League Play-Off

Iklin
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Pawlu Imbroll took the kick off in the first half of the match. Ryan Zarb was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 3rd minute. Iklin Stars's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Carlo De Marco sent away a hard shot on goal in the 5th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Antoine Dougall fell near the penalty area in the 8th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Iklin Stars's protests and gave Antoine Dougall a yellow card for diving instead. In the 8th minute, Antoine Dougall hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. 9 minutes into the match, Stefano Bailey had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Kurt Rice. Iklin Stars's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Stefano Bailey was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 0-1. Pawlu Imbroll sent away a hard shot on goal in the 12th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Giorgio Sant Manduca made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pawlu Imbroll in the 14th minute of play. Carlo De Marco recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 16th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Marsamxett booed when Iklin Stars was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Michele Sciuto didn't get a good kick on the ball. After recieving a nice pass, Marsamxett's Aaron Fiteni tried to score from far away in the 20th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. In the 23rd minute, Ryan Zarb left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Iklin Stars fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 1-1. In the 26th minute Pawlu Imbroll shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giorgio Sant Manduca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Kurt Rice showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Carlo De Marco, who was totally free with the ball in the 29th minute. Stefano Bailey struck a weak shot in the 34th minute. Kurt Rice didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Marsamxett. The referee gave Marsamxett a penalty, 39 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Aaron Fiteni, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Iklin Stars's Kurt Rice. 1-2. In the 42nd minute of the match, Pawlu Imbroll tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Giorgio Sant Manduca saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Pawlu Imbroll in the 45th minute of play forced Marsamxett's goalkeeper Giorgio Sant Manduca to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ryan Zarb received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 48th minute. Giorgio Sant Manduca tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Stefano Bailey was the one to do the kick off. Stefano Bailey received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 56th minute. Kurt Rice tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Pawlu Imbroll scored 2-2 in the 60th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Giorgio Sant Manduca, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. In the 66th minute Pawlu Imbroll shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Giorgio Sant Manduca saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Marsamxett's John Mary Gilford got a good chance for a goal in the 70th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 76th minute, Dennis Critien hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Iklin Stars's Ryan Zarb got a good chance for a goal in the 78th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. After a rather tough play, Iklin Stars's Mark McElwee got a free kick in the 82nd minute. If Stefano Bailey had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 86th minute Stefano Bailey shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Kurt Rice saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Justin Crockford during the 86th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Iklin Stars getting a freekick after 86 minutes play. Justin Crockford hit a great ball. If Carlo De Marco had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 90th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Carlo De Marco received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 97th minute. Kurt Rice tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Marsamxett's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.