League Play-Off

Sliema
Spectators: 37 (Terracing: 29, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Kyle Alamango started the match with the kick off. John Galdes fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 10th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brandon Ventura having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 11th minute, Stephen Cassar Overend managed to get in a good position for a shot. Luqa SA's supporters rose to their feet, but Stephen Cassar Overend was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Brandon Ventura breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Brandon Ventura was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Stephen Cassar Overend showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 13 minute of play. An unexpected shot in the 18th minute by Kyle Alamango got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. A collision led to Luqa SA getting a freekick after 23 minutes play. John Galdes hit a great ball. 24 minutes into the match, Saviour Farrugia notched a goal, 1-1, to the right of Luqa SA's Martin Bonello. Martin Bonello was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Stephen Cassar Overend fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 31st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brandon Ventura having to interfere. A collision led to Gudja Athletics getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Roderick Fava hit a great ball. Martin Bonello showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Saviour Farrugia, who was totally free with the ball in the 37th minute. When Kyle Alamango came up free with the goalie in the 40th minute, the Luqa SA 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 Kyle Alamango couldn't finish the play. After having played for 44 minutes, John Galdes managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Luqa SA's supporters crossed their fingers, but John Galdes was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Kyle Alamango sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 1-1 after a close first half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Saviour Farrugia to strike the kick off in the second half. Brandon Ventura showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Stephen Cassar Overend in the 57th minute of the match. Stephen Cassar Overend fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 60th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Brandon Ventura having to interfere. In the 61st minute, Philip Delicata had to be helped off the field due to a pulled leg muscle. When David Delicata fell near the penalty area in the 61st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Gudja Athletics's protests and gave David Delicata a yellow card for diving instead. In the 63rd minute, Stephen Cassar Overend ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Brandon Ventura was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-1. Saviour Farrugia received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 71st minute. Martin Bonello tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Stephen Cassar Overend had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 79th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Stephen Cassar Overend received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Brandon Ventura tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. John Galdes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 82nd minute. Brandon Ventura tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The supporters of Gudja Athletics booed when Luqa SA was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. John Galdes didn't get a good kick on the ball. Stanley Vancell, 86 minutes into the match, dribbled the ball up the side of the field and decided to take a long shot at the goal. Unfortunately, the ball was poorly hit and landed closer to the corner than to the goal. In the 93rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Gudja Athletics's goalkeeper Brandon Ventura, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Carlo Strickland Bologna hit a great freekick 94 minutes into the match. Gudja Athletics's Brandon Ventura played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Stephen Cassar Overend in the 95th minute of play. John Galdes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 96th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a defensive mix-up in Gudja Athletics's zone, Stephen Cassar Overend stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brandon Ventura came out of the goal and Stephen Cassar Overend tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play.