05 fEB 2010 20:55

INTERLEAGUE AND KNOCK OUT OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED

Birzebbugia Tigers will face second division runners-up Rovers United in the IASC knock-out First Round. The same opponents from Valletta will figure in the InterLeague group in which the Tigers were drawn together with 2nd and 4th placed teams of the 1 Division. The most indicated teams to from part with Tigers and Rovers are either Hamrun Liberty or Mosta Gunners and Floriana Ajax, but as the 1st Division is still underway, a host of other probabilities is still possible. The other group will be composed of Senglea Youngsters, Burmarrad, Gzira United and the 3rd placed of the First Division.

24 Jan 2010 10:28

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	4
MGARR FALCONS	4

Birzebbugia Tigers closed their second division campaign by sharing the points with Mgarr Falcons in a high-scoring and entertaining match. The Tigers finished in third place and qualify to compete in the Inter League against the four best placed teams in the two divisions of the IASC.

This was the first match in the Tigers' history against a team hailing from Mgarr, a village more renowned for its savoury rabbit dishes than for football exploits. This match also marked the return in action of player coach Neville Farrugia who was absent from March 2007. Coincidentally Farrugia stole the limelight today as he marked his long-awaited comeback with a hat-trick to bounce back as the Tigers' leading marksman of all time. After 4 minutes the Tigers opened the score when Farrugia headed in from close range a corner from the right. Mgarr's reaction was immediate as three minutes later Muscat found space in the Tigers' static defence and beat Abdilla with a low shot.

Celeste had two golden opportunities to put the Tigers once again in the lead, but first he was denied by the Mgarr goalie then his shot whisked inches wide off the near post. Abdilla was on the alert when he pushed away a Muscat shot. After 26 minutes Mgarr went close to score, as Ghio's powerful shot from well outside the penalty area blasted against the crossbar. Two minutes later Farrugia scored again as he deflected home a Celeste's diagonal effort. Seconds from the end of the first period, another negligence in the Tigers' defence permitted Debattista to volley past Abdilla to tie the score to 2-2.

The first opportunity of the second period fell into Tabone's feet but his shot finished high. On the 10th minute mark, Farrugia notched his hat-trick as he deviated past Micallef from close range. Four minutes later the Falcons once again managed to equalise when Muscat converted a penalty after Abdilla was judged to foul an Mgarr forward in the penalty area. The Tigers were now passing through a patch of nonchalance as Mgarr ripped their defence apart with a swift counterattack which saw Muscat grab a hat-trick as he lobbed the ball over the onrushing Abdilla.

The Tigers threw caution to the wind as they tried vehemently to make amends. Defender Busuttil's shot from 25 metres out hit the woodwork after 24 minutes. P.Cachia managed to grab the equaliser 3 minutes from the end when his shot was fumbled by the Mgarr keeper and finished in the net. The Tigers were now all over the place as they searched for a winning goal but Tabone's diagonal shot missed the target. A goalmouth melee followed with the ball falling in Prince Ali Osman's feet but the somalian shot hastily and the opportunity was wasted.

LINE UP
1	CHRIS ABDILLA (capt)
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	JEAN PAUL BUSUTTIL
4	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
5	PAUL SALIBA
6	CHRIS BUGEJA
15	RONNIE CELESTE
8	NOEL TABONE
9	NEVILLE FARRUGIA
10	PETER CACHIA
11	ENNIO DESIRA
IN	14. PRINCE ALI OSMAN
OUT	CHRIS BUGEJA

 

10 Jan 2010 12:25

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	1
BURMARRAD	1

Crucial points were at stake on Sunday morning at the Tarxien Ground, as Birzebbugia Tigers and Burmarrad battled it out for a place in the First Division. The final score of 1-1 favoured Burmarrad who now need a point from the last match to clinch promotion, with the Tigers condemned for the second year running to play in the lower tier of the IASC league.

