League

Murphy’s Park
Spectators: 7515 (Terracing: 5715, Seating: 1750, VIP seats: 50) Balzan Youths's Karl Asciak 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. Giorgio Grech's late challenge caught a Murphy FC's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Giorgio Grech helped the player get up and apologised. The referee blew the whistle for a penalty in the 3rd minute of the game. One of Balzan Youths:s players had nearly got his shirt torn off by an opponent while getting free in front of Murphy FC:s goal. The goalkeeper, Stephan Depasquale, was totally fooled by Murphy FC's Thomas Bongailas, who 4 minutes into the game made a penalty shot that went in on the goalkeeper's left side. After some fancy dribbling in the 7th 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. Stephan Depasquale breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After 9 played minutes Murphy FC got a freekick which was hit by Ryan Depasquale. In the 11th minute of the match Emanuel Mifsud sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Roberto Calleja skillfully saved the ball. Marco Testaferrata Olivier hit a great freekick 15 minutes into the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Karl Asciak in the 17th minute of play forced Murphy FC's goalkeeper Roberto Calleja to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ben Blanco in the 27th minute of play forced Balzan Youths's goalkeeper Stephan Depasquale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. When Karl Asciak came up free with the goalie in the 30th 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 Karl Asciak couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Thomas Bongailas in the 33rd minute of play forced Balzan Youths's goalkeeper Stephan Depasquale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Ben Blanco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 35th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Brian Axiak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stephan Depasquale having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Ryan Depasquale during the 39th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. After a rather tough play, Murphy FC's Ryan Depasquale got a free kick in the 39th minute. If Ben Blanco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 1-0 at half-time.

With a little luck, Murphy FC's Roberto Calleja got control of the ball when Karl Asciak tried to sneak it across the goal line. After 56 minutes Murphy FC's defender was forced to head the ball over the line for a corner. It was Emanuel Mifsud who took care of the corner kick. Stephan Depasquale came out of the goal in the 59th minute to try and stop a shot by Murphy FC's Alessio Amato. But to his dismay, Alessio Amato quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. Balzan Youths's Ričards Tālums got a good chance for a goal in the 64th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Karl Asciak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 73rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Roberto Calleja having to interfere. In the 78th minute, Ričards Tālums fired away a killer shot towards the goal that, to the delight of Roberto Calleja, passed just outside the right post. Stephan Depasquale came out of the goal in the 84th minute to try and stop a shot by Murphy FC's Thomas Bongailas. But to his dismay, Thomas Bongailas quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 4-0. In the 90th minute, Ben Blanco made a precise shot to the right of Stephan Depasquale. Balzan Youths's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 5-0. Balzan Youths's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.