The Malta FA Trophy: Rd. 3
Kercem Ajax Stadium
Kercem A : 5 (A.Mizzi 42, 62; JP Mizzi 44; O. Rolovic 45; A. Komljenovic 71)
B.Vrndic (JP Cassar 87), P.Taylor, J.Grech (D.Cassar 90+2), A.Komljenovic, P.Kyumyurdzhiev, JP.Mizzi (M.Tabone 59), N.Mercieca, M.Mifsud, A.Mizzi, O.Rolovic, A.Haska.
Zebbug Ra. : 1 (R. Da Silva Gomes 59)
J.Farrugia, F.Gusman, R. Da Silva Gomes, S.Schembri, A.Micallef, M.Bonnici (A.Kovacic 57), S.Borg (K. Zammit 66), C.Gauci, A. Mello Da Silva, L.Mallia, J.Suda.
Kercem Ajax scored three goals in the last minutes of the first half and paved the way to earn qualification to the next round of the Malta FA trophy at the expense of the MFA first division side Zebbug Rangers. In this match Zebbug Rangers struggled to take command of play, and although they saw more of the ball for most of the first half they found it extremely difficult to create serious scoring opportunities. Kercem were well organised at their defence and managed to capitalise form their chances so that they practically dominated over their opponents as soon as they scored their first goal that arrived three minutes away from the end of the first half.
Zebbug could have been more effective on 5 minutes when Mello da Silva’s cross arrived to an unmarked Jurgen Suda but the latter headed badly from close distance. Two minutes later Kercem replied through a free kick by Ognjen Rolovic that was saved by goalie Jeffrey Farrugia and on 10 minutes Zebbug’s Jurgen Suda had a good shot that was well saved by goalie Branko Vrndic. Kercem’s striker Ognjen Rolovic went again close to scoring on 17 minutes but his shot on the run following a cross by Alen Haska ended just over the crossbar. On the half hour mark Kercem’s Alen Haska entered the area through a personal action but he prolonged his final touch and goalie Jeffrey Farrugia managed to arrive on the ball and to deny the striker from concluding towards goal. Kercem continued to be more dangerous through counter breaks and on 31 minutes Zebbug’s central defender Rafael Da Silva Gomes had good timing to clear the ball away from Ognjen Rolovic who was about to enter the area following a personal action. Kercdem however opened the score on 42 minutes when the ball arrived to Andrew Mizzi, from a free kick by Jean Paul Mizzi, and placed in goal with a fine shot that took a deflection from a defender before ending out of the reach of the goalkeeper. Zebbug were shocked and two minutes later Kercem doubled the score when Ognjen Rolovic entered the area from the left flank and from his low cross Jean Paul Mizzi fired in goal with a low shot. Kercem increased their lead by scoring the third goal in the first minute of stoppage time before half time when a cross from the left flank by Nathaniel Mericea was kept in play by Andrew Mizzi and Ognjen Rolovic arrived on the ball to head into an open goal from close distance.
Kercem continued to be more dangerous after the resumption although Zebbug tried to increase their efforts in an attempt to re-open the issue. On 49 minutes a free kick by Kercem’s Ognjen Rolovic was saved by Zebbug’s keeper and three minutes later Zebbuhg failed to capitalise from a good opportunity when Kercem’s defence failed to clear the danger from outside the area and the ball arrived to an unmarked Jurgen Suda who saw his lob over the goalkeeper that ended high. On 58 minutes Kercem could have added another goal but two consecutive shots from close distance by Andrew Mizzi and Alen Haska were blocked by Zebbug’s defence and the final shot by Mario Mifsud was neutralised by goalie Jeffrey Farrugia. Zebbug managed to reduce the deficit on 61 minutes through a header by Rafael Da Silva Gomes following a corner kick by Arilson Mello dos Santos. Kercem however regained the three goal lead one minute later when Ognjen Rolovic had a good shot that was deflected on the crossbar and the action ended to a corner. From the resultant corner kick by Alen Haska the ball arrived to Andrew Mizzi who headed in goal from close distance. On 64 minutes a shot by Zebbug’s Jurgen Suda was well saved by goalie Branko Vrndic and on 71 minutes Kercem scored their fifth goal through a strike by Alekxander Komljenovic that surprised goalie Jeffrey Farrugia. Zebbug continued to insist to make the score more respectable and on 79 minutes Kercem’s Manuel Tabone headed badly following a cross form the right flank but goalie Branko Vrndic was well paced and turned the ball to a corner. On 85 minutes Kercem almost scored the sixth goal but Ognjen Rolovic’s low shot when the keeper was out of his position was cleared off the line by defender Ayrton Micallef. Zebbug’s last scoring opportunity of the encounter arrived on 86 minutes through a close ranged header by Arilson Mello dos Santos that was saved to a corner by goalie Branko Vrndic so that the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Referee: Darko Stankovic.
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