Although goal-scoring opportunities were scarce, the match resulted in a balanced and lively affair throughout the whole 70 minutes. Burmarrad held the upperhand from the initial whistle and pressed for an early goal although no clear cut chances came their way. Infact it was the Tigers who had the first chance of the game when B.Bugeja's shot finished wide after 4 minutes. Moments later Tigers' keeper Camilleri rushed out of his penalty area to thwart a swift Burmarrad counterattack when he cleared off Sciberras' feet. But on the 20th minute he could prevent Burmarrad from forging ahead, as I.Agius unmarked at the end of the penalty area unleashed a precise volley that finished at the back of the net.

The Tigers were slow to react and it was our opponents again who went close to score when Francalanza's rising shot from inside the penalty area went high. After 28 minutes the Tigers equalised, as Prince Ali Osman pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area and with a powerful left-footed shot beat Galea to tie the score to 1-1. Seconds from the end of the first period, substitute Carabott Damato found space in the penalty area, but his shot from an angled position was blocked by Galea.

The second period saw the Tigers put pressure immediately on the Burmarrad defence. Busuttil tried his luck with a shot from outside the area that finished wide. Both Ali Osman and Lanzon created panic in the Burmarrad rearguard with low crosses which were not met by any Tigers' forward. On the other end substitute Borg's shot was saved by Camilleri. After 10 minutes from a C.Bugeja's freekick, Barbara unmarked at the far post headed weakly into Galea's arms. Three minutes later the Tigers had an incredible opportunity to score the winning goal. Barbara's shot was parried by the Burmarrad keeper into the path of Ali Osman who with an open goal in front of him lobbed the ball into the empty net but the ball swerved agonisingly centimetres away from the goal line.

Burmarrad protested for a penalty when the ball seemed to strike Mizzi's arms but the referee waved play on. The Tigers threw veteran striker P.Saliba into the fray and their four-pronged attack continued to put pressure on Burmarrad albeit no clear chances came their way. Their hopes diminished 8 minutes from the end when Barbara was yellow-carded for a second time after a foul on Psaila. With a man down, the Tigers continued relentessly to attack but the Burmarrad defence held strong to hang on to this precious draw.

LINE UP
1	RODERICK CAMILLERI
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	CHRIS BUGEJA
4	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
5	CONRAD NEIL GATT
6	GORDON MIZZI
7	BRONWEN BUGEJA
8	JEAN PAUL BUSUTTIL
9	JOHN PAUL BARBARA (capt)
10	PRINCE ALI OSMAN
11	CLIVE LANZON
IN	13. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	BRONWEN BUGEJA
IN	15. PAUL SALIBA
OUT	ANTHERO AGIUS

 

27 Dec 2009 12:19

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	3
ZABBAR CRYSTAL BLUES	1

Birzebbugia Tigers returned to winning ways as they defeated Zabbar Crystal Blues 3-1 with the outcome of the next match against Burmarrad resulting vital in their quest to gain promotion to the First Division.

The Tigers were the better team throughout the match and had they taken the majority of their goal-scoring opportunity, the margin of the result would have been of a colossal proportion. After 3 minutes Celeste squandered his first opportunity to score as his diagonal shot went wide. In a rare attack, Zabbar went close to score but Farrugia proved providential as he cleared off the line a shot from outside the area. On the 13th minute mark, Cachia found space in the Zabbar defence and with only the keeper to beat, he slot home to put the Tigers in the lead. Tigers' keeper Camilleri dived to his right to block a Sapiano shot. On the other end of the pitch, Celeste continued in his off-day as he missed three times the target in the space of 6 minutes. Barbara tested Medina with a powerful shot that the Zabbar guardian punched away.

8 minutes from the end of the first period Zabbar equalised as a cross from the right was deviated by Ciappara into his own net. Again Celeste wasted another possibility to score as his shot went wide. Camilleri was again on the alert to save off a shot by Zabbar's Buhagiar.

The second period began on a quiet note and goalmouth action was null in the first quarter of an hour. Celeste unmarked at the far post continued with his personal saga of missed goal-scoring opportuniites as he miscued a header. Sub Muscat's shot from outside the area was saved by Medina. A minute later a powerful Barbara shot whisked just inches wide. After 22 minutes the Tigers surged ahead as Muscat headed home a cross from the left.

