Munxar F : 3 (O. Curmi 37’, 57’; K. Borg 69’)
L. Gatt, P. Parnis (P. Said), C. Bugeja (R. Sammut), C. Gafa, K. Borg, B. Meilak, O. Curmi, S. Muscat, M. Matthias Uzor, J. Parnis, F. Attard (M. Azzopardi).
Qala S : 2 (B. Sammut 28’, D. Portelli 30’)
L. Xuereb, F. Mumford, S. Sillato, M. Pace (J. Attard), J. Buttigieg, M. Cefai, J. Rapa, D. Portelli (C. Caruana), J. Mifsud, B. Sammut, A.M. Mukom Fotso.
Munxar Falcons confirmed their strong potential in the second division in their match against Qala Saints where they recovered a two-goal deficit and ended up winning the full points at stake by turning the result in their favour. The Falcons must have had an overconfident approach for this match as they were coming from three consecutive convincing wins and as a result they were surprised by the less quoted opponents during the first half hour of play. Munxar however, had a determined reaction and maintained their perfect start by obtaining the fourth consecutive win in the campaign. With this result the Falcons remain with maximum points and opened a six-point lead over their closest rivals for promotion.
The Falcons tried to take command of play from the early stages and on 12 minutes they went close to scoring but an effort by Frank Attard was cleared off the goalmouth by Qala’s John Rapa. Qala replied three minutes later through a header by Joseph Buttigieg from a free kick by Francisco Mumford that ended just wide. On 17 minutes Munxar’s Samwel Muscat had a good shot that was stopped by the crossbar and on 28 minutes Qala opened the score through a cross-shot by Bernard Sammut that ended out of the reach of Munxar’s keeper. Munxar were shocked and Qala doubled the score two minutes later through a direct free kick by Daniel Portelli with the ball ending in goal despite the attempt by goalie Liam Gatt to clear the danger. On 36 minutes Munxar’s Frank Attard had a good shot from an angled position that was saved to a corner with some difficulty by goalie Lorjean Xuereb and one minute later the Falcons reduced the deficit when Jordi Parnis passed through Qala’s defence with a personal action and form his low cross Oliver Curmi pushed the ball in goal from close distance. Qala could have regained the two-goal lead in the first minute of stoppage time before half time but Munxar’s keeper Liam Gatt was well placed and saved to a corner a strike by Mukom Fotso.
After the resumption Munxar kept insisting and on 57 minutes they clinched the equaliser through a fine header by Oliver Curmi, who arrived on the ball before goalie Lorjen Xuereb, following a cross from the right flank by Michael Matthias Uzor. On 65 minutes Munxar were again dangerous when a header by substitute Paul Said from a corner kick by Brian Meilak, was cleared off the fatal line by Qala’s Samuel Sillato. On 69 minutes Munxar completed their comeback by scoring the third goal which arrived through a lob by Keith Borg following a corner kick by Paul Said that surprised goalie Lorjean Xuereb. Four minutes later Munxar could have made sure of the victory with another goal but a good shot by Michael Matthias Uzor following a personal action was well saved by Qala’s keeper. During the final stages of the encounter Qala increased their efforts in an attempt to save the result but they failed to capitalise from their best scoring opportunities. On 87 minutes a header by John Rapa from a corner action ended just wide and during stoppage time a shot from close distance by Samuel Sillato ended wide while an effort by Malcolm Cefai was neutralised by Munxar’s goalie Liam Gatt.
Referee: Ryan Caruana
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