League

Balzan Arena
Spectators: 7000 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 2000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Zlatko Zahovič started the match with the kick off. After some fancy dribbling in the 3rd minute, Darren Carabott managed to get in a good position for a shot. Eleven Young Elephants's supporters rose to their feet, but Darren Carabott was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bertrand Engerer breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 4th minute, Mario Axisa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a defensive mix-up in Balzan Rainbows's zone, Darren Carabott stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Bertrand Engerer came out of the goal and Darren Carabott tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After 6 minutes of play, Eleven Young Elephants's Zlatko Zahovič made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Bertrand Engerer was left in no man's land by his defense there! After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Darren Carabott managed to get in a good position for a shot. Eleven Young Elephants's supporters rose to their feet, but Darren Carabott was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Bertrand Engerer breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Zlatko Zahovič in the 14th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Bertrand Engerer prevented the ball from getting in the gole. 15 minutes into the game, Eleven Young Elephants's Enzo Perez nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Bertrand Engerer made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-3. 19 minutes into the game, Zlatko Zahovič cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-4. Bertrand Engerer was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. 25 minutes into the game, Eleven Young Elephants's Zlatko Zahovič nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Bertrand Engerer made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-5. Jeremy Ciliberti hit a great freekick 32 minutes into the match. In the 35th minute, Mario Axisa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Tony Bonett kicked well hit freekick during the 37th minute of the match. In the 38th minute of the match Fabio Savona sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Bertrand Engerer skillfully saved the ball. The audience was convinced that Zlatko Zahovič's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Bertrand Engerer was relentless in the 39th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Balzan Rainbows's Annetto Triccas got a free kick in the 40th minute. Zlatko Zahovič sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 44 played minutes Eleven Young Elephants got a freekick which was hit by Enzo Perez. Darren Carabott received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 47th minute. Bertrand Engerer tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After the first half Eleven Young Elephants were leading 0-6. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Andrea Valletta to make the kick off. In the 51st minute, Colin Cini hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Severino Bueno might have been able to make a better finish in the 53rd minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Bertrand Engerer. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Severino Bueno ran back to his position shaking his head. Zlatko Zahovič fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 55th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Bertrand Engerer having to interfere. Eleven Young Elephants's Darren Carabott got a good chance for a goal in the 56th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zlatko Zahovič in the 58th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bertrand Engerer saved Balzan Rainbows from getting behind. Balzan Rainbows's Bertrand Engerer proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 60th minute of the match, managed to save Balzan Rainbows from getting a goal against them. Balzan Rainbows's Bertrand Engerer proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 64th minute of the match, managed to save Balzan Rainbows from getting a goal against them. Zlatko Zahovič's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 70thth minute, Bertrand Engerer skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Zlatko Zahovič in the 71st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bertrand Engerer saved Balzan Rainbows from getting behind. Zlatko Zahovičs short, quick shot in the 73rdth minute got Bertrand Engerer to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Darren Carabott was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 75th minute. Eleven Young Elephants's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zlatko Zahovič in the 80th minute of play forced Balzan Rainbows's goalkeeper Bertrand Engerer to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 81st minute, Fabio Savona 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. Zlatko Zahovič's shot when he came free in front of the goal in the 83rdth minute, Bertrand Engerer skillfully showed off with a save to what seemed to be an obvious goal. In the 87th minute Eleven Young Elephants were awarded a corner. Fabio Savona went to the cornerflag to take it. A very nice done corner allowed Enzo Perez to score against Bertrand Engerer in Balzan Rainbows's goal. 0-9 after 87 minutes. In the 90thth minute of the game Zlatko Zahovič who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Balzan Rainbows's Bertrand Engerer was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. After 92 minutes, Zlatko Zahovič made it 0-10 with a short kick to the right side. Balzan Rainbows's Bertrand Engerer tried to save the shot but he was too slow in reacting to the shot.