League

Balzan Arena
Spectators: 8513 (Terracing: 6385, Seating: 1958, VIP seats: 170) Ivan Polidano made the kick off and thus started the match. An unexpected shot in the 2nd minute by Ričards Tālums got the crowd on their feet, but to their dismay it went out on the left side. After 5 played minutes Gunners got a freekick which was hit by Carl Coppini. Karl Asciak who was well placed in front of the goal fired away a dangerous shot that in the 7thth minute tested the skills of Philip Bezzina when he managed to save the team from getting behind. Balzan Youths's Stephan Depasquale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ivan Polidano in the 9th minute of play. When the match clock showed 11 minutes, the score became 0-1 when Carl Coppini sped through Balzan Youths's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Stephan Depasquale. After 19 played minutes Gunners got a freekick which was hit by Carl Coppini. The audience was convinced that Ivan Polidano's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Stephan Depasquale was relentless in the 21st minute of the game. After a defensive mix-up in Balzan Youths's zone, Ivan Polidano stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Stephan Depasquale came out of the goal and Ivan Polidano tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. In the 43rd minute the ball was on its way in behind Gunners's goalkeeper Philip Bezzina, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Karl Asciak to make the kick off. Philip Bezzina showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Karl Asciak, who was totally free with the ball in the 55th minute. Karl Asciak sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Stephan Depasquale showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Ivan Polidano, who was totally free with the ball in the 59th minute. Ivan Polidano recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 61st minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Ivan Polidano's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Stephan Depasquale read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 69th minute of play. After 70 played minutes Balzan Youths got a freekick which was hit by Etienne Xerri. 75 minutes into the match, Balzan Youths's goal looked a bit too open when Ivan Polidano came free, but Stephan Depasquale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 0-3 became the score in the 79th minute when Ivan Polidano elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. After some fancy dribbling in the 83rd minute, Ivan Polidano managed to get in a good position for a shot. Gunners's supporters rose to their feet, but Ivan Polidano was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stephan Depasquale breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Ivan Polidano received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 88th minute. Stephan Depasquale tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After a rather tough play, Gunners's Ivan Polidano got a free kick in the 94th minute. After 95 played minutes, Balzan Youths's Ričards Tālums 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 Balzan Youths reached it. The Balzan Youths supporters were disappointed that their team didn't take anything from the match, despite matching Gunners's performance. The match ended with a win for Gunners.