reality this only meant that if the building were to be demolished, its replacement would have to be “in harmony” with its surroundings. Last year, a development application was filed by Trevor Buttigieg to demolish the existing building and raise the security perimeter wall, presumably as part of a separate plan to develop the site. The proposal was submitted after the developer had been successful in his request to...
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World's most expensive whiskies go up for sale

February 7, 2020, 9:58 am
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Some of the world's rarest and most expensive whiskies went on sale on Friday in an online auction of a private collection amassed by a late US soft drink bottling tycoon. The Whisky Auctioneer company said its "Perfect Collection", which was built by the late Pepsi bottling company executive Richard Gooding, includes 100-year-old bottles believed to be worth more than a £1 million. The 3,900 bottles mostly comprise single malt Scotch whiskies that will be sold in two lots. [attach id=832885 type="video"][/attach] The first 1,949 auctioned over 10 days starting Friday include a rare Macallan 1926 Valerio Adami 60 Year Old and a Springbank 1919 50 Year Old.  One of the Macallans became the world's most expensive bottle of spirit when it sold for £1.5 million (€1.8 million) at Sotheby's in October. The second batch will be available between April 10-20 and thousands have signed up for the auction on the company's website worldwide. "It is the diversity within the Perfect Collection that is perhaps the most exciting aspect," Whisky Auctioneer founder Iain McClune said in a statement. The library features samples from some of Scotland’s lost distilleries - and not all are out of...
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Trump says Congress should 'expunge' his impeachment

February 7, 2020, 10:06 am
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President Donald Trump called Friday on Congress to "expunge" his impeachment for abuse of power following his acquittal in the Senate. "Should they expunge impeachment in the House? They should because it was a hoax," he told reporters at the White House. Trump was impeached in December on two charges related to his campaign to get Ukraine's government to start a corruption investigation into his Democratic election opponent Joe Biden. On Wednesday, the Republican majority in the Senate cleared Trump in only the third impeachment trial of a president in history. Trump has emerged from his victory in a furious mood, describing his Democratic opponents as "evil." The Republican minority leader in the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, has said that if his party wins back control of the chamber in the November general election it will seek to overturn, or expunge, the impeachment. Trump also turned his anger on the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who demonstratively ripped up a copy of his State of the Union speech in Congress on Tuesday after Trump delivered it. "That was terrible, it was a terrible - so disrespectful," he said, "and actually very illegal".
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Greco eyeing police officers’ appointments in follow-up report

February 7, 2020, 10:40 am
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The Council of Europe’s anti-corruption body wants objective, fair and transparent criteria, based on merit and adequate open competitions for recruitment and promotions in the police force. Photo: Mark Zammit Cordina

Malta’s implementation of a recommendation to improve the appointment system for high-ranking police officers will be evaluated by the Council of Europe’s anti-corruption watchdog – Greco.  Speaking to Times of Malta, a Greco spokesman declined to comment on the new system proposed by the government to appoint a police commissioner after a public call for applications.  Six people have occupied the office of police commissioner over the past seven years.  Prior to the system introduced by Robert Abela, the Prime Minister’s Office enjoyed absolute power over the appointment process. The Prime Minister retains veto powers under the proposed new system. Greco had noted in a 2019 assessment of Malta that the appointment of high-ranking police officers was often based on a “mere interview” rather than any examination process.  This left broad room for discretionary decisions, Greco said. The anti-corruption body had recommended that objective, fair and transparent criteria, based on merit and adequate open competitions, be clearly provided for during the recruitment and promotion processes, including at the lower and higher ranks.  Greco would be assessing the implementation of this...
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Donald Trump has no right to deal with our issues – Palestinian Ambassador

February 8, 2020, 4:12 am
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Members of the Maltese Palestinian community, along with Moviment Graffitti activist Andre Callus (far right). Photo: Jonathan Borg

