League

Sliema Playground
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Nikolai Griffin got the match started through his kick off. 3 minutes into the match, Nikolai Griffin notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Sliema Youngsters's Joseph Sladden. Joseph Sladden was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. If Kurt Vella had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. Giorgio Soler shot the penalty kick right outside the post. In the 18th minute, Nikolai Griffin left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Balzan fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-2. Kurt Vella's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Joseph Sladden read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 23rd minute of play. Sliema Youngsters's Joseph Sladden played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Kurt Vella in the 28th minute of play. A well done corner resulted in Kurt Vella drilling the ball in to score 0-3 behind Sliema Youngsters's goalkeeper. In the 33rd minute, Jean Paul Nappa made a precise shot to the right of Evan Lia. Balzan's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-3. An unexpected shot in the 36th minute by Julian Sapiano got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. Joseph Sladden stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Kurt Vella's shot from short distance in the 39th minute. In the 41st match minute, Sliema Youngsters was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Cedric Testaferrata Bonici to maneuver through the defense. When Kurt Vella came up free with the goalie in the 48th minute, the Balzan fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Kurt Vella couldn't finish the play.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Jean Paul Nappa to strike the kick off in the second half. The audience thought a goal was coming when Kurt Vella got free with Joseph Sladden in the 52nd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Aidan De Fremeaux lost his temper 55 minutes into the game and shoved another player to the ground. He was immediately shown a red card. 55 minutes into the game, one of Balzan:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. After having played for 58 minutes, Kurt Vella managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Balzan's supporters crossed their fingers, but Kurt Vella was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. When Ismael Facciol fell near the penalty area in the 68th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Sliema Youngsters's protests and gave Ismael Facciol a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of Balzan booed when Sliema Youngsters was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Ismael Facciol didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Julian Sapiano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Kurt Vella scored 1-5 in the 74th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Joseph Sladden, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Jean Paul Nappa fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 77th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evan Lia having to interfere. Julian Sapiano fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Evan Lia having to interfere. Kurt Vella might have been able to make a better finish in the 83rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Joseph Sladden. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Kurt Vella ran back to his position shaking his head. Evan Lia showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jean Paul Nappa, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Kurt Vella fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 92nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Joseph Sladden having to interfere. With a little luck, Sliema Youngsters's Joseph Sladden got control of the ball when Kurt Vella tried to sneak it across the goal line. After having played for 99 minutes, Nathan Lauri managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Balzan's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nathan Lauri was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Balzan's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.