Official Cup

Karigavas Bloda
Spectators: 205 (Terracing: 154, Seating: 47, VIP seats: 4) It was fairly windy and cold on the field when Patrick Buttigieg kicked off to start the match. Eižens Barakalns's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Brandon Ellul firmly grabbed it by the left post. 10 minutes into the game, Arvīds Tikāns cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-0. Brandon Ellul was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. In the 18th minute Eižens Barakalns shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Brandon Ellul saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 18th match minute, Sliema Dragons FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Reuben Borda to maneuver through the defense. Kyle Axisa kicked well hit freekick during the 19th minute of the match. Brandon Ellul showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Eižens Barakalns, who was totally free with the ball in the 20th minute. In the 22ndth minute of the game Patrick Buttigieg who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but BumboTava's Rinalds Babulis was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mark Polidano in the 23rd minute of play forced BumboTava's goalkeeper Rinalds Babulis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. 30 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Patrick Buttigieg in the 32nd minute of play forced BumboTava's goalkeeper Rinalds Babulis to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Arvīds Tikāns succeeded to score despite a near miss that spronge from right pole into the goal to 3-0 in the 35th playminute. A collision led to BumboTava getting a freekick after 38 minutes play. Eižens Barakalns hit a great ball. Rinalds Babulis showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Patrick Buttigieg in the 39th minute of the match. BumboTava's Rinalds Babulis played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Frederick Gatt in the 40th minute of play. 42 minutes into the game, Miervaldis Balčūns was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. BumboTava's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Sliema Dragons FC the free kick. After 42 played minutes BumboTava got a freekick which was hit by Miervaldis Balčūns. After a rather tough play, Sliema Dragons FC's Kyle Axisa got a free kick in the 43rd minute. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Eižens Barakalns was the one to do the kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Frederick Gatt in the 57th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Rinalds Babulis saved BumboTava from getting behind. Jean Paul Caruana could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 60th minute of the match, but Rinalds Babulis made a huge save. In the 65th minute, Arvīds Tikāns hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After 70 played minutes Sliema Dragons FC got a freekick which was hit by Philip Griffin. In the 72nd minute the ball was on its way in behind BumboTava's goalkeeper Rinalds Babulis, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Rinalds Babulis didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Patrick Buttigieg went, in the 73rd minute, to the upper right corner, 3-1 was the resulting score. In the 76th 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. In the 77th minute, Sliema Dragons FC's Jean Paul Caruana dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 3-2. A collision led to Sliema Dragons FC getting a freekick after 88 minutes play. Mark Polidano hit a great ball. A hard shot 93 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.