Zabbar's reaction was poor and the Tigers continued to dictate play and it was no surprise when off a precise Tabone's cross, B.Bugeja's header finished at the back of the net. Celeste made way for P.Ali Osman who in the final minutes went close but his close-range effort was somewhat cleared with apprehension by the Zabbar defence.

LINE UP
1	RODERICK CAMILLERI
2	ENNIO DESIRA
3	CHRIS BUGEJA
4	FELIX PEPLOW
5	MICHAEL CIAPPARA
14	BERNARD FARRUGIA
7	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
8	NOEL TABONE (capt)
15	RONNIE CELESTE
10	PETER CACHIA
11	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	9. BRONWEN BUGEJA
OUT	ENNIO DESIRA
IN	13. KEITH MUSCAT
OUT	FELIX PEPLOW
IN	6. PRINCE ALI OSMAN
OUT	RONNIE CELESTE

 

 

06 Dec 2009 10:28

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	0
ROVERS UNITED	4

Birzebbugia Tigers slumped to a heavy defeat at the hands of leaders Rovers United and now see their hopes of gaining return to the IASC First Division dealt a severe blow. The Tigers were inferior to their solid opponents throughout the whole 70 minutes with the 4-0 defeat giving a clear picture of the match's outcome.

The match could have had a different outcome if after 4 minutes V.Camilleri had not wasted a golden opportunity to give the Tigers the lead, but his point blank header from a Cachia's deep cross ended agonisingly wide. It was to be the only clear-cut chance that the Tigers had during the entire match. Indeed 4 minutes later, Rovers' Goodrum dribbled his way in the Tigers' defence and beat the hesitant Abdilla. The same Abdilla came to the rescue as he rushed off his goal line to clear in a Rovers' swift counter attack. Blundell tested again Abdilla with a powerful shot that caught the goalkeeper off his line but Abdilla retreated and blocked away to a corner kick. The Tigers' reply was tame and they threatened to score only from two distant freekicks by Barbara and C.Bugeja which were cleared easily by the opponents.

Rovers continued to be the better team in the second period and seconds from the start, Goodrum went close with a freekick that ended wide. In the 4th minute, they doubled the lead when Abdilla parried away a powerful Brincau shot and defender C.Bugeja in an attempt to clear the ball headed into his own net. The Tigers were in complete disarray and at the mercy of their opponents as the Rovers continued to surge forward for other goals. On the 20th minute mark Rovers scored their third goal courtesy of Goodrum who beat Abdilla from close range.

After 22 minutes, Rovers scored their fourth goal when substitute headed in a cross on the far post. Luck certainly deserted the Tigers today, as Desira's long-distance shot blasted off the crossbar. J.Dalli went twice close to score more goals for the Rovers but first he shot wide from a favourable position, and seconds from the end his shot on the run cannoned off the goal posts with Abdilla well beaten.

LINE UP
1	CHRIS ABDILLA
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	CHRIS BUGEJA (capt)
4	FELIX PEPLOW
5	BENJAMIN DARMANIN
6	CONRAD NEIL GATT
7	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
8	PETER CACHIA
9	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
10	VINCE CAMILLERI
11	ENNIO DESIRA
IN	13. KEITH MUSCAT
OUT	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
IN	14. BRONWEN BUGEJA
OUT	ANTHERO AGIUS
IN	16. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	CHRIS BUGEJA

 

 

22 Nov 2009 20:08

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	4
ZEJTUN LIONS	1

Birzebbugia Tigers cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over bottom-placed Zejtun Lions and are now leading the table with 5 points together with Burmarrad and Rovers Utd.

The Tigers held the upperhand throughout the entire match. Although Zejtun went close to open the score after 9 minutes when Spiteri's diagonal shot went wide, three minutes later the Tigers forged ahead. A fine move between Tabone and Cachia saw the latter head towards Barbara who from a favourable position blasted home to open the score. At the other end, substitute defender Bugeja, who replaced the injured Agius after 6 minutes play, came to the Tigers' rescue when he blocked a dangerous incursion in the penalty area.

Tabone's header was saved by Mula on 17 minutes, but 4 minutes later the Tigers doubled the lead when Celeste connected to Barbara's assist and slotted the ball home. Gameplay was now restricted to md-pitch with the only goal-scoring opportunity falling into Zejtun's way when Camilleri saved well a long-distance freekick.

