Official Cup

Dragons Nest
Spectators: 209 (Terracing: 157, Seating: 48, VIP seats: 4) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Eižens Barakalns made the kick off which started today's match. 3 minutes into the match, Sliema Dragons FC's goal looked a bit too open when Eižens Barakalns came free, but Brandon Ellul reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in Sliema Dragons FC's zone, Ringolds Indriķis-Redzīgais stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Brandon Ellul came out of the goal and Ringolds Indriķis-Redzīgais tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Zigmārs Ciekals in the 8th minute of play forced Sliema Dragons FC's goalkeeper Brandon Ellul to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Gatis Zalovs during the 11th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Rinalds Babulis took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Frederick Gatt, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. The supporters of BumboTava booed when Sliema Dragons FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 24 match minutes in a wonderful position. Patrick Buttigieg didn't get a good kick on the ball. Rinalds Babulis made an important save on a dangerous shot by Patrick Buttigieg in the 31st minute. A collision led to BumboTava getting a freekick after 32 minutes play. Miervaldis Balčūns hit a great ball. Sliema Dragons FC's Samuel Galdes shoveled away a really nice long shot in the 33rd minute of play. The shot was stopped by Rinalds Babulis but with some difficulty. Sliema Dragons FC's Brandon Ellul played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Arvīds Tikāns in the 37th minute of play. In the 42nd minute Patrick Buttigieg shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Rinalds Babulis saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. A hard shot 46 in the game by Patrick Buttigieg from a close distance when the talented Rinalds Babulis managed to make a qualified save. BumboTava's players were relieved. The fans had the chance to grab some refreshments as the whistle went for half-time. The score stood at 0-0 after a close first half.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Patrick Buttigieg was the one to do the kick off. Rinalds Babulis stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Patrick Buttigieg's shot from short distance in the 59th minute. The audience was convinced that Patrick Buttigieg's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rinalds Babulis was relentless in the 59th minute of the game. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patrick Buttigieg in the 66th minute of play forced BumboTava's goalkeeper Rinalds Babulis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Rinalds Babulis stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Patrick Buttigieg's shot from short distance in the 71st minute. In the 74th minute, Samuel Galdes hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Patrick Buttigieg sent away a hard shot on goal in the 76th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. The audience was convinced that Patrick Buttigieg's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Rinalds Babulis was relentless in the 82nd minute of the game. In the 83rd match minute, BumboTava was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Kristaps Mārtiņš to maneuver through the defense. 89 minutes into the match, BumboTava's goal looked a bit too open when Patrick Buttigieg came free, but Rinalds Babulis reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After 90 played minutes BumboTava got a freekick which was hit by Gunārs Melveris. Samuel Galdes missed a clear chance of a goal when in the 91 minute of the game fired away a shot, but unfortunally the ball went out to the Rinalds Babulis right hand side. An unexpectedly hard shot by Jean Paul Caruana in the 94th minute of play forced BumboTava's goalkeeper Rinalds Babulis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The second half was just like the first, even and exciting. The match ended in a draw.