Munxar turn a defeat into a win

25 October 2022
BOV GFA Cup (Prel Rd) Kercem Arkafort Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC : 4
Gharb Rangers : 2

19’ (penalty missed – wide) Joao Pablo Soares De Souza (GR)
45’ (0-1) Christian Cardona
54’ (1-1) Henry Fabian Solis
55’ (2-1) Brandon Said
62’ (red card) Paul Parnis (MF)
62’ (2-2) penalty Joao Pablo Soares De Souza
66’ (3-2) Stefan Farrugia
76’ (4-2) Michael Zerafa

Munxar F:
D.C. Spiteri, J.P. Grima (A. Buttigieg), P. Parnis, S. Farrugia (G. Cauchi), H.F. Solis, B. Said, M.
Debrincat, R. Grima (R. Meilak), S. Muscat (C. Gafa), M. Farrugia, K. Mizzi (M. Zerafa).

Gharb R:
J.P. Cassar, S. Farrugia, M. Ciangura, C. Cardona (C. Cutajar), G. Debrincat, V. Laketic (D. Vella), R.
Portelli (M. Tabone), J. Buttigieg (A. Cini), J. Agius, O. Calleja (G. Grech), J.P. Soares De Souza.

Munxar Falcons will face holders Nadur Youngsters in the quarter finals stage of the BOV GFA Cup as
they earned the qualification with a 4-2 win over Gharb Rangers. The two sides faced each other in their
previous match that was from match day-1 of the second division campaign, which ended in a draw, and
therefore both Munxar and Gharb were confident to achieve the win from this KO match.

Munxar were trailing by one goal at the end of the first half but they produced a determined reaction and
managed to turn the result in their favour with two goals scored in the space of one minute during the
opening stages of the second half. Munxar were not demoralised when they ended with a player less

on the field and Gharb scored the equaliser, so that they maintain their momentum and obtained the win
by scoring the two decisive goals of the encounter.

Timeline:

Gharb seemed in a better shape for most of the first half but they were often erratic in their finishing and
missed the opportunity to take the break with more than a one goal lead.
19’ (penalty missed – wide) Gharb had an opportunity to take the lead when they were awarded a
penalty for a foul by Mark Debrincat on Gabriel Debrincat but the shot from the spot kick by Joao Pablo
Soares De Souza ended wide.
45’ (0-1) Gharb made up for the missed chance from the spot kick and opened the score through a tap-
in by Christian Cardona following an inviting low cross by Viktor Laketic.
HT (0-1)

Second Half
Munxar came out more determined for the second period and they not only managed to recover the
deficit but ended up obtaining a convincing win despite playing the last part of the encounter with a
player less on the field.
10’ (1-1) The Falcons levelled the score through a direct free kick by Henry Fabian Solis that ended out
of the reach of the goalkeeper.
11’ (2-1) Munxar took the lead when an attempt by Stefan Farrugia was partially saved by Gharb’s
keeper John Paul Cassar and from the rebound Brandon Said took the ball and placed easily in goal.
17’ (red card) Gharb were awarded a penalty when Munxar’s Paul Parnis pulled down Joao Pablo
Soares De Souza inside the area and the defender was sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity.
17’ (2-2) From the resultant penalty Joao Pablo Doares De Souza fired in goal and re-opened the
issue.
21’ (3-2) Munxar regained the lead through a strike from ideal position by Stefan Farrugia after
receiving from Bandon Said.
31’ (4-2) The Falcons made sure of the win by scoring the fourth goal that arrived through a strike from
an angled position by substitute Michael Zerafa that surprised Gharb’s keeper.
80’ Munxar continued to create more danger and went close to add another goal but a shot by Samwel
Muscat following a personal action ended wide.
88’ Gharb’s keeper John Paul Cassar denied Munxar from scoring the fifth goal when he blocked a shot
from close distance by Brandon Said after receiving from substitute Ryan Meilak.