The second half of the match was barely one minute old when Celeste found space in the opponents' area but his shot was saved by Mula. A minute later the Tigers scored their third goal courtesy of Cachia who slotted home after a goalmouth scramble. In the 10th minute Zejtun reduced the arrears with a shot from outside the area, but two minutes later Barbara scored his second with a left-footed shot to tie the score to 4-1.

In the final stages of the match, goal-scoring opportunities became abundant as the Tigers tried to score more goals. Newcomer Muscat went close but twice squandered golden chances, with Camilleri trying his luck with a shot from outside the area that finished wide

LINE UP
1	RODERICK CAMILLERI
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	ENNIO DESIRA
4	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
5	GORDON MIZZI
6	CONRAD NEIL GATT
7	PETER CACHIA
8	NOEL TABONE
15	RONNIE CELESTE (capt)
10	CLIVE FORMOSA
11	JOHN PAUL BARBARA
IN	17. CHRIS BUGEJA
OUT	ANTHERO AGIUS
IN	18. KEITH MUSCAT
OUT	PETER CACHIA
IN	19. CHARLTON CAMILLERI
OUT	GORDON MIZZI

 

08 Nov 2009 12:07

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	4
GZIRA UNITED	1

Birzebbugia Tigers bounced back from the disappointing draw against Mqabba with an inspiring victory against Gzira United in a lively match played in a tense atmosphere. This win takes the Tigers into fourth place two points adrift of joint leaders Burmarrad and Rovers United, the Tigers having a game in hand.

Gzira were much the livelier side in the initial stages of the match and after two minutes Catania threatened to open the score but his header ended just wide. In their first attacking foray the Tigers surged ahead as Brownen Bugeja found space on the right and blasted a rising shot which flew into the top corner. Gzira's reaction was immediate and Magri had to be on the alert to block M.Zammit's distant shot. A timely tackle by Tigers' defender Xuereb avoided further danger but after 13 minutes a gross misunderstanding in the Tigers' rearguard saw Xuereb slot past his own keeper Magri for the most classic of own goals. Goalie Magri got injured soon after he conceded the goal and was replaced by Abdilla.

Lanzon went near to double the lead but his shot ended wide. After 20 minutes M.Zammit's shot missed the target for Gzira. On the 24th minute mark, the Tigers regained the lead when defender C.Bugeja today employed as a left-flank fullback, unleashed a powerful shot directly from a freekick which left Gzira's keeper helpless. In a quick Gzira reply substitute goalkeeper Abdilla dived to his left to save off a Sultana's shot. Tension soared high moments later as Tigers' defender Gatt was floored after a clash in a goal mouth action. Gzira continued to play and almost scored had it not been for some quick reflexes shown by Abdilla. A swift Tigers counterattack followed and B.Bugeja zigzagged through the opponents' motionless defence. His close-range shot was saved. The same forward was pushed to the floor by a Gzira defender and kicked, but astonishingly the indecisive referee booked the same B.Bugeja for some unknown reason, with the Gzira defender escaping the punishment.

In the first minute of the second period Gzira almost equalised but Mifsud missed the ball completely from a favourable position. A.Caruana hit the woodwork for the Tigers soon afterwards. After 8 minutes Clive Lanzon 's curling shot from outside the area beat Cutajar inexorably to make the score 3-1. Six minutes later Abdilla produced a magnificent save off a close-range shot to deny Gzira once again.

On the 20th minute mark the Tigers widened further the gap. Carabott Damato dispossed a Gzira defender, advanced in the penalty area and slotted past the Gzira goalkeeper who had to pick the ball from his own net for the fourth time today. Three minutes later the same Carabott Damato found space in the penalty area and was fouled blatantly by Caruana, but again the referee was beyond belief as he waved play on. Gzira tried their last resources to score again but their forwards were off cue as Catania lobbed high in front of an empty net. C.Bugeja came to the Tigers' rescue as he blocked a shot from inside the penalty area. The last opportunity of the match fell into Carabott Damato's feet but his shot missed the target.

