GFA Division II KO FinalI Gozo Stadium
- Buttigieg, F. Mumford, S. Sillato, G. Silatto, J. Rapa (C. Caruana), M. Pace, J. Buttigieg, W. Cassar (M. Cefai), S. Dimech, L. Meilak (C. Portelli), D. Zamora.
Munxr F : 2 (E. Xuereb 42’, O. Curmi 65’)
- Xuereb, R. Meilak, G. Muscat, M. Debrincat, P. Parnis, J. Azzopardi (O. Saliba), A. Sacco, O. Curmi, M. Matthias Uzor, J. Parnis, E. Xuereb (R. Sammut).
Munxar Falcons turned a defeat into a victory in the final of the GFA Knock Out competition for the lower category and took an important trophy for the first time after twenty six years. The final match was well contested as the two sides are both having a disappointing campaign in the league and therefore they were both aiming to make up by winning the second most important honour for the category. In this match Munxar, who are currently going through a good moment of form, were also determined to win this competition for the first time while Qala who won this competition on three occasions since the year 2000, were motivated to win this competition for the first time after seven years. Munxar suffered Qala’s play during the first half hour of the match but they had a good reaction after they conceded Qala’s goal and not only managed to level the score before half time but took the lead midway through the second half so that they administered their lead until the end of the encounter. For this match Qala and Munxar had Brian Meilak and Francesco Cini respectively missing due to suspensions.
Qala came out more aggressive than their oppoentsw and helf territorial supremacy for most fo the first period. The Maroons could have opened the score after just nine seconds of play but Dario Zamora’s attempt following a long through pass after the kick off ended wide. On 5 minutes a header by Qala’s John Rapa from a corner action was cleared off the fatal line by Munxar’s defender Mark Debrincat with the goalkeeper beaten and Munxar replied two minutes later through a low shot by Elijah Xuereb that was well blocked by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Qala however continued to dictate matters and on 9 minutes a goal by Dario Zamora following a fre kick by Luke Buttigieg was disallowed form an offside infringement. On 15 minutes Qala’s Steve Dimech released Luke Meilak inside Munxar’s area but the latter had his shot saved in two attempts by goalie Lorjean Xuereb. Six minutes later a header by Qala’s Steve Dimech following a cross by Samuel Sillato ended just over the crossbar. Qala opened the score on 33 minutes through a fine header by Gabriele Sillato following a corner kick by Francisco Mumford. The Saints could have doubled the score one minute later but Munxar’s goalie Lorjean Xuereb went outside his area to clear the danger before Dario Zamora could enter alone in the area. On 35 minutes Munxar’s Alex Sacco had a good shot save dby goalie Franco Buttigieg and two minutes later Qala’s Michael Pace had an attempt directly from a free kick that ended on the side of the net. On 38 mintes Munxar’s Michael Mattias Uzor tried a shot from outside the area that missed the target but the Falcons leveled the score on 42 minutes through a close ranged header by Elijah Xuereb following a cross from the right flank by Paul Parnis.
Play continued to be quite balanced after the break and on 49 minutes Munxar had a good attempt by Alex Sacco that was saved to a corner by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Qala replied five minutes later through a free kick by Luke Meilak that was saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb. Munxar turned the result in their favour on 65 minutes when a direct free kick by Michael Mattias Uzor was saved to a corner with difficulty by goalie Franco Buttigieg and from the corner kick by Jordi Parnis, Oliver Curmi headed towards the corner of the net. The Falcons could have increased the lead less than a minute later but a shot on thr run by Michael Mattias Uzor after receiving from Elijah Xuereb ended just wide. Qala replied onn 67 minutes through a shot by Dario Zamora following a personal action that was saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and on 76 minutes a free kick by Munxar’s Jordi Parnis ended wide. The same Jordi Parnis went again close to score the third goal for his side on two other occasions but his attempts directly from free kicks on 82 and 83 minutes were saved with difficulty by goalie Franco Buttigieg. Qala could have forced extra time in the third minute of stoppage time when Steve Dimech released Dario Zamora inside Munxar’s area but the latter had his shot partially saved by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and from the rebound substitute Christian Portelli incredibly concluded high with an open goal at his mercy.
After the match the Vice President of the Gozo Football Association Mr Frank Mumford in the present of Vice President Angelo Grech and the General Secretary Tony Grech presented medals to all the players and officials, and the trophy for the winners of the Knock Out competition to Munxar’s captain Jordi Parnis.
Referee: Andrea Sciriha
0 Comments