16 Nov 2008 12:24

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	3
LUQA JUNIORS	2

Birzebbugia Tigers bounced back to winning ways and earned their first points of the season when they beat Luqa Juniors 3-2 in a thrilling game courtesy of a late goal by Noel Tabone, the 500th goal scored in all competitive matches of the Tigers.

Barely 3 minutes had passed when Luqa took an early as the Tigers' defence was caught on the wrong foot and J.Azzopardi found space on the right beating Xerxen from close range with a low shot. The Tigers reversed immediately on the attack and Formosa's direct freekick finished wide. A minute later Luqa threatened to double the score but Micallef's shot missed the target. Formosa again tried his luck for the Tigers but his shot was saved by D'Agostino.

On the 13th minute mark, the Tigers grabbed the equaliser when captain Ronnie Celeste unleashed a spectacular volley that finished at the back of the net. Seconds later debutant Elton Bugeja opted to shoot from long-range after a mishap in the Luqa defence but his shot was well saved by D'Agostino in the opponents' goalpost. Four minutes later, B.Bugeja advanced on the left but his low tempting cross finished in barren territory. The Tigers remained in the driving seat and were unlucky not to take the lead in the 25th minute when Celeste found a gap in the Luqa's rearguard but his shot finished against the crossbar.

The second period saw the Tigers continue to press for the lead and created a host of goal-scoring opportunities. After 6 minutes, Tabone put B.Bugeja through but the latter's shot was blocked by a defender. 15 minutes had gone by when the same Bugeja found a gap in the Luqa defence but was floored by Galea as he was about to conclude. The referee waved play on and booked Bugeja albeit harsh protests for a penalty.

Four minutes later Bugeja once again was slow to react in a swift counter-attack and his shot was blocked by a defender. On the turn of play Luqa took a surprise lead as the Tigers' defence was caught napping and J.Azzopardi lobbed over Xerxen to put last season's champions once again in the lead. Seconds later the Tigers snatched a quick equaliser as Celeste pounced upon a low diagonal cross and slammed the ball home from close range. More goal-scoring action was in store as E.Bugeja's piledriver from outside the penalty area hit the woodwork. Five minutes from the end, the Tigers scored the all-important goal as Xerxen's long kick bounced in the heart of the opponents' defence and Noel Tabone rose high and nodded the ball home past the onrushing D'Agostino.

LINE UP
21	MATTHEW XERXEN
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	MARK MIGNECO
14	CHRIS BERNARD FARRUGIA
5	DANIEL GALEA
6	BRONWEN BUGEJA
7	ELTON BUGEJA
8	CLIVE FORMOSA
9	RONNIE CELESTE
10	NOEL TABONE
11	ENNIO DESIRA
IN	4. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
OUT	11. ENNIO DESIRA
IN	19. CHARLTON CAMILLERI
OUT	6. BRONWEN BUGEJA

 

 

19 Oct 2008 19:44

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	1
ZURRIEQ WOLVES	2

Two late goals conceded in the final minutes of the game saw Birzebbugia Tigers succumb to the second consecutive defeat when they were beaten by Zurrieq Wolves 2-1. The Tigers are now standing rock bottom of the First Division with no points from two games.

Zurrieq began the match on the offensive and as early as the 4th minute Agius was providential in blocking Borg's tempting low cross. Five minutes later, Tigers' goalie Xerxen saved well on an Abdilla shot. On the other end, Celeste found a breakthrough in the Wolves' defence but Azzopardi rushed to the rescue. On the 14th minute mark, the Tigers took the lead when debutant Mario Galea served Paul Carabott Damato who dribbled past Plumpton and with a low diagonal shot beat the Zurrieq guardian.

A.Camilleri tested Xerxen who produced a fine save to block his diagonal right-footed effort. Tigers' midfielder B.Bugeja finished a solo effort after 19 minutes with a grounder that was blocked by Azzopardi. Zurrieq increased their efforts to level the score and central defender Chetcuti's header finished inches high. Moments later Zurrieq had a golden chance to equalise but Abdilla's header with the goal gaping finished over the crossbar.

The first goal scoring opportunity of the second period fell in Celeste's feet but yet again Azzopardi rushed outside the area to prevent any more damage for Zurrieq. V.Camilleri went close for the Tigers directly from a freekick but his shot ended wide, while on the other end of the pitch Prendergast's shot found once again Xerxen on the alert.

The Tigers' defence, aided by some Xerxen heroics, looked well under control and it was somewhat of a surprise when Zurrieq equalised nine minutes from the end. Chetcuti, now deployed in a deep attacking role, chested the ball towards A.Camilleri who,from a dubious offside position, beat Xerxen with a first-time volley.

