League Play-Off

Eduardo Máximo Park
Spectators: 40 (Terracing: 31, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Mario Bezzina started the match with the kick off. After 11 played minutes, Norrlands Guld's Mark Fenech Adami shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Steve Grech Cumbo 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 Norrlands Guld reached it. In the 16th match minute, Portuguesa Maltesa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Adrian Cioffi to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Ryan Laus got free with Everardo Pasqual in the 25th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After 31 played minutes Norrlands Guld got a freekick which was hit by Ethan Musu. 32 minutes into the match, Portuguesa Maltesa's Brandon Tedesco broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. After some careless play in the Portuguesa Maltesa defense, Mark Fenech Adami kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Steve Grech Cumbo. The Portuguesa Maltesa fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Steve Grech Cumbo should have stopped the shot. Ethan Musu hit a great freekick 38 minutes into the match. Portuguesa Maltesa's Joshua Preca got a good chance for a goal in the 40th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After the first half Norrlands Guld were leading 0-1. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

In the 50th minute, Mark Fenech Adami 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. If Mario Bezzina had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Portuguesa Maltesa's Steve Grech Cumbo played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mark Fenech Adami in the 57th minute of play. In the 58th minute, Kyriakos Siöberg hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. When Mark Fenech Adami came up free with the goalie in the 68th minute, the Norrlands Guld 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 Mark Fenech Adami couldn't finish the play. Steve Grech Cumbo was out of position in the 69 minute of play, and Mark Fenech Adami capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Mark Fenech Adami really showed his touch with that goal: 0-2. 81 minutes into the game, Ryan Laus cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Everardo Pasqual was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Carl Mamo kicked well hit freekick during the 89th minute of the match. In the 94th match minute, Portuguesa Maltesa was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Aidan Friggieri to maneuver through the defense. Norrlands Guld were delighted with the way they had won the match. They had held their defensive line well and made the most of their chances, to claim a victory over Portuguesa Maltesa's much stronger midfield.