League

Murphy’s Park
Spectators: 7515 (Terracing: 5715, Seating: 1750, VIP seats: 50) After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Ben Blanco managed to get in a good position for a shot. Murphy FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Ben Blanco was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tony Dougall breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. 5 minutes into the match, Murphy FC's Ben Blanco sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Tony Dougall narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Ben Blanco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 11th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Ben Blanco struck a weak shot in the 14th minute. Tony Dougall didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Murphy FC. An unexpectedly hard shot by Claudio Miggiani in the 16th minute of play forced Murphy FC's goalkeeper Roberto Calleja to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bjorn Herrera kicked well hit freekick during the 25th minute of the match. After a defensive mix-up in Murphy FC's zone, George Magro stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Roberto Calleja came out of the goal and George Magro tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Marco Van Huytvenne got in the 34th a clear chance and fired away a hard shot against goal, but Roberto Calleja handled the situation perfectly and made a save by the crossbar. Evan Borg Xuereb hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. In the 41st minute, Victor De Fremeaux hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Marco Van Huytvenne sent away a hard shot on goal in the 44th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 48 minutes into the match, Gzira United's goalkeeper Tony Dougall had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Thomas Bongailas.

The wind increased when Marco Van Huytvenne made the kick off in the second half. If Ben Blanco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 52nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 54 minutes, Marco Van Huytvenne made it 0-1 with a short kick to the right side. Murphy FC's Roberto Calleja tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot. The crowd rose to their feet as Gzira United's Marco Van Huytvenne slotted home a wonderful shot that went in to the left of Roberto Calleja. That made the score 0-2 after 58 minutes of play. In the 62nd minute, Claudio Miggiani got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 63rd minute, Claudio Miggiani fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. Ben Blanco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 68th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Ryan Depasquale charged in rather forcefully in the 72nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Ryan Depasquale the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The audience held their breath when George Magro in the 73rd minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Roberto Calleja's left hand side. George Magro was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 81st played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. In the 83rd minute, Thomas Bongailas made a precise shot to the right of Tony Dougall. Gzira United's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. Tony Dougall showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Thomas Bongailas, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. Roberto Calleja showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Marco Van Huytvenne, who was totally free with the ball in the 89th minute. Ben Blanco might have been able to make a better finish in the 96th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Tony Dougall. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Ben Blanco ran back to his position shaking his head. When the match was over Gzira United could go home with a victory in their luggage, having controlled the game far better than Murphy FC throughout the match.