Munxar Falcons defeat Zebbug and earn a place in the final of the Challenge Cup

10 September 2024

GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup (S/F 2) Gozo Stadium

Munxar Falcons FC : 3

Zebbug Rovers FC: 1

43’ (1-0) Matthew Zammit

57’ (2-0) Nathaniel Mercieca

72’ (2-1) Paul Spiteri

75’ (3-1) Samwel Muscat

77 (red card) Elton Alexandre Da Silva (ZR)

Munxar F:

J. Micallef, K. Borg, D. Azzopardi, K. Farrugia, A. Da Silva Arruda, N. Mifsud (S. Muscat 8), N. Mercieca, M. Zammit (G. Attard 56), E. Galea (P. Parnis 85), J.G. Vella (L. Meilak 85), O. Curmi.

Zebbug R:

G. Saliba, P. Spiteri, M. Formosa, C. Debono (P.P. Camilleri 60), B. Camilleri (O. Saliba 70), H. Paulin, O. Cremona, L. Portelli, M. Ciangura, E.A. Da Silva, J. Buttigieg.

In the second semi-final match of the GFA 2nd Division Challenge Cup, Munxar Falcons obtained a deserved win over Zebbug Rovers and earned qualification to the final where they will meet Kercem Ajax.

This was a match between two sides who registered large wins in their respective match of the quarter-final stage.  However, in this encounter, Munxar prevailed over their opponents and ended up obtaining a comfortable win.  Zebbug expressed their best patch of play during the opening minutes of the tie but as soon as Munxar increased their momentum, the latter became the better side on the field of play.  Munxar were well deployed at their defence and neutralised Zebbug’s efforts with authority.  The Falcons were also very effective in their play and threatened Zebbug’s rearguard on various occasions.  Munxar took the driving seat with a goal scored just before halftime and expressed their superiority by scoring a second goal after the hour mark.  Zebbiug managed to pull one goal back but Munxar soon re-established the two-goal lead and the qualification was determined at an early stage of the encounter.

Photo: Anthony Cassar

Timeline:

Zebbug seemed more aggressive during the opening minutes of the match but they did not manage to create serious attempts towards Munxar’s goal.  As time passed by Munxar came out of their defence, took territorial supremacy, became more dangerous and ended the first half with a deserved lead.

11’ Munxar created the first scoring opportunity of the encounter when Nathaniel Mercieca passed inside Zebbug’s area and from his pass substitute Samwel Muscat saw his shot from a good position that ended over the crossbar.

16’ The Falcons went again close to score when Zebbug’s defence failed to clear a cross by Aroldo Da Silva Arruda and Matthew Zammit passed to Nathaniel Mercieca who had his low shot with the goalkeeper beaten that was cleared off the fatal line by Zebbug’s skipper Matthion Formosa.

29’ Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba was well placed and saved with some difficulty a low shot by Nathaniel Mercieca.

31’ The same goalkeeper was called to make another important intervention to block a shot from close distance by Aroldo Da Silva Arruda.

39’ Zebbug’s best scoring opportunity of the first half arrived through a curling shot by Elton Da Silva but the ball ended wide.

43’ (1-0) Munxar opened the score when Aroldo Da Silva Arruda delivered a cross towards the goalmouth, Joseph George Vella arrived before Zebbug’s goalie and Matthew Zammit arrived on the ball and deposited easily into an open goal.

45+1’ (post) Munxar went very close to doubling their lead when Zebbuig’s defence failed to clear the ball following a cross from the right flank by Samwel Muscat, but Aroldo Da Silva Arruda’s shot from an unmarked position was stopped by the post.

HT (1-0)

Second Half

Zebbug’s reaction after the break was sterile while Munxar continued to enjoy command of play where they also managed to double the score.  Zebbug re-opened their chances of qualification for some minutes as they reduced their gap from their opponents, but Munxar practically put their minds at rest from the qualification by scoring the third goal while Zebbug compromised their chances when they ended up playing with a player less for the last part of the encounter.

4’ Munxar’s goalie Joel Micallef was called to make a good save to block an attempt directly from a free kick by Zebbug’s Elton Da Silva.

12’ (2-0) Munxar increased their lead through Nathaniel Mercieca who passed through Munxar’s territory, exchanged the ball at the edge of the area with Joseph George Vella and placed in goal with a low shot.

27’ (2-1) Zebbug managed to re-open the issue when they reduced the deficit through a shot on the run by Paul Spiteri following a cross from the left flank by Oliver Cremona.

30’ (3-1) Munxar regained their two-goal lead when a shot directly from a free kick by Nathaniel Mercieca hit the crossbar and from the rebound, Samwel Muscat pushed the ball into an open goal.

32’ (red card) Zebbug were reduced to ten players when Elton Da Silva was sent off for touching the referee while protesting for a penalty.

42’ (post) The Falcons went very close to adding another goal when substitute Luke Meilak delivered a cross from the right flank and Zebbug’s defence risked committing an own goal in an attempt to clear the ball from the goalmouth but the ball hit the post with the goalkeeper beaten.  From the rebound substitute Paul Parnis had his shot that was blocked and the defence cleared the danger.

45+1’ Zebbug’s goalie Gabriel Saliba denied Munxar from scoring another goal when he cleared to another corner an attempt directly from a corner kick by Nathaniel Mercieca.

FT (MF 3 – ZR 1)

Referee: Luca Formosa

Assistant Referees: Denis Kadri, Luca Grech