League Play-Off

Blata l-Bajda Univer
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Dylan Griffin kicked off to start the match. Luca Hili sent away a hard shot on goal in the 6th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Blata l-Bajda's Gavin Cornelisse played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alan Bianco in the 8th minute of play. Mistra United were furious when Clyde Fabri was red carded, 13 minutes into the game, but the referee dismissed their protests. After a rather tough play, Mistra United's Clyde Fabri got a free kick in the 13th minute. The audience held their breath when Eugenio Tedesco in the 15th minute of the game managed to trick the opponents defenses and fired away a shot outside the goal on the Roderick Fava's left hand side. Blata l-Bajda's Gavin Cornelisse played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Alan Bianco in the 24th minute of play. After having played for 27 minutes, Angelo Pirotta managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Mistra United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Angelo Pirotta was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Julian Gafà was extremely unlucky when he, in the 31st minute, took a shot that hit the right post and went out. Luca Hili scored 1-0 in the 31st match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Roderick Fava, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. 36 minutes into the game, Charles Cristina was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Mistra United's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Blata l-Bajda the free kick. After a rather tough play, Mistra United's Charles Cristina got a free kick in the 36th minute. Luca Hilis short, quick shot in the 37thth minute got Roderick Fava to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Dylan Griffin charged in rather forcefully in the 38th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Dylan Griffin the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Rosario Fenech sent away a hard shot on goal in the 43rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 48 minutes into the match, Mistra United's goalkeeper Roderick Fava had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Luca Hili. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 1-0.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Luca Hili stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 52 minutes into the match, Mistra United's goal looked a bit too open when Luca Hili came free, but Roderick Fava reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Luca Hili in the 54th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Roderick Fava prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Blata l-Bajda's Gavin Cornelisse proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 57th minute of the match, managed to save Blata l-Bajda from getting a goal against them. When Alan Bianco came up free with the goalie in the 61st minute, the Mistra United 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 Alan Bianco couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 66th minute, Luca Hili managed to get in a good position for a shot. Blata l-Bajda's supporters rose to their feet, but Luca Hili was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Roderick Fava breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Luca Hili fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 69th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Roderick Fava having to interfere. In the 71st minute, Alan Bianco ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Gavin Cornelisse was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. 75 minutes in the game, Alan Bianco fired away an excellent shot, which passed to the side of the right post without Gavin Cornelisse having to interfere. If Luca Hili had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 78th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Blata l-Bajda's Luca Hili got a good chance for a goal in the 84th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 86th minute, Alan Bianco fired away a shot on goal. He put a little to much spin on the ball and sent it just wide of the right post. If Luca Hili had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 87th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.