League Play-Off

Blata l-Bajda Univer
Spectators: 36 (Terracing: 28, Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Julian Gafà got the match started through his kick off. In the 4thth minute of the game Pierre Fava who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Blata l-Bajda's Gavin Cornelisse was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Rosario Fenech hit a great freekick 6 minutes into the match. Gavin Cornelisse didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Pierre Fava went, in the 10th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-1 was the resulting score. If Pierre Fava had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 12th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. The San Pawl il-Baħar fans' excitement grew in the 13th match minute when San Pawl il-Baħar's Daniele Bencini looked to have a clear shot with the ball near the goal. The shot wasn't hard, but the ball still rolled over the goal line to make it 0-2 before the goalkeeper had a chance to intervene. San Pawl il-Baħar's Pierre Fava got a good chance for a goal in the 18th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The supporters of Blata l-Bajda booed when San Pawl il-Baħar was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 19 match minutes in a wonderful position. Daniele Bencini didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience thought a goal was coming when Luca Hili got free with Carlo Catania in the 21st minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. 23 minutes into the match, Blata l-Bajda's Julian Gafà sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Carlo Catania narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Owen De Lucca's late challenge caught a Blata l-Bajda's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Owen De Lucca helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Blata l-Bajda booed when San Pawl il-Baħar was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Owen De Lucca didn't get a good kick on the ball. Luca Hili could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 26th minute of the match, but Carlo Catania made a huge save. Gavin Cornelisse made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Pierre Fava in the 32nd minute of play. Daniele Bencini fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 36th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Gavin Cornelisse having to interfere. Owen De Lucca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 41st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-2 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Pierre Fava was the one to do the kick off. Blata l-Bajda's Gavin Cornelisse played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Pierre Fava in the 56th minute of play. Owen De Lucca sent away a hard shot on goal in the 62nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Gavin Cornelisse didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Pierre Fava went, in the 74th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-3 was the resulting score. After having played for 78 minutes, Daniele Bencini managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. San Pawl il-Baħar's supporters crossed their fingers, but Daniele Bencini was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Pierre Fava received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 81st minute. Gavin Cornelisse tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 82 played minutes San Pawl il-Baħar got a freekick which was hit by Godwin Schembri Zerafa. Thomas Degabriele charged in rather forcefully in the 86th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Thomas Degabriele the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of Blata l-Bajda booed when San Pawl il-Baħar was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 86 match minutes in a wonderful position. Thomas Degabriele didn't get a good kick on the ball. After recieving a nice pass, Blata l-Bajda's Kevin Harmsworth tried to score from far away in the 87th minute, but the ball went over the crossbar. Julian Gafà kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. Daniele Bencini could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 92nd minute of the match, but Gavin Cornelisse made a huge save. 0-4 became the score in the 96th minute when Pierre Fava elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. The Blata l-Bajda fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. San Pawl il-Baħar were clearly better and deserved to take the win.