 

LINE UP
1	CHRIS MAGRI
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	CHRIS BUGEJA
4	CHARLTON CAMILLERI
5	CLAYTON XUEREB
6	CONRAD NEIL GATT
7	PRINCE ALI OSMAN
8	PETER CACHIA (capt)
9	BRONWEN BUGEJA
10	ALBERT CARUANA
11	CLIVE LANZON
IN	12. CHRIS ABDILLA
OUT	CHRIS MAGRI
IN	19. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	ALBERT CARUANA
IN	13. JEAN PAUL BUSUTTIL
OUT	PRINCE ALI OSMAN

 

 

25 Oct 2009 13:13

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	2
MQABBA ALBIONS	2

 

Birzebbugia Tigers had a disappointing start to their 2nd division campaign when they lost an early two goal advantage as they were held in a 2-2 draw with association's newcomers Mqabba Albions.

The Tigers, under the helm of Neville Farrugia who took over the duties of coach from Mark Migneco, had the upperhand in the initial stages of the match and after Lanzon blasted wide and Gatt went close with a header, in the 9th minute they took the lead. Somalian Prince Ali Osman benefited from a mishap in the Mqabba defence and flicked past Scicluna to open the score. Barely five minutes had passed when the Tigers doubled the lead. From a C.Bugeja corner, Bronwen Bugeja unmarked at the far post headed into the net albeit Mqabba goalie's scrappy attempt to avoid the goal.

Mqabba's reaction was immediate and in the space of four minutes they managed to level the score. In the 20th minute a short clearance by C.Bugeja fell into Cassar's path who quickly passed to J.Galea. The central midfielder's powerful shot had the better of Tigers' goaler Magri and finished into the net. Four minutes later the Albions equalised when M.Cassar found a gap in the Tigers' rearguard and lobbed the ball over the onrushing Magri.

The second period resulted in a single-sided affair as the Tigers attacked relentessly to regain the lead. Friggieri went close after two minutes but his first-time volley ended wide. In the 6th minute Lanzon's rising shot was parried away by Scicluna with the ball falling into Prince Ali Osman's feet but his close-range effort was deflected into a corner. The Tigers tried their luck with two distant shots by C.Bugeja and B.Bugeja that finished wide.

The Tigers threw caution to the wind and the last minutes of the match saw them attack en masse and on the 28th minute mark, Lanzon found his way through the Albions' defence and his piledriver was blocked by Mqabba's stocky keeper into a corner. Seconds later in a swift counter attack, Ali Osman's attempt was blocked by an Albion defender. In the 30th minute, the Tigers had a golden opportunity to score when Scicluna fumbled a long ball thrown into his penalty area, Tabone served substitute Camilleri but his shot from just inside the area finished high.

 

LINE UP
1	CHRISTOPHER MAGRI
2	CHRISTOPHER BUGEJA
3	CONRAD NEIL GATT
4	ANTHERO AGIUS
5	CLAYTON XUEREB
6	BRONWEN BUGEJA
7	PRINCE ALI OSMAN
8	NOEL TABONE (capt)
9	CLIVE LANZON
10	JEAN PAUL BUSUTTIL
11	HUBERT FRIGGIERI
IN	15. RODERICK CAMILLERI
OUT	HUBERT FRIGGIERI
IN	13. RALPH MANGION
OUT	JEAN PAUL BUSUTTIL
IN	17. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	CONRAD NEIL GATT

 

 

 

14 Jun 2009 09:45

NEVILLE FARRUGIA CANN APPOINTED NEW COACH OF THE TIGERS

 

Birzebbugia Tigers have appointed Neville Farrugia Cann as new coach for the forthcoming season. Neville has already guided the team in last year's fixture in the IASC knock out when the Tigers went down 4-3 to Cospicua St Thomas. He succeeds Mark Migneco who was in charge of the Tigers for the last two seasons. The Tigers will play next season in the IASC Second Division as they were relegated at the end of last season for the first time in their history, with the priority becoming an immediate return to the First Division. While the committee shows appreciation to former coach Mark Migneco for his loyal service and commitment shown during these last two years, they wish the best of luck to Neville Farrugia Cann in his new post.

 

 

 

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