League

Sputnik
Spectators: 8536 (Terracing: 6403, Seating: 1963, VIP seats: 170) Gunners's Ivan Polidano started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 3 minutes into the match, Gunners's goal looked a bit too open when Kyle Stafrace came free, but Philip Bezzina reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Toivo Puistola made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Carl Coppini in the 9th minute of play. When Sputnik VII's Kyle Stafrace in the 10th minute got a chance for a shot 10th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Gunners's goalie prevented a goal. In the 18th minute, Ivan Polidano made a precise shot to the right of Toivo Puistola. Sputnik VII's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. In the 20th minute, Thomas Montalto hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Carl Coppini received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 27th minute. Toivo Puistola tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Carl Coppini fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 29th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Toivo Puistola having to interfere. Toivo Puistola made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Ivan Polidano in the 33rd minute of play. The audience was convinced that Carl Coppini's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Toivo Puistola was relentless in the 35th minute of the game. Ivan Polidano fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Toivo Puistola having to interfere. In the 38th match minute, Sputnik VII was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Thomas Montalto to maneuver through the defense. An unexpected shot in the 46th minute by Kyle Stafrace got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. If Carl Coppini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 48th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After the first half Gunners were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Kyle Stafrace stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Philip Bezzina showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Kyle Stafrace, who was totally free with the ball in the 54th minute. If Kyle Stafrace had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 59th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After 60 played minutes Gunners got a freekick which was hit by James Bezzina. Tommy Mahoney's late challenge caught a Gunners's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Tommy Mahoney helped the player get up and apologised. 67 minutes into the game, one of Sputnik VII:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. In the 69th minute there was a penalty for Gunners. James Bezzina stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Toivo Puistola. 0-2. After 75 played minutes, Sputnik VII's Matteo Meilak shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Philip Bezzina came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Sputnik VII reached it. Sputnik VII's Toivo Puistola played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ivan Polidano in the 80th minute of play. Carl Coppinis short, quick shot in the 86thth minute got Toivo Puistola to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. With a little luck, Sputnik VII's Toivo Puistola got control of the ball when Carl Coppini tried to sneak it across the goal line. If Carl Coppini had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 92 minutes into the game, Thomas Drago was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Gunners's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sputnik VII the free kick. In the 92nd minute, Thomas Drago hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Carl Coppini could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 98th minute of the match, but Toivo Puistola made a huge save. If Ivan Polidano had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 99th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Gunners eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.