League

Balzan Arena
Spectators: 8519 (Terracing: 6390, Seating: 1959, VIP seats: 170) 3 minutes into the match, Balzan Youths's goal looked a bit too open when Arthur Herrera came free, but Stephan Depasquale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. An unexpectedly hard shot by Arthur Herrera in the 4th minute of play forced Balzan Youths's goalkeeper Stephan Depasquale to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Ričards Tālums struck a weak shot in the 7th minute. Keith Saliba didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Balzan Youths. Karl Asciak received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 8th minute. Keith Saliba tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Oliver Cardona had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 15th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After some careless play in the Balzan Youths defense, Shaun Briffa kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Stephan Depasquale. The Balzan Youths fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Stephan Depasquale should have stopped the shot. Oliver Cardona hit a great freekick 20 minutes into the match. Keith Saliba showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ričards Tālums in the 21st minute of the match. In the 22nd minute, Ričards Tālums 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. Keith Scerri sent away a hard shot on goal in the 27th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Oliver Cardona managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ta Paola's supporters rose to their feet, but Oliver Cardona was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stephan Depasquale breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 37th minute, Shaun Briffa left the goalkeeper for dead before tapping the ball into the right side of the net. The Ta Paola fans were clearly happy with the effort and the scoreboard reflected the new score: 0-3. Arthur Herrera fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Stephan Depasquale having to interfere. If Karl Asciak had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 45th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Even after changing tactics the home team jogged off the field with a 0-3 deficit. They would have to work harder if they wanted to turn things around in the second half.

The wind increased when Shaun Briffa made the kick off in the second half. Karl Asciak fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Keith Saliba having to interfere. 53 minutes into the match, Balzan Youths's goal looked a bit too open when Oliver Cardona came free, but Stephan Depasquale reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, Balzan Youths's Jurgen Testaferrata Viani got a free kick in the 57th minute. In the 61st match minute, Ta Paola was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Anton Stellini to maneuver through the defense. Ričards Tālums took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 62nd minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Keith Saliba. Ta Paola's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. Shaun Briffa scored 0-4 in the 64th match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Stephan Depasquale, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. Balzan Youths's Stephan Depasquale played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Arthur Herrera in the 69th minute of play. 71 minutes into the game, Karl Asciak cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-4. Keith Saliba was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Shaun Briffa kicked well hit freekick during the 74th minute of the match. In the 76th minute Karl Asciak shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Keith Saliba saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 78th minute, Arthur Herrera 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 Keith Scerri had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 80th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Shaun Briffa blasted a shot towards the goal in the 87th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Stephan Depasquale having to make a save. If Keith Scerri had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 95th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Ta Paola's fans were overjoyed with their teams well-earned victory and stayed in the stadium long after the final whistle to celebrate the win.