Zebbug Win Clash from the Bottom of the Table

GFA BOV GFL Division II                                                                            Sannat Ground

Zebbug R       :           2          (C. Vella 32’, C. Borg 42’)

1. Cassar, G. Portelli, P. Camilleri, M. Formosa, C. Borg, J. Debrincat (D. Portelli), A. Tabone (J. Azzopardi), C. Vella, I. Igwemeke, E. Nkwocha, L. Pisani.

Munxar F        :           1          (J. Parnis 17’)

1. Xuereb, P. Parnis, G. Muscat, R. Meilak, A. Sacco (F. Cini), M. Debrincat (O. Saliba), O. Curmi, J. Parnis, M.M. Uzor, E. Xuereb, C. Mifsud (J. Hili).

Zebbug Rovers turned a defeat into a victory with the odd goal from three in a direct clash between two sides who are occupying the two places at the bottom of the table.  With the points obtained Zebbug are now joining Qala on equal points at the fourth pace and therefore they re-opened their chances to improve their placing on the table.  On the other hand Munxar lost an opportunity to move away from the bottom place and their gap from a better placing on the table has increased form two points to five points.  The match was well contested and could have easily ended in a draw.  During the second period Munxar failed to capitalise from their best scoring opportunities while Zebbug were also erratic in their finishing and did not manage to make sure of the victory by scoring the third goal.

Play was balanced from the early stages as the two sides were motivated to obtain a positive result.  On 12 minutes a direct corner kick by Zebbug’s Matthion Formosa was cleared from the fatal line by Munxar’s Mark Debrincat.  Munxar opened the score on 17 minutes when Jordi Parnis entered Zebbug’s territory with a personal action and placed in goal with a low drive.  Munxar could have doubled the score on 20 minutes but a direct free kick by Jordi Parnis was cleared off the goal-line by Zebbug’s Patrick Camilleri.  Zebbug levelled the score on 32 minutes when a shot by Chris Borg was partially saved by Munxar’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb and from the resultant clearance Christian Vella concluded in goal with a low shot from outside the area.  Play continued to be well contested and on 541 minutes Munxar went again close to scoring but an attempt by Elijah Xuereb after receiving from Carlton Mifsud ended just wide.  Zebbug turned the result in their favour on 42 minutes when Ikechukwu Igwemeke headed badly in the area following a corner kick by Matthion Formnosa and from the resultant melee Chris Borg placed in goal from close distance.

After the break Munxar tried to take command of play in an attempt to level the score but they found it difficult to convert their territorial supremacy into good scoring opportunities.  On the other hand Zebbug defended well and created some good scoring opportunities where they could have increased their bead.  On 50 minutes a free kick by Zebbug’s Lauran Pisani was saved to a corner by goalie Lorjean Xuereb.  The same goalkeeper made two other difficult saves on 59 and 62 minutes following attempts by Ikechukwu Igwemeke.  Munxar were dangerous on 72 minutes when Jordi Parnis released substitute Oliver Saliba inside Zebbug’s area but the latter concluded high from a good position.  Zebbug’s goalie Christian Cassar was well placed on 82 minutes and managed to neutralise an attempt by Oliver Curmi and four minutes later Munxar went very close to score the equaliser but an attempt by Jordi Parnis following a cross by Oliver Curmi was saved by the goalkeeper with the aid of the crossbar and the same goalie took the rebound and saved the danger.  On 87 minutes Munxar ended with a player less on the field when Paul Parnis was sent off for a foul outside the area on Ikechukwu Igwemeke.

Referee: Gordon Barbara