Zebbug obtain a close win over St Lawrence

7 October 2023

GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup (MD 4) Kercem Stadium

St Lawrence Spurs FC : 0

Zebbug Rovers FC : 1

31’ (0-1) Harry Paulin

90+3’ (red card) Pierre Paul Camilleri (ZR)

St. Lawrence S:

J. Xiberras, J.K. Farrugia (J. Formosa 75), N. Haber, J.M. Portelli, C. Grima, A. Carvalho, J. Grima, V.J. Saliba, C. Azzopardi, M. Dingli, J. Saliba.

Zebbug R:

L. Camilleri, M. Formosa (B. Camilleri 78), G. Grech, O. Calleja, M.A. Moreno Ampudia, P.P. Camilleri, H. Paulin, N.J. Cini, R. Saliba, L. Portelli, J. Azzopardi.

Zebbug Rovers registered their second win in the first phase of the second division Challenge Cup so they reached a respectable place on the table.

The win for Zebbug, which matured through a goal scored just after the half-hour mark, was not enough to recover their gap from the first two places on the table as the qualification for the final was determined by the result of the other matches of the penultimate Match-Day of the round-robin.  For this match, St Lawrence tried hard to obtain their first point this season but in the end they failed to capitalise on their chances and ended up concluding the fourth defeat from the four matches played so far in this competition.

Timeline:

St Lawrence had a better start but they found it very difficult to create danger towards Zebbg’s goal.  As time passed by the Rovers came out of their defence and also created more goal-scoring situations so that they ended up taking the break with a deserved lead.

17’ (crossbar) Zebbug operated a counter break through Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia who entered St Lawrence’s area but the Columbian striker saw his lob aimed towards an open goal that was stopped by the crossbar.

24’ The Rovers missed another good scoring opportunity when Nathan John Cini turned around two direct opponents inside St Lawrence’s area but his close ranged shot was well blocked by goalie Joel Xiberras.

31’ (0-1) Zebbug opened the score when St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras partially saved a close-ranged attempt by Matthion Formosa and from the rebound, Harry Paulin took the opportunity and deposited the ball into an open goal.

HT (0-1)

Second Half

St Lawrence came out more determined after the break in an attempt to recover the score but the strikers continued to be very erratic in their finishing so Zebbug managed to defend their one-goal lead until the final whistle.

12’ St Lawrence was dangerous through a shot from outside the area by Jurgen Mario Portelli when Zebbug’s goalie was out of his position, but the ball ended wide.

15’ The same goalkeeper Leonard Camilleri was well placed and neutralised a low shot by Jurgen Mario Portelli from an angled position.

23’ St Lawrence was again dangerous but a strike by Ayseller Carvalho but the ball ended wide.

33’ The Spurs missed a good scoring opportunity when Victor John Saliba delivered a cross from the right flank but Ayesller Carvalho’s header from close distance ended just wide.

41’ Zebbug could have sealed the win but a shot from close distance by Miguel Angel Moreno Ampudia was saved to a corner by St Lawrence’s goalie Joel Xiberras.

45+2’ St Lawrence could have levelled the score when Zebbug’s defence failed to clear the ball from the area but a lob by substitute Justin Formosa from close distance missed the target.

45+3’ (red card) Zebbug were reduced to ten players when Pierre Paul Camilleri was shown a second yellow card for time wasting. 

45+4’ (post) St Lawrence could have saved the result but a low drive from close distance by Christian Grima was stopped by the post.

FT (SLS 0 – ZR 1)

Referee: Nikola Dordevic

Assistant Referees: Stefan Minic, Keith Marshall