St Lawrence qualify for the Cup final

MATCH DETAILS

GFA KO Division II S/final

Gozo Stadium –16 April 2019

St Lawrence S FC : 2 (C. Cauchi 26’, C. Farrugia 85’)

Brignoli, C. Mercieca (A. Xiberras), S. Sultana, J. Theuma, C. Cauchi, M. Fagbeja, C. Azzopardi, D. Micallef, C. Farrugia (J. Grima), L. Buttigieg (C. Grima), M. Zerafa.

Zebbug R FC : 0

Saliba, M. Ciangura, M. Formosa, O. Calleja, L. Farrugia (L. Meilaq), M. Peres Vega, A. Buttigieg, J. Grech (C. Fauugia), R. Meilak, E. Xuereb, J. Azzopardi (C. Vella).

MATCH REPORT

St. Lawrence Spurs scored a goal in each half in the first semi final of the Knock Out competition against Zebbug Rovers following an interesting encounter that let the outcome uncertain until the dying moments.  The two sides were coming from a good moment of form as they are both aiming to end up the season on a positive note. However, St Lawrence’s once again managed to make better use of their experience so that they managed to resist through the difficult moments and punished their opponents with goals that arrived in crucial moments of the encounter.  In this match Zebbug ended their commitments for this football season, which overall did not meet the expectations and targets set at the beginning of the season.

Play during the first part of the encounter was quite balanced where the two defensive departments prevailed over the respective strikers.  St Lawrence created a good opportunity on 10 minutes a header by Charlon Farrugia following a cross by Christopher Cauchi ended wide. Zebbug gained some territorial supremacy as time passed by and on 15 minutes a shot by Lucas Farrugia ended away from St Lawrence’s goal.  Three minutes later Zebbug’s Elijah Xuereb also had an attempt that ended wide and on 21 minutes St Lawrence’s keeper Angelo Brignoli was well placed and managed to save with difficulty to a corner a strike by Aaron Buttigieg. St Lawrence opened the score on 26 minutes when Muda Fagbeja unmarked Christopher Cauchi and the latter concluded in goal with a low shot.  Zebbug produced a reaction and on 45 minutes they were dangerous through a free kick by Marcos Peres Vega that was saved to a corner by goalie Angelo Brignoli.  From the same corner kick by Marco Ciangura, the defence failed to clear the danger and St Lawrence’s defender Louis Buttigieg headed badly in an attempt to clear from the goalmouth and risked to commit an own goal but the ball ended on the post.

Play became more exciting after the break and on 51 minutes Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba made a good intervention to clear away a cross shot by Michael Zerafa.  From the rebound St Lawrence’s Jason Theuma passed to Muda Fagbeja who concluded wide from an ideal position. Zebbug replied two minutes later through a shot cross by Aaron Buttigieg that ended high and on 54 minutes St Lawrence had a shot from outside the area by Jason Theuma that ended just over Zebbug’s goal. In the following action Zebbug could have levelled the score but a shot by Ryan Meilak ended just wide.  On 66 minutes St Lawrence had an opportunity to double the score when the referee awarded a penalty for handling by Zebbug’s Ryan Meilak but St Lawrence’s Charlon Farrugia had his shot from the kick that was partially saved by goalie Baskal Saliba and form the rebound a shot by Muda Fagbeja ended high. Zebbug went very close to punish their opponents for the missed chance on 71 minutes when Ryan Meilak prolonged to Matthion Formosa inside St Lawrence’s area from a free kick by Marco Ciangura, but Formosa’s header ended high.  One minutes later Zebbug’s keeper Baskal Saliba made a good asve following a header by Muda Fagbeja following a corner kick by Charlon Farrugia and on 81 minutes Zebbug operated a dangerous break through Marcos Peres Vega who entered the area, passed to Elijah Xuereb and the latter prolonged to Ryan Meilak who saw his low shot ending just wide. St Lawrence made sure of the qualification by scoring the second goal on 85 minutes when Christopher Cauchi won a ball from Zebbug’s defence and released Muda Fagbeja. The latter had his attempt partially saved by goalie Baskal Saliba and form the rebound Charlon Farrugia took the ball and guided the ball easily in goal.

Referee: Luke Xuereb