League

San Ġiljan
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Reuben Ambrogio got the match started through his kick off. A hard shot 3 in the game by Neil Spina from a close distance when the talented Marco Valenzia managed to make a qualified save. Pembroke's players were relieved. After a rather tough play, Pembroke's Etienne Calì got a free kick in the 4th minute. Marco Valenzia was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Herbert Cornelisse showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 1-0 in the 5 minute of play. Julian Degabriele scored 1-1 in the 9th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Eugenio Cardona, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Reuben Ambrogio received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 13th minute. Eugenio Cardona tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 17th minute, Reuben Ambrogio 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. 21 minutes into the match, Pembroke's Reuben Ambrogio sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Eugenio Cardona narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Eugenio Cardona showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Reuben Ambrogio, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. Neil Spina's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Marco Valenzia read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 33rd minute of play. Herbert Cornelisse might have been able to make a better finish in the 34th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Marco Valenzia. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Herbert Cornelisse ran back to his position shaking his head. 42 minutes into the match, Pembroke's goal looked a bit too open when Herbert Cornelisse came free, but Marco Valenzia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 44th minute, Pembroke's goalie took a deep sigh of relief after Neil Spina fired away a hard shot that went just outside the left post. In the 46th minute, Herbert Cornelisse ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Marco Valenzia was frozen by the shot and now it was 2-2. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Herbert Cornelisse was the one to do the kick off. If Reuben Ambrogio had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. San Ġiljan's Neil Spina got a good chance for a goal in the 58th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Reuben Ambrogio in the 60th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Eugenio Cardona prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Eugenio Cardona stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Reuben Ambrogio's shot from short distance in the 61st minute. Herbert Cornelisse succeeded in the game's 66th minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 3-2. 75 minutes into the match, Pembroke's goal looked a bit too open when Herbert Cornelisse came free, but Marco Valenzia reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Eugenio Cardona made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Reuben Ambrogio in the 87th minute of play. When Vittorio Bianco fell near the penalty area in the 90th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Pembroke's protests and gave Vittorio Bianco a yellow card for diving instead. If Neil Spina had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 91st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some fancy dribbling in the 95th minute, Neil Spina managed to get in a good position for a shot. San Ġiljan's supporters rose to their feet, but Neil Spina was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Marco Valenzia breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. San Ġiljan's Eugenio Cardona played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Reuben Ambrogio in the 97th minute of play. Pembroke's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.