Munxar Obtain Their First Win

GFA BOV GFL Division II
Kercem Ajax Stadium

Munxar F  :        5       (M. Mattias Uzor 14’, 24’, 26’; R. Meilak 52’, J. Parnis 69’)
Spiteri, M. Debrincat, P. Parnis, G. Muscat, J. Azzopardi (S. Grech), R. Meilak, F. Cini, J. Galea, M. Mattias Uzor, P. Said, J. Parnis.

Zebbug R   :        3       (J. Debrincat 25’, I. Igwemeke 46’, 53’)
Saliba, G. Portelli, M. Formosa (P. Cardona), C. Borg, M. Cordina, J. Debrincat, P. Falzon, O. Calleja, C. Vella, I. Igwemeke, E. Nkwocha.

Munxar Falcons confirmed the improvement registered in their previous matches and obtained their first win in the campaign from the match against Zebbug Rovers.  The two sides were aiming for the victory and as a result they both produced offensive play that exposed the limitations of the respective defensive departments.  The match produced eight goals and various other scoring opportunities at the two ends of the field but Munxar deserved the victory as they were effective in attack while Zebbug’s strikers were often erratic despite scoring three goals.  With this result Munxar reached Qala Saints in the lower part of the table while Zebbug lost an opportunity to join the teams at the top of the table and who are challenging for promotion.

The two sides were very aggressive during the opening minutes of the encounter.  Zebbug had a close ranged shot by Ikechukwu Igwemeke that was saved by goalie Damien Spiteri and an attempt by Christian Vella missed the target.  Munxar replied with two shots on separate occasions by Michael Mattias Uzor that were saved by Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba and a shot by Jordi Parnis on 7 minutes that ended wide.  Munxar opened the score on 14 minutes through a lob by Michael Mattias Uzor that surprised goalie Baskal Saliba.  Zebbug were shocked and three minutes later Paul Said came face to face with the goalkeeper but the striker concluded badly and the ball ended wide.  Munxar doubled the score on 24 minutes through a strike by Michael Mattias Uzor that ended out of the reach of Zebbug’s keeper.  Zebbug reduced the score one minute later through a close ranged header by Josef Debrincat following a cross from the right flank but the Falcons regained the two-goal lead on 26 minutes.  The referee awarded a penalty for a foul by George Portelli on Jordi Parnis and Michael Mattias Uzor had his shot from the spot kick that was saved by goalie Baskal Saliba with the aid of the post and from the rebound Munxar’s striker concluded easily into an open goal and marked a personal hat-trick.  Zebbug could have scored a second goal on 43 minutes but Ikechukwu Igwemeke concluded weak from close distance following a low cross by Josef Debrincat and goalie Damien Spiteri saved without difficulty.

Zebbug had an excellent start to the second period and reduced the deficit after thirty seconds of play into the second period through a closed ranged header by Ikechukwu Igwemeke following a cross from the right flank by Chris Borg.  On 51 minutes Zebbug’s goalie made a difficult save to turn to a corner a free kick from long distance by Josef Galea and from the resultant corner kick by Paul Said the same goalkeeper cleared badly and Ryan Meilak fired in goal from the edge of the area.  On 53 minutes Zebbug re-opened their chances to save the result through an excellent strike by Ikechukwu Igwemeke that was out of the reach of the goalkeeper.  Munxar could have regained a two-goal lead on 62 minutes but Michael Mattias Uzor concluded wide when he was alone in the area and with the goalkeeper beaten.  Zebbug replied one minute later through a direct free kick by Ejofor Nkwocha that was well saved by goalie Damien Spiteri.  On 69 minutes Munxar’s Jordi Parnis made it 5-3 with a good shot from an angled position following a personal action from the left flank.  Seven minutes later Munxar could have added another goal when Paul Said entered Zebbug’s area with a personal action but concluded over the crossbar when he was alone in the area.  Munxar continued to control play in the remaining minutes and were also more dangerous through breaks by Paul Said but the score remained unchanged until the final whistle.

Referee: Jules Ngangue