Donald Trump had “no right whatsoever” to deal with the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Palestinian Ambassador to Malta Fadi Hanania told Times of Malta.  Mr Fadi was at a two-day event organised by Moviment Graffiti that aims to bring attention to the recently announced “peace plan” for Palestine announced by US President Donald Trump. Reacting to the plan, members of the Maltese-Palestinian community said Donald Trump’s so-called "deal of the century" for the Middle East would kill "every dream of peace" for the Palestinian state. “What Trump is doing would be like suddenly declaring that Texas was a part of Malta. He has no right whatsoever to deal with the Palestinian-Israeli issue. It’s an issue between us an Israel and we always believed that we should do it through negotiations,” Mr Hanania said.  “This new plan takes the majority of the remaining Palestinian land and gives it to Israeli settlers, which is illegal by international law. So the whole deal with Trump as we see it, and as he has said, is a business deal. Our people will not let this happen, no matter what, this plan will not go through on our people,” he said. The deal was unveiled to much fanfare by the US...
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Dozens evacuated from Thai mall after gunman kills least 20 in mass shooting

February 8, 2020, 4:40 am
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Photo: Shutterstock

Updated 6.55pm Dozens of terrified shoppers were evacuated from a Thai mall early Sunday as armed police said they had "taken control" of the ground floor of the complex from a gunman who killed at least 20 people.  But authorities did not give any firm details on the whereabouts of the attacker -  a junior army officer named Sergeant-Major Jakrapanth Thomma. There were fears the shooter could try to hide amongst the panicked crowds. Police from the Crime Supression Division urged fleeing shoppers to "raise their hands" and identify themselves on the ground floor "and authorities will evacuate you". Earlier Jakrapanth relayed his shooting spree through Facebook posts which charted the attack from an army barracks to the mall where an unknown number of shoppers remained trapped. Hospitals across the country braced for a grim night ahead. "There are about 20 dead," Kongcheep Tantravanich, defence ministry spokesman said.  "Police, military commandos and sharp shooters are surrounding Terminal 21," he said. The Thai Health Minister told reporters around 10 people were already in hospital in a "serious condition." The bloodshed began Saturday afternoon when Jakrapanth shot three...
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New sports playground for San Ġwann neighbourhood

February 8, 2020, 5:22 am
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Photo: DOI/Jason Borg

A small open area in San Ġwann has been given a facelift and turned into an area where children can play football and basketball.Around €35,000 were spent on Spażju Rikreattiv 11 ta’ Frar to give a lick of paint and install new fencing, football and basketball infrastructure and a small outdoor exercise area. The public area is located in the Żwejt area. Sports parliamentary secretary Clifton Grima inaugurated the revamped space and thanked SportsMalta and the San Ġwann council for their work. He said SportsMalta was currently assessing other such areas across the country which could be turned into public sports facilities. San Ġwann mayor Trevor Fenech said the local council was aware of the need to increase the number of open spaces in the town. Another such project was planned for Triq il-Kampanella, he said. 
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Fiat heritage on show at Rétromobile 2020

February 8, 2020, 5:34 am
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FCA Heritage has taken part in Rétromobile 2020, one of the most important European events dedicated to vintage vehicles, hosted at the impressive Paris Expo Porte de Versailles exhibition center. The prestigious French motor show welcomed more than 1,000 extraordinary cars and around 620 international exhibitors. Pride of place at the event – which this year celebrated the 110th anniversary of Alfa Romeo by including an image of the magnificent 8C 2900 on its poster – went to FCA Heritage, the Group Division focused on the safeguarding and promotion of the historic heritage of the Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Abarth brands. For further information on the show, visit its official website. [attach id=833368 type="video"][/attach] FCA Heritage presented new marketing materials, an exciting stand with a new design and, most of all, a wide range of cars from its precious historical collection, like the very rare 1910 24 HP. This was the first vehicle produced by the Milanese car manufacturer established on June 24, 1910, under the name A.L.F.A. (Società Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili). Alongside was the striking Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 SS. Having been prepared by the expert hands...
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Merkel dismisses government official over far-right vote scandal

