League

Balzan Arena
Spectators: 7000 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 2000, VIP seats: 0) Jonathan Scriha started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. 3 minutes into the match, Tony Petroni notched a goal, 0-1, to the right of Balzan Rainbows's Bertrand Engerer. Bertrand Engerer was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Bertrand Engerer showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Jonathan Scriha, who was totally free with the ball in the 6th minute. With 8 minutes on the clock, Neville Degiorgio commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 10th minute there was a penalty for Gharb Rangers. Jonathan Scriha stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Bertrand Engerer. 0-2. Bertrand Engerer showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Roberto Teuma Castelletti in the 12th minute of the match. If Andrea Critien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Jonathan Scriha's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bertrand Engerer read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 14th minute of play. Jeremy Ciliberti sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 20th minute, Daniele Borda hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Anton Hyzler charged in rather forcefully in the 22nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Anton Hyzler the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 21st minute of the game. One of Balzan Rainbows:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Gharb Rangers:s goal. Jonathan Scriha placed the ball on the penalty spot and got himself ready to shoot. Post out! The supporters of Gharb Rangers booed when Balzan Rainbows was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 23 match minutes in a wonderful position. Andrea Valletta didn't get a good kick on the ball. Tony Petroni sent away a hard shot on goal in the 24th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 29 minutes of play, Balzan Rainbows's Colin Cini made it 1-2 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Juan Duca was left in no man's land by his defense there! Bertrand Engerer stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jonathan Scriha's shot from short distance in the 33rd minute. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Tony Bonett during the 33rd minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. The supporters of Gharb Rangers booed when Balzan Rainbows was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 33 match minutes in a wonderful position. Tony Bonett didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 36th minute Jonathan Scriha shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Bertrand Engerer saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Bertrand Engerer didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Jonathan Scriha went, in the 36th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-3 was the resulting score. In the 39th minute, Alan Satariano hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Colin Cini to make the kick off. Bertrand Engerer showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Tony Petroni in the 53rd minute of the match. After a rather tough play, Balzan Rainbows's Anton Hyzler got a free kick in the 55th minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jeremy Ciliberti in the 60th minute of play forced Gharb Rangers's goalkeeper Juan Duca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After a rather tough play, Gharb Rangers's Tony Petroni got a free kick in the 64th minute. Tony Petroni was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 69th minute. Gharb Rangers's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Andrea Critien fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 75th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bertrand Engerer having to interfere. Colin Cini sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience thought a goal was coming when Daniele Borda got free with Bertrand Engerer in the 78th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Gharb Rangers's Jonathan Scriha got a good chance for a goal in the 79th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Jonathan Scriha managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gharb Rangers's supporters rose to their feet, but Jonathan Scriha was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bertrand Engerer breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Tony Petroni fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bertrand Engerer having to interfere. 86 minutes into the match, Andrea Critien dribbled the ball past the defender and swiftly kicked the ball to the left of Bertrand Engerer, 1-4. Bertrand Engerer stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Jonathan Scriha's shot from short distance in the 91st minute. In the 96th minute, Gharb Rangers's Jonathan Scriha ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Bertrand Engerer. Bertrand Engerer yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 1-5. Gharb Rangers played a much better game than Balzan Rainbows and deserved their victory. The Balzan Rainbows players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.