Three minutes later, Tigers' substitute Barbara was red-carded for blasphemous language after a slight accident in mid-pitch. Zurrieq were now in the driving seat and Xerxen produced a couple of miraculous saves off Chetcuti and Borg. But more misery was in store for the Tigers as right in the dying moments of the game, E.Borg blasted a powerful rising shot from outside the area that finished at the back of the net.

LINE UP
21	MATTHEW XERXEN
2	ANTHERO AGIUS
3	JEAN-PAUL BUSUTTIL
4	GORDON MIZZI
5	MARK MIGNECO (capt)
6	BRONWEN BUGEJA
7	MARIO GALEA
8	VINCE CAMILLERI
9	RONNIE CELESTE
10	FELIX PEPLOW
11	PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO
IN	16. JOHN PAUL BARBARA
OUT	10. FELIX PEPLOW
IN	14. CHRIS BUGEJA
OUT	11. PAUL CARABOTT DAMATO

 

05 Oct 2008 10:45

BIRZEBBUGIA TIGERS	1
SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS	2

 

Birzebbugia Tigers were left to rue several missed opportunities as they succumbed to a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Senglea Youngsters in the opening match of this season IASC 1 division.

Barely a minute had passed when C.Camilleri tried his luck directly from a freekick after Celeste was felled outside the area, but his shot was easy prey for Senglea goalie Gatt. 5 minutes later Gatt produced a fine save off a right-footed Barbara effort and moments later Camilleri's shot ended wide. In their first attacking foray Senglea took the lead against the run of play when Massa served N.Abela from the left and the latter blasted home from close range.

The Tigers surged forward for an equaliser and on the 22nd minute mark Celeste had a golden opportunity to score when he was put through after a pin-point pass from defender Agius but was anticipated by Gatt as he was about to conclude. 3 minutes later Senglea doubled the score when Azzopardi's shot was blocked by the Tigers' defence and the ball fell into Piccinino's path who had an easy task to beat Xerxen. Defender Zerafa was again close for Senglea to score but his long-range effort was saved by Xerxen. On the other end Axiaq tried his luck but Gatt saved again well the midfielder's shot from inside the area.

After the interval, B.Bugeja was brought in to spur the Tigers' attacking play, and this move reaped dividends after 2 minutes as N.Tabone scored with a cute lob over Gatt to reduce the arrears. Two minutes later Celeste found a gap in the opponents' defence but his diagonal shot created no real threat. The Tigers continued to persist in their attacking gameplay and Celeste was again denied after his shot was blocked inside the area with the ball falling in Migneco's path who saw his shot finish inches wide.

After 13 minutes the Tigers had a golden opportunity to equalise when Celeste eluded the offside trap and beat Gatt with a low shot but the ball was agonisingly cleared off the goal line by Farrugia to deny the Tigers with a deserved equaliser. On the other end Xerxen proved providential when he blocked from close range Abela's shot.

As minutes ticked away the Tigers initial flurry seemed to vanish and to make matters worse five minutes from the end defender Ciappara was red carded for protesting with the match official. Axiaq tried his luck with a shot that ended high with the last opportunity of the game falling in Azzopardi's way as the Senglea midfielder saw his shot from long distance finish wide.

 

 

ONCE AGAIN TIGERS FACE SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS IN OPENING MATCH

For the second year running, Birzebbugia Tigers will face Senglea Youngsters in the opening match of IASC 1 division. Last year the two teams finished in a 2-2 stalemate. Moreover Tigers' last match last season was against these same opponents when they were eliminated from the knock out by the former IASC champions. The Tigers have to tackle a tough first part of the league as the next two games are against Zurrieq Wolves and last year's champions Luqa Juniors. The last match in this diminutive league is against newcomers Hamrun Liberty in February 2009 barely four months after commencement.

The Tigers match schedule is as follows:

DATE	TIME	OPPONENT
05 OCT 2008	8:30	vs SENGLEA YOUNGSTERS
19 OCT 2008	11:00	vs ZURRIEQ WOLVES
16 NOV 2008	9:45	vs LUQA JUNIORS
30 NOV 2008	9:45	vs FLORIANA AJAX
14 DEC 2008	8:30	vs MOSTA GUNNERS
11 JAN 2009	8:30	vs COSPICUA ST THOMAS
08 FEB 2009	9:45	vs ZABBAR CRYSTAL BLUES
15 FEB 2009	9:45	vs HAMRUN LIBERTY

 

 

 

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