February 8, 2020, 5:41 am
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Christian Hirte

Angela Merkel dismissed a member of her government Saturday as she grapples with a crisis gripping her coalition after regional MPs from her conservative party sided with the far right in a key vote. Christian Hirte, the government's commissioner for eastern Germany and a secretary of state at the economy and energy ministry, was fired after he congratulated a newly-elected leader in the small state of Thuringia who narrowly won a vote this week with the help of the anti-immigrant AfD.  Merkel has condemned the vote, which saw her CDU party vote in the same camp as the AfD to block the re-election of a leftist state premier, as "unforgivable".  The election broke a taboo in Germany on mainstream parties working with the far-right and has enraged Merkel's centre-left coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD). "The chancellor has today proposed to the federal president the dismissal of Secretary of State Christian Hirte," said Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert in a short statement.      Hirte said on Twitter that he had been told he would no longer hold the role of commissioner for the government.  "At her request I have therefore asked to be removed from my post," said...
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The ancient cemetery hidden beneath a busy roundabout

February 8, 2020, 5:47 am
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The burial chamber found inside the catacomb.

Conservationists, worried about the impact of roadworks on a 1,600-year-old underground cemetery, went to investigate it for themselves. Gordon Watson reports. Under a busy roundabout near Malta’s airport lies an ancient cemetery, bathed in stillness and silence. It is usually closed off to the public but two conservationists are so concerned about the repercussions of past and future road projects on the site that they have decided to examine it. After removing masonry board and rubble covering the entry, photographer Daniel Cilia and structural engineer Marc Zimmerman squeeze through a one-metre wide gap into the catacomb below. [attach id=833374 type="video"]Two conservationists explain what they found beneath the surface. Video: Mark Zammit Cordina, Gordon Watson[/attach] Their concerns regard a project that re-sized the Gudja roundabout as well as a proposed plan to build a flyover and two new tunnels linking the south and northbound carriageways of L-Avjazzjoni Avenue and Ħal Far road. The project, which is awaiting Planning Authority permission, is expected to cut commuter times by allowing drivers to bypass the roundabout. Mr Cilia, who last entered the catacomb when it...
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Plan to transform disused Birguma farm into villa

February 8, 2020, 6:46 am
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The two disused rooms in the agricultural valley of Birguma.

A case officer has recommended the refusal of an application to convert two disused rooms into a two-storey villa in the agricultural valley of Birguma. This is the owner’s third attempt to secure a permit after his previous applications filed in 2017 and 2018 were both rejected, the latter also on appeal. The site, characterised by agricultural fields, lies just off Triq Għaxqet l-Għajn which cuts across Wied Anġlu, the valley running through Birguma and Għargħur. The Environment and Resources Authority and the Naxxar council have formally objected to the conversion proposal. Objection letters were also received from the Għargħur council, Nature Trust Malta, Futur Ambjent Wieħed, Moviment Graffiti, Din l-Art Ħelwa and scores of others. The applicant of PA 8000/19 wants to demolish a disused farm and build a villa instead, as well as a reservoir and a timber gate. The existing structure consists of two rural rooms covering about 60 square metres. They are visible in the 1967 survey sheets. According to the applicant, the site was a registered livestock farm used for the rearing of animals and it stopped operating in May 2003. The case officer argues the proposal runs counter...
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Fontanella treble sinks nine-man Balzan

February 8, 2020, 7:02 am
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Valletta's Nicholas Pulis (left) tries to move past Paul Fenech. Photo: Jonathan Borg

VALLETTA       3 Fontanella 31 pen., 81 pen., 90 BALZAN           1 Bozovic 45 Mario Fontanella was the darling of the Valletta fans on Saturday as the Italian striker grabbed a hat-trick to help the Malta champions see off a battling Balzan side, who ended the match with nine men. It was a hard-fought victory for Valletta, who despite enjoying much of the initiative they struggled to convert their scoring chances into goals. In fact, after taking the lead through a Fontanella penalty, Valletta failed to press on their dominance as they missed a serious of chances an that came back to haunt them with Balzan levelling at the stroke of half-time. After the break, Valletta continued to create chances without converting them until nine minutes from time, when Fontanella won and converted a second penalty with Balzan having goalkeeper Kristjan Naumovski and Uros Ljubomirac red-carded. With two more men on the pitch, Valletta went on to seal their win with a third goal from Fontanella that lifted them momentarily top of the standings, one point ahead of Floriana, who faced Gżira United in the day's second match. Santiago Malano made his first start for Valletta since recovering from a...
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Brazil mistakenly publishes robbed tourist's rant

February 8, 2020, 7:05 am
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A tourist who was robbed while vacationing in Rio de Janeiro posted a disgusted message online... only to have Brazil's national tourism board post it to its official Instagram account by mistake. "Rio is such a beautiful city," begins the message posted by Instagram user @withlai - and that is perhaps as far as the Brazilian Tourist Board's social media department read before clicking "share". But the message continues: "Beautiful is not enough". During a three-day stay in Rio, @withlai wrote, "my family and I were robbed and my nine-year-old sister witnessed a violent robbery. I can't recommend a visit to a city where I felt afraid of even leaving the apartment." Embratur, as the tourism board is known, shared the message on its own Instagram account Tuesday evening, leaving it up long enough for the gaffe to go viral before deleting the post. "This message was shared by mistake," Embratur said in a red-faced statement, adding that it was in fact working to "publicise the drop in violent crime (in Brazil) in 2019". Rio, the port of entry for many of the millions of tourists who visit Brazil each year, is known for the breathtaking beauty of its sun-soaked beaches and emerald...
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Winchester goal sinks Sliema

February 8, 2020, 7:16 am
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Sliema's attacking midfielder Gilmar (right) charges past Edison Bilbao Zarate. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

GUDJA UNITED                   1 Winchester 53 SLIEMA WANDERERS       0 A second-half goal from Rundell Winchester handed Gudja United a narrow win over Sliema Wanderers to halt a four-game streak without a win. Gudja, who have now leapfrogged Sliema into tenth with 18 points, were the better team on the field with Trinidad international Winchester giving a massive help in the offensive line. For this game, coach Josef Mansueto started with former Sliema goalkeeper Glen Zammit between the sticks while Edison Zarate and Imanol Gonzalez, both returning on our shores after a brief experience overseas, were also included in the starting line-ups. Sliema, on their part, failed to build on last week’s 2-0 win over Gżira United and have slipped into 11th place. It was a drab performance by Alfonso Greco’s side who also introduced former Premier League winner Gilmar in the second half, but to no avail. Gudja looked more dangerous when in possession but they had to wait until the 20th minute to threaten Sliema’s goal through Edison Zarate but the Chile midfielder’s close-range effort went inches wide from Jake Galea’s goal. Sliema’s reply came through Juri Cisotti but his effort from...
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‘Highly unlikely’ Preti masterpiece was stolen from Governor’s Palace

February 8, 2020, 7:53 am
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Boethius and Philosophy, a17th century-monumental oil on canvas painting by Mattia Preti.

It is highly unlikely that a prestigious Mattia Preti painting purchased by the Maltese government last week had been stolen from the Governor’s Palace, according to the Head of the University’s Art and Art History Department. The government acquired the 17th century monumental oil on canvas painting Boethius and Philosophy for €1.32 million from London auction house Sotheby’s.  Prof. Keith Sciberras told the Times of Malta that the painting is likely to have left Malta in the second half of the 19th century, probably taken by one of the governors or somebody within the colonial government. It would seem the person who took it was primarily interested in the subject of the painting rather than the artist, since at the time it left the palace it did not have great antiquarian value, explained Prof. Sciberras. In the 19th century, paintings by Preti and Baroque artists were not worth the monetary equivalent we give them today, he said. International preference, especially British preference at the time, was certainly not for Baroque paintings of this type but for a more classical imprint. This is probably the reason Malta’s collection of Preti paintings is still largely intact, Prof.
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Going up? Price rise at Barrakka lift prompts fears over business

February 8, 2020, 8:57 am
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Businesses, especially those at the Valletta Waterfront, are concerned over the decision to charge people who want to come down the elevator that links the Upper Barrakka Garden to Lascaris Wharf.

A decision to charge people who want to use the elevator that links the Upper Barrakka Garden to Lascaris Wharf is angering nearby businesses. From Monday, anyone using the lift to descend to the Grand Harbour level will be charged a return price of €1. Up until now, passengers only had to pay if they entered the elevator from the bottom, not the top. The elevator is run by Barrakka Company Ltd, which was granted a 10-year contract from the Transport Ministry in 2016. Back then, the company said that it would not be altering how it charges customers. “We feel it is time to charge to use the lift in both directions to cover our expenses,” a spokeswoman for the privately-owned company said. “It costs us the same amount of money to run the elevator going up as it does when it comes down. We are simply following the terms of the contract which were agreed with Transport Malta four years ago, which included a price change as an option.” Transport Malta is supporting the move. “The minor change will come into effect so as to not discriminate between those who used the lift to go down and those who use it to go up,” said Stanley Agius, media and communications manager. “Before, those...
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First-half goals enough for Birkirkara

February 8, 2020, 9:55 am
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Mosta's Ebrima Sohna is challenged by Yannick Yankam. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

BIRKIRKARA         2 Ntow 9 Guillaumier 25 MOSTA                     1 Chaney 54 Birkirkara moved up to sixth in the BOV Premier League standings after beating Mosta by the odd goal in three at the Centenary Stadium. Andre Paus’ team have reached the 24-point tally, leapfrogging both Balzan and Mosta in the process. It was a solid display by the Stripes who despite conceding an early goal in the second half, their lead never seemed in trouble. Former Spain international Diego Capel was not available for selection as Paus deployed youngsters Yannick Yankam and Matthew Guillauimier in the centre of the park. Mosta, on their part, are now in eighth with 22 points. USA forward Christian Chaney, scorer of their goal, was one of their brightest notes in this game with his offensive prowess. The Blues started with their feet on the gas pedal as they came close to forge ahead when they struck the crossbar through Chaney who connected with a cross from Takanori Yokochi. Moments later, Mosta had another effort through Santiago Martinez that went wide. Birkirkara replied through Paul Mbong but Vella was alert to deny the young striker from point-blank. However, the Stripes managed to draw...
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Fonseca comes to Floriana's rescue

February 8, 2020, 10:02 am
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Gżira's Marco Criaco races past Thiago Fonseca. Photo: Jonathan Borg

GŻIRA UNITED     2          Criaco 50, 65 FLORIANA            2 D’Agostino 32 Fonseca 87 Tiago Fonseca came to Floriana’s resuce as the Argentine striker headed home a late equaliser to help his team grab a vital point against a revitalised Gżira United yesterday. Floriana headed into the match under pressure to pick up all three points after watching Valletta take momentarily top spot in the BOV Premier League standings following their win over Balzan. It looked as though the Greens were on course to reach their goal when Stefano D’Agostino volleyed them ahead midway through the first half. But Gżira had other plans as after the break they looked a transformed side and inspired by two moments of brilliance from Marco Criaco they managed to turn the match on its head looked to be closing to their first win after back-to-back defeats to Sta Lucia and Sliema Wanderers. But Floriana kept fighting and their efforts were rewarded with Fonseca’s late leveller that earned the team a vital point that kept them top of standings, albeit level on points with their arch rivals Valletta with nine matches to go for what promises to be a fascinating title race. Floriana coach Enzo Potenza...
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