League

Balzan Arena
Spectators: 8467 (Terracing: 6351, Seating: 1947, VIP seats: 169) Marco Van Huytvenne started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. In the 2nd match minute, Gzira United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Noel Naudi to maneuver through the defense. Karl Asciak came free with the goalkeeper in the 6th minute of the match, and shot straight on target. The shot was a little too simple and Tony Dougall could save by the left post. Karl Asciak received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 11th minute. Tony Dougall tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. With a little luck, Gzira United's Tony Dougall got control of the ball when Ričards Tālums tried to sneak it across the goal line. With his leg Tony Dougall managed to avoid a goal in the 18thth minute, when Balzan Youths's Karl Asciak fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 23 minutes into the game, one of Balzan Youths:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. The referee gave Gzira United a penalty, 24 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Marco Van Huytvenne, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Balzan Youths's Stephan Depasquale. 0-1. When the match had gone on for 28 minutes, Karl Asciak took a quick shot and it went in 1-1 without a chance for Tony Dougall to make any attempt to save it. The audience thought a goal was coming when Karl Asciak got free with Tony Dougall in the 31st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 32nd minute, George Magro hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 33 played minutes Balzan Youths got a freekick which was hit by Ričards Tālums. Tony Dougall made a fantastic save in the 36th minute, when Karl Asciak sent off a good shot on target. When Etienne Xerri came up free with the goalie in the 37th minute, the Balzan Youths 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 Etienne Xerri couldn't finish the play. If Karl Asciak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 42nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Marco Van Huytvenne struck a weak shot in the 43rd minute. Stephan Depasquale didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Gzira United. In the 46th minute the ball was on its way in behind Gzira United's goalkeeper Tony Dougall, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Karl Asciak was the one to do the kick off. Tony Dougall took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Karl Asciak, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Karl Asciak struck a weak shot in the 62nd 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 Balzan Youths. Karl Asciak's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Tony Dougall read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 65th minute of play. In the 67th minute Karl Asciak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tony Dougall saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marco Van Huytvenne received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 68th minute. Stephan Depasquale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 70th minute, Karl Asciak 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. After 71 minutes, Ričards Tālums mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Balzan Youths and the Gzira United players grew even worse after the yellow card. After a rather tough play, Balzan Youths's Ričards Tālums got a free kick in the 71st minute. After 76 played minutes Gzira United got a freekick which was hit by Matt Catania. Tony Dougall took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Emanuel Mifsud, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a rather tough play, Gzira United's Marco Van Huytvenne got a free kick in the 80th minute. Karl Asciak recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Balzan Youths getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Ričards Tālums hit a great ball. Marco Van Huytvenne fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 94th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stephan Depasquale having to interfere. Neither set of supporters seemed pleased with the draw, but both teams had played equally well today.