Official Cup

Karigavas Bloda
Spectators: 206 (Terracing: 155, Seating: 47, VIP seats: 4) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Miervaldis Balčūns took the kick off in the first half of the match. After some fancy dribbling in the 5th minute, Leo Bailey managed to get in a good position for a shot. Sliema Dragons FC's supporters rose to their feet, but Leo Bailey was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Arvīds Tikāns breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. A collision led to BumboTava getting a freekick after 7 minutes play. Jānis Mežāris hit a great ball. After some careless play in the BumboTava defense, Leo Bailey kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Arvīds Tikāns. The BumboTava fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Arvīds Tikāns should have stopped the shot. The audience was convinced that Samuel Galdes's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Arvīds Tikāns was relentless in the 17th minute of the game. 19 minutes into the game, Miervaldis Balčūns recieved a splendid long ball, split the defenders, and gently placed the ball to the left of John Balzan. Miervaldis Balčūns showed that you don't have to tear a hole in the net to score, 1-1. The supporters of Sliema Dragons FC booed when BumboTava was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Einārs Zomerfelds didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 32nd minute, Samuel Galdes made a precise shot to the right of Arvīds Tikāns. BumboTava's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-2. In the 35th match minute, BumboTava was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Miervaldis Balčūns to maneuver through the defense. Gunārs Melveris fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 37th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without John Balzan having to interfere. Miervaldis Balčūns kicked well hit freekick during the 44th minute of the match. In the 45th minute Leo Bailey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Arvīds Tikāns saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After the first half Sliema Dragons FC were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The wind increased when Leo Bailey made the kick off in the second half. Samuel Galdes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 55th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Miervaldis Balčūns hit a great freekick 58 minutes into the match. Arvīds Tikāns was in exellent shape and made a fantastic save when he, in the 59th minute of the match, managed to get hold of the ball after a long shot from Jean Paul Caruana. A collision led to BumboTava getting a freekick after 60 minutes play. Ints Kvetkovskis hit a great ball. A collision led to BumboTava getting a freekick after 67 minutes play. Einārs Zomerfelds hit a great ball. Leo Bailey could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 71st minute of the match, but Arvīds Tikāns made a huge save. After having played for 74 minutes, Leo Bailey managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Sliema Dragons FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Leo Bailey was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Arvīds Tikāns made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Jake Navarro in the 75th minute of play. BumboTava's Arvīds Tikāns proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 76th minute of the match, managed to save BumboTava from getting a goal against them. An unexpectedly hard shot by Gunārs Melveris in the 81st minute of play forced Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper John Balzan to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Leo Bailey got free with Arvīds Tikāns in the 85th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. BumboTava's Einārs Zomerfelds got his second yellow card of the match in the 87th minute. The referee ordered Einārs Zomerfelds off the ground. When the final whistle sounded Sliema Dragons FC left the ground with the victory after a much better performance